February 24, 2006
The No. 8 Texas A&M softball team (9-3) dropped the first game of the Palm Springs Classic (13-7) to No. 22 Oregon (7-5) on Friday at the Fenway Worth Field in Cathedral City.
?We shot ourselves in the foot,? commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. ?I wasn?â„¢t pleased with the way the way we handled ourselves, the way we handled the pressure and I thought we really played back on our heels. We have a lot to learn. We have a lot of talent but today I think our youth showed. We took ourselves out of the game.?
Megan Gibson recorded her first RBI of the day in the top of the first inning when she drove in Sharonda McDonald who reached first on an infield single and then stole second.
With bases loaded in the bottom of the first, Kayleen Hudson hit a longball over the leftfield fence putting the Ducks up 4-1.
The Aggies posted another run in the top of the second. Rocky Spencer reached on a walk and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Oregon third baseman, Joanna Gail. A&M catcher, Patti Wunderlich then dropped in single over Gail?â„¢s head to score Spencer.
Aggie starting pitcher, Amanda Scarborough was lights-out in the second, striking out all three of Oregon batters.
Jamie Hinshaw extended her hitting streak to eight games in the third, beating out a play to first and bringing the Aggies within one run. Hinshaw moved to second on a stolen base and then to third on Gibson fly ball deep to right field. She then scored when Holly Ridley was thrown out at first on a hit to second.
To leadoff the bottom of the third, Duck rightfielder Lovena Chaput doubled to the right-centerfield gap and scored on Hudson?â„¢s single up the middle. Hudson moved to second on a fielding error by Ridley and scored on Hinshaw?â„¢s throw to home that got past Wunderlich. Pinch hitter Kristi Jorgensen then walked to load the bases. Scarborough hit outfielder Kristi Barnes to bring-in Gail from third. The next batter, Sari-Jane Jenkins flew to second, Jami Lobpries dropped the ball, threw home to get one out. Wunderlich attempted to throw down to second for the next out but the ball sailed into centerfield, allowing another Oregon run to cross the plate. Breanne Sabol tripled down the rightfield line to clear the bases. Chaput brought Sabol in on a dropped ball by McDonald in shallow center. Beth Boskovich was hit by a pitch and Hudson walked to once again load the bases.
With bases loaded, Lisa Gorzycki entered the game for Scarborough (3-3) who ended the day giving up 11 runs, four earned, walking five and striking out five.
Gorzycki retired the first batter she faced to end the third. She pitched two innings and a third giving up three hits and two earned runs.
In the top of the fifth, McDonald reached on an infield single. She stole second and moved to third on the catcher?â„¢s throw into centerfield. Hinshaw recorded an RBI with a liner to the centerfielder, McDonald tagged on the play making the score 11-4 in Oregon?â„¢s favor. Gibson reached on a single through the right side but was thrown out at second on Ridley?â„¢s fielder?â„¢s choice. Scarborough drilled a double in the left-centerfield moving Ridley to third. Spencer lined a single between third and shortstop to score Ridley. Ronda Smith sent a ball to the fence in center, scoring Scarborough and Spencer and bringing the Aggies within four.
The Ducks countered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, putting them back on top 13-7. Gorzycki gave up back to back walks before McDonald dropped a ball in center. Scoring on the play was Leiter and Hudson.
?We did out hit them (Oregon) and gave ourselves a couple of chances to get back into the game,? Evans said. ?I was proud of the way our hitters hung in there, but you hang your hat on your defense. When you don?â„¢t make plays its going to be tough to win games.?
Junior Jill Weynand finished the game in the circle for the Aggies, throwing one inning, giving up no hits and striking out one.
Scarborough was named State Farm Player of the Game, going 3 for 4 with two doubles.
The Aggies next game will be at 8:00 p.m. Friday against No. 1 Arizona (11-0).
NOTE: McDonald stole her 66th consecutive base without being thrown out.