March 10, 2005
Texas A&M outfielder Jana James went 5-for-9 on the day with two home runs and seven RBI to lead the No. 11 Aggies (23-2) in a two-game sweep of the Houston Cougars (13-12) at the Cougar Softball Field on Thursday.
James (Mesquite, Texas) was named the State Farm Player of the Day after going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in the first game followed by an equally impressive performance in the nightcap where she was 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and two runs scored.
"It feels good to come out of here with two wins," commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. "Houston is a very dangerous ball club and we did a great job of putting together two solid performances."
In the first game, James' first-inning two-run home run to center field scored Sharonda McDonald (Houston, Texas) from third giving the Aggies the early lead. McDonald reached on a single before advancing to third on a wild pitch and a sac bunt by Jamie Hinshaw (Missouri City, Texas).
In the third inning, Megan Gibson (Spring, Texas) made it 4-0 Aggies with her league-leading 11th home run of the season, a two-run shot over the scoreboard in right.
Pinch runner Jami Lobpries (Wharton, Texas) scored the Aggies' fifth run of the game when she crossed the plate on a wild pitch in the fourth. She was running for Lindsay Park (Arcadia, Calif.) who reached on a throwing error. James made it 7-0 Aggies when she hit a bouncing single over the third baseman's head scoring Joy Davis (Austin, Texas) and McDonald. Amanda Scarborough (Magnolia, Texas) then gave the Aggies an 8-0 lead with a sac fly to center scoring Hinshaw from third.
With the Aggies up 8-0, the Cougars were able to avoid the fifth-inning run rule with two runs but couldn't avoid it in the sixth when Hinshaw and Gibson scored on a passed ball and a sac fly (Scarborough), respectively.
The Aggies' run rule victory was their 10th of the season and the first time the Cougars have been run-ruled since last season.
With the game-one win, Scarborough remained perfect in the circle after taking a no-hitter into the fifth on her way to a 12-0 mark.
In game two, Adrian Gregory (Livingston, Texas) hit the Aggies' third home run of the day, and her sixth of the season, on a towering shot to left putting the Aggies up 1-0 in the second inning.
Later in the inning, Weynand collected her first career home run on her first career hit with a two-out solo home run to center giving the Aggies a 2-0 lead.
McDonald made it 3-0 A&M in the third when she singled and stole her way to third before crossing the plate when UH catcher Lindsay Vanover attempted to throw out Hinshaw at second. Hinshaw moved to third on a single by James before scoring on her second passed ball of the day making it 4-0. Gregory then made it 5-0 with a single to center scoring James who reached on her second single of the day.
After Houston made it 5-2, James continued her hot day at the plate with a two-run homer in the fourth, giving her three on the season.
Houston tacked on two in the fourth and two in the fifth before A&M pushed one across in the sixth. Gregory made it 8-6 when she scored from second a Park single through the right side.
In the top of the seventh, James drove in her seventh RBI of the day on a groundout to first that scored McDonald from second after she reached on a single and stole second for her fifth stolen base of the game, a career high. After Gibson reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Lobpries came in to pinch run and made it 10-6 when she was plated by a Scarborough single.
Weynand got the win and improved to 6-1 on the season with Scarborough earning her first career save.
The Aggies take the field next Friday when they begin play in the Florida Atlantic Classic. Log on to AggieAthletics.com for tournament details.