April 24, 2005
Texas A&M centerfielder Sharonda McDonald went 2-for-3 with a run and three RBI in her 100th consecutive start as the No. 5 Texas A&M softball team (41-4, 12-2) held on to the top spot in the Big 12 with a run rule of Texas Tech (22-21, 2-12), 8-0, in front of 1,028 fans at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Jana James (Mesquite, Texas) was named the State Farm Player of the Game after a 3-for-3 one-run and two-RBI performance.
"I like the way we got contributions from every player," commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. "Offensively we were able to get hits up and done our lineup and our pitchers and defense did a great job keeping them (Texas Tech) off balance and off the bases."
In the circle, Megan Gibson (Spring, Texas) earned the complete-game win improving to 9-2 after holding the Red Raiders scoreless and allowing only two hits.
In the first, Sharonda McDonald (Houston, Texas) led off with a single for the second day in a row and stole second before coming around to score on James' first double to left center.
In the third, James then made it 2-0 with another double to left center scoring Jamie Hinshaw (Missouri City, Texas) from second after she reached on a double to right center. Amanda Scarborough put the Aggies' third run across with a single to left field plating Hinshaw before Rocky Spencer made it 4-0 with a bases loaded walk scoring Megan Gibson. McDonald then broke it open with a three-run triple to left lifting A&M to 7-0 lead.
After Adrian Gregory (Livingston, Texas) led off the fifth with a single, pinch runner Jami Lobpries (Wharton, Texas) made it a run-rule when she was plated by Nicole Robinson's pinch hit single up the middle.
With the win, Texas A&M improved to 16-9 all time against Texas Tech.
The Aggies extended their home win streak to 16 games.
Texas A&M takes the field again on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when they host No. 4 Texas in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown.
Live stats and audio of Wednesday's game will be available, free of charge, on AggieAthletics.com. Fans attending the game can listen live by tuning into 89.9 FM.
Wednesday's match will also be televised nationally on ESPN2.