March 23, 2005
Texas A&M pitcher Amanda Scarborough improved to 16-0 and 1-0 in the Big 12 as the No. 7 Aggie softball team (29-2) rolled over the No. 7 Baylor Bears (29-4), 7-1, in front of an above-capacity record crowd of 1,288 at Getterman Stadium in Waco.
Scarborough, who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, was named the State Farm Player of the Game after striking out four, allowing only three hits and going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two home runs at the plate.
"What a great statement our kids made tonight," commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. "They came out and made the decision to win and they took charge from the beginning. Sharonda did her thing in the first inning and what can you say about Amanda's performance. She was spectacular in the circle and matched that with an equally impressive performance at the plate."
Sharonda McDonald (Houston, Texas) got the Aggies started quickly in the first with a lead-off single before stealing second, her 41st consecutive stolen base, before scoring on a foul fly by Jana James (Mesquite, Texas) to the catcher. McDonald put her speed to work when the Bears left third base uncovered on James' popup behind the plate. Baylor catcher Melissa Huffines' throw down sailed over the third baseman's head and got away from the left fielder allowing McDonald to slide into home giving the Aggies a 1-0 lead.
Scarborough (Magnolia, Texas) put the Aggies up 2-0 in the second when she hit the 2-0 pitch over the 220 foot sign in center for her fifth home run of the season.
She then made it 3-0 A&M in the sixth with a double through the left side scoring pinch runner Jami Lobpries (Wharton, Texas) from first. Lobpries was running for Megan Gibson (Spring, Texas) after she was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
One batter later, Adrian Gregory (Livingston, Texas) followed Scarborough's lead with a double of her own to left center that plated Scarborough and put the Aggies up 4-0.
McDonald then drove in the team's 67th two-out RBI with a single up the middle scoring Rocky Spencer (Katy, Texas) from second after she reached on a walk and moved to second on a Joy Davis (Austin, Texas) walk.
Scarborough drove in her third and fourth runs of the night in the top of the seventh with her second home run of the night, this one a towering shot over the left field wall scoring Megan Gibson who reached on an error by the first baseman.
The Aggies faced three different Baylor pitchers after knocking out starting pitcher Kristin Vitek in the fourth.
Texas A&M improved to 47-13 all-time against Baylor and recorded their first win in Waco since 1999..
A&M's win snaps a 10-game season win streak and a 10-game home conference win streak dating back to last season.
The sellout crowd was the first sellout in Getterman Stadium history.
Texas A&M continues conference play on Friday and Saturday when they host No. 18 Nebraska at the Aggie Softball Complex. Friday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m. with Saturday's first pitch slated for noon.
Live stats and audio of the Nebraska games will be available, free of charge, on AggieAthletics.com. Fans attending the games can listen live by tuning into 89.9 FM.