Texas A&M
A&M-Corpus Christi
Aggies Finish 3-2 in St. Joseph Aggie Invite I
Feb 22, 2004 | Softball
February 22, 2004
The No. 15 Texas A&M softball team (8-7,0-0) finished 3-2 in the St. Joseph Aggie Invitational I. They completed play with a 4-0 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sunday. Senior right-hander Jessica Kapchinski earned her first win of the season after throwing four innings, striking out six and allowing no runs on just two hits.
Shortstop Adrian Gregory drove in the first run of the game in the first inning with a ground out to the shortstop, plating center fielder Sharonda McDonald from third. McDonald led of the inning with a slap-single to short and stole second, her 10th of the season, before advancing to third on a Rocky Spencer single.
Gregory recorded her second RBI of the game in the third inning with a single to right center scoring right fielder Rocky Spencer from second. Spencer reached second when she hit a double to center field, her second double of the season.
A&M added two runs in the fourth, giving them a 4-0 advantage, off of one hit, one error, two walks and one hit-by-pitch. Catcher Nicole Robinson was awarded an RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in pinch runner Lisa Gorzycki. Gorzycki was on the base path in place of sophomore Kristin Gunter who led off the inning with a single to right center. After designated player Lindsay Wilhelmson walked, and was replaced with pinch runner Morgan Hebert, the baserunners executed a double steal leaving first base open for an intential walk to freshman third baseman Laura Durham. The Aggies added their second run of the inning when Islander third baseman Katie Evans made a fielding error on a Sharonda McDonald hit, and Hebert scored the Ags fourth run on the error.
Freshman Christina Smith pitched three innings in relief allowing two hits while walking one and striking out two batters.
The Aggies look to have a good week of practice and take some lessons they learned in to next weekend's tournament.
"I thought our pitchers did a really nice job of using their changeup and mixing up pitches," Coach Evans said. Jill (Weynand) had the one tough outing against Illinois, but aside from that I thought our pitchers did a good enough job for us to win all of our games. It was a matter of us taking the ball and playing good defense. It is tough on a pitcher when we give the other team way too many outs in an inning by not taking care of the ball. I think we learned a lot in the sense that you hang your hat on defense. Defense is going to win championships, it is a clich? you always hear but it is very true, so we have to play solid defense and keep ourselves in the game when we happen to be struggling at the plate. We will keep working this week and see how it all plays out."
The Aggies take the field again next weekend when they host the St. Joseph Aggie Invitational II, beginning on Friday at 10 a.m. In their second and final home tournament of the year A&M welcomes in the University of Oregon, Penn State University and Southern Mississippi. A&M has already faced, and beaten, Oregon this season and Evans knows next weekend will be another tough test.
"Oregon is a great team. We played well against them and I would like to see us get back to where we are bing more aggressive at the plate and attacking on offense. I don't see us doing that right now. I think we are a little too tentative at the plate. Penn State is always good. They have come down here a few different times and they always give us a tough challenge. Southern Mississippi is aggressive and they get their cuts."
The University of Illinois (9-2-1) took home the tournament title as they went 5-0 on the weekend.
Aggie Invitational I
Friday Results
10 a.m. Illinois defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1-0
12:15 p.m. Boston defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 10-2
2:30 p.m. Texas A&M defeated Boston 4-0
4:45 p.m. Illinois defeated
Saturday Results
10 a.m. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi defeated Boston 5-2
12:15 p.m. Illinois defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 7-0
2:30 p.m. Illinois defeated Texas A&M 4-3
4:45 p.m. Texas A&M defeated Boston 1-0
Sunday Results
10:00 a.m. Illinois defeated Boston 3-0
12:00 p.m. A&M defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4-0
