March 19, 2006
Holly Ridley?â„¢s two-run homerun in the bottom of the fifth gave the No. 18 Texas A&M softball team (20-8) all the run support it would need to advance to the championship game in the Judi Garman Classic.
The Aggies beat the No. 14 Washington Huskies (22-8) 3-1, Sunday in the second semi-final game. With the win, A&M advances to play the No. 4 Texas Longhorns in the championship game set for 3:30 p.m.
The Huskies threatened to score in the top of the third on back to back infield singles by Marine Koziol and Dominque Lastrapes after Dena DePompa struckout to start the inning. However starting pitcher Amanda Scarborough dug in, striking out Ashley Charters and Ronda Smith made a diving catch in shallow left field to exit the inning without allowing a run.
Ridley blasted the two-run bomb in the top of the fifth to put the Aggies on top 2-0. Jami Lobpries started the inning with a double down the left field line. Patti Wunderlich moved Lobpries to third on a sac bunt before Ridley sent the 2-2 pitch over the fence for her ninth and 10th RBI of the season.
Washington was able to push a run across in the top of the sixth on a bobbled ball by Aggie third baseman Jamie Hinshaw.
The Aggies added two runs in the bottom half of the sixth. Scarborough laid down a bunt to reach first and Smith laid down a sac bunt and Spencer hit a double up the middle to drive in pinch-runner Joy Davis to increase A&M?â„¢s lead 3-1. Ridley recorded her third RBI of the game on a fielder?â„¢s choice to bring in Spencer pushing the Aggies ahead 4-1.
Scarborough (8-4) earned the complete game victory, her 10th of the season. She gave up four hits, walked one and struckout nine.
Ridley was named State Farm Player of the Game with the game-winning blast in the fifth.
You can access live stats for the championship match against the Longhorns by logging onto AggieAthletics.com.