February 26, 2006
The No. 8 Texas A&M softball team (10-6) fell 5-6 to the Cal State Fullerton Titans (8-7), Sunday at the Palm Springs Classic in Cathedral City.
?I thought through the first five innings our hitters were outstanding,? commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. ?Their approach was great and we took walks when they got them. We didn?â„¢t always get a timely hit but I thought our kids did a good job. In the sixth and seventh when we got behind and I felt like we pressed a little and started chasing pitches we hadn?â„¢t chased early on.?
The Titans plated two runs in the top of the first. The first two Fullerton batters reached on singles and were moved over on a sacrifice bunt. Ashley Van Boxmeer lined a shot into rightfield for an RBI. Jenna Wheeler then hit to Holley Ridley at short bringing in the second Titan runner.
Starting pitcher Megan Gibson helped her cause in the bottom of the first by belting her fifth homerun of the season, bringing in leadoff batter Sharonda McDonald who reached on a walk and evening the score two-all.
Gibson worked herself out of a jam in the second. After retiring the first batter, third to first, the next two Titan batters hit singles into leftfield. Molly Perez laid down a sac bunt for the second out, moving the runners up to second and third. Gibson was able to put trigger on a change-up to strikeout Candice Baker and escape the inning without any runs.
The Aggies took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third on a Patti Wunderlich single up the middle that scored Ronda Smith who walked. The next batter, Ridley hit a sac fly to left to bring in Rocky Spencer who also walked earlier in the inning.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, the Titans?â„¢ Crystal Vieyra singled up the middle and then second baseman Amanda Kamekona hit a homerun to tie the game at four.
The Titans capitalized on an Aggie error in the top of the fifth to take the lead. Ridley bobbled a liner to short that allowed Van Boxmeer to score from third.
In the top of the seventh Fullerton increased their lead by one on a single to rightfield by Katie Gollhardt scoring Jenna Wheeler who reached on a double in right-centerfield.
Gibson brought the Aggies within one in the bottom of the seventh nailing a solo shot over the leftfield fence. The rally wasn?â„¢t enough however as Scarborough flew out and Smith grounded out to end any further threat by the A&M.
?I think (this tournament) is going to be a great character builder,? Evans concluded. ?We talked about it in the huddle after the game. It is absolutely critical that we shake (the losses) off, work hard in practice, get our heads straight and start to play with some confidence.?
Gibson recorded the loss, dropping to 5-2 on the season. She threw four and two-thirds, giving up five runs, four earned and struck-out one.
In relief, Lisa Gorzycki threw two and one-third innings giving up one run on three hits with two strikeouts.
Gibson was named State Farm Player of the Day going 2 for 4 with two homeruns and three RBI.
Note: McDonald stole her 68th consecutive base in the bottom of the first.