April 02, 2005
The No. 6 Texas A&M softball team (33-2, 4-0) scored four in the sixth and five in the seventh as they downed Kansas (15-14, 0-3), 13-1, at Arrocha Ballpark on Saturday.
The Aggies continue their school-record start as they improved to 33-2 on the season while extending their win streak to 17 games.
"We were just finding holes today," commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. "They were throwing some good pitches but we did a good job taking advantage of the walks and spreading the ball around the ballpark."
The Aggies drew 10 walks and tallied 14 hits en route to their 4-0 conference start.
McDonald, who has started in 90 straight games since coming to A&M last season, stole one bag on the day moving her one stolen base shy of the career record of 83 set by Lisa Klam from 1999-2002.
In the circle, Amanda Scarborough (Magnolia, Texas) improved to 19-0 on the season and 4-0 in Big 12 play without allowing a walk. The Jayhawks' run in the third broke up her streak of 46.2 innings without allowing an earned run
Lindsay Park (Arcadia, Calif.) was named the State Farm Player of the game with a 2-for-3 performance including a fielder's choice, a sac bunt, resulting in a run, and one RBI.
After earning a two-out walk in the first, Jana James (Mesquite, Texas) stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before Scarborough singled through the left side to put A&M up 1-0.
Kansas tied the game in the third but A&M answered with two in the fourth to extend their lead to 3-1. Rocky Spencer's (Katy, Texas) double to left center scored Adrian Gregory (Livingston, Texas) before she was plated by a throwing error on the second baseman to give A&M a two-run lead.
After doubling off the wall in the fifth and stealing third, Megan Gibson (Spring, Texas) scored the Aggies' fourth run on a Park single through the right side putting A&M up 4-1.
James put the Aggies up 5-0 in the sixth with a bases-loaded single to left scoring Davis from third. With no outs in the inning, Gibson stepped in and singled to right scoring Sharonda McDonald (Houston, Texas) and Jamie Hinshaw (Missouri City, Texas). Gregory then drove in the eighth run for the Aggies with a sac fly to left scoring James from third.
Pinch hitter Lisa Gorzycki (Bryan, Texas) made it a 9-1 Aggie lead with a single to shallow center scoring McDonald and loading the bases. After Hinshaw scored on a wild pitch, Scarborough hit a three-run homer to left-center giving the Aggies a 13-1 lead.
With the win, Texas A&M improved to 35-14 all time against Kansas as they out hit the Jayhawks 14-6 while stealing five bag.
The Aggies and Jayhawks will close out their two-game series on Sunday at noon at Arrocha Ballpark.
Live stats and audio of this Sunday's game will be available, free of charge, on AggieAthletics.com.