Aggies Split on Opening Day in Phoenix
Feb 13, 2004 | Softball
February 13, 2004
No. 18 Texas A&M (4-1, 0-0) split their opening games in the Fiesta Bowl Classic on Friday. The Aggies topped No. 20 Oregon 8-3 in the opening game but fell to No. 2 Arizona 8-1.
The Aggies jumped ahead of Oregon in the first game when McDonald led off the game with a slap single before stealing second for her fifth stolen base of the season. McDonald scored from second when Gregory reached first on a single that bounced off the glove of the first baseman.
Oregon evened the score in the bottom of the second when Beth Boskovich led off with a double to the left field gap, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and finally scored on a passed ball.
A&M jumped back on top of the Ducks in the top of the third when Gregory drove in her second and third runs of the game on a single to left field. Gregory advanced to second on a throw home. Freshman second baseman Joy Davis scored from third after hitting a single, stealing second, her fifth of the season, and advancing to third on McDoanld's single. With a heads up play McDonald advanced to second on her hit when Oregon shortstop Breanne Sabol tried to throw Davis out at third. McDonald scored the Ags second run on Gregory's single.
The Aggies added to their lead in the fourth inning when sophomore right fielder Rocky Spencer hit a blast to center field. Spencer's home run added three runs to the Aggie advantage as senior designated player Lindsay Wilhelmson and freshman third baseman Laura Durham crossed home on Spencer's round-tripper. The home run was Spencer's first of the season and second of her career.
Oregon took a step closer in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to center field by third baseman Ashley Richards. They added another run in the fifth on a Richards single to the right field gap that scored Breanne Sabol.
A&M added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Davis and McDonald scored again. Davis reached on a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and stole home on a double steal with McDonald. McDonald scored after she reached on a single, stole second, advanced to third on a throw home and finally crossed the plate on a Gregory ground-out to shortstop.
Redshirt freshman Jill Weynand earned her second win of the season after throwing five innings of work. The right-hander from Frisco, Texas gave up three runs, two earned, on seven hits and three walks in the effort. Wilhelmson earned her first save of the season as she took over in the circle in the sixth inning and closed out the game. Wilhelmson pitched two innings and did not allow a run while striking out two batters.
"I thought we played really well against Oregon," Texas A&M Head Coach Jo Evans said. "Jill (Weynand) got herself in to a big jam but got out of it, that was exciting. I really wanted to see how she handled that situation because she is going to be in it at times. I thought she really kept her composure and did a good job. I thought Wilhelmson did great in relief. She came in and really slammed the door on Oregon. Offensively I thought we did a great job, especially with our two freshman Sharonda (McDonald) and J.D. (Joy Davis)."
In the game against Arizona the Wildcats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Michelle Schultz hit a single up the middle scoring Autumn Champion and Wendy Allen. Champion reached base on a bunt single and Allen was walked.
Arizona added three runs in the second inning off of three hits, a walk and one error. Kristie Fox started the inning with a single and later scored on a throwing error by Aggie catcher Kristin Gunter. Caitlin Lowe scored the Cats second run after earning a walk, stealing second, advancing to third on the throwing error and finally crossing the plate on Champion's single. Champion scored the final run of the inning on an Allen single.
The Cats added their sixth run of the contest in the third inning on a Kristie Fox home run to left-center. They tacked on a seventh run in the seventh inning when Champion recorded her third hit of the game and proceeded to move around the bases after two walks. Champion scored from third on fielder's choice up the middle.
The Aggies mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth as they posted their first three hits of the game and their lone run. Spencer led off the inning with a single to center and eventually scored after advancing to second on a single by McDonald and moving to third on a fielding error by the Arizona third baseman.
Arizona added their eighth run in the top of the off of the seventh when third baseman Jackie Coburn reached third on an error by outfielder Rocky Spencer and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kristie Fox.
Arizona hurler Alicia Hollowell improved to 5-0 on the season as she threw seven innings giving up one run on five hits while striking out nine.
A&M freshman Christina Smith got the start but only lasted two innings. Smith gave up five runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks while recording one strikeout. Senior Jessica Kapchinski made her first appearance of the season when she entered in relief for Smith in the third inning. She finished out the game by throwing five innings and giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits and four strikeouts.
"To beat a team like Arizona we are going to have to come out and play your best and we didn't do that," Evans said. "Christina (Smith) is learning and this was a good learning experience for her. She has to be able to get ahead of hitters and throw strikes. I thought Kapchinski was a bright spot. She hasn't played in a long time but I thought she came in and did nice job. I think that will be a boost for her. I was encouraged that we competed. Early on I didn't feel like we were there and in the later innings I like that we were still pushing, trying to get a good at-bat and trying to score some runs."
A&M takes the field again on Saturday at 4:30 (CST) when they take on No. 5 Washington. They play New Mexico immediately following the conclusion of the Washington game. Live scoring updates will be available on AggieAthletics.com.
