March 25, 2006
A walk-off homerun in the bottom of the seventh by Jami Lobpries lifted the 15th-ranked Texas A&M softball team (22-9, 2-0) to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks (15-15, 0-1) in front of 1,125 fans, the eighth largest crowd at the Aggie Softball Complex, on Saturday.
?If we only give up one run, we ought to win a ballgame,? commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. ?Right now we?â„¢re a team that has to play great defense and get good pitching and we?â„¢re doing that. I?â„¢m proud of our kids for going out there and keeping us in ballgames. Our defense is giving us a chance to win and our pitchers, as well, so that we can get some looks at the plate and have someone step-up big.?
The Jayhawks posted their only run of the ballgame in the top of the fourth on four consecutive singles. Jessica Moppin recorded her 12th RBI of the season scoring Nettie Ferros on a single into left field.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, senior Rocky Spencer drew a walk. Lobpries sent the 1-2 pitch deep over the left field wall to drive in both the tying and winning runs.
The homerun was Lobpries?â„¢ second of the season, her first coming in the 5-0 over Cal State Northridge in the Judi Garman Classic.
?Jami Lobpries has really been swinging the bat well.? Evans noted. ?She is an aggressive hitter. She will get up there and get her cuts and won?â„¢t get cheated. She is very competitive.?
Megan Gibson improved to 11-3, throwing a complete game, allowing one run on four hits. She walked one and struckout three.
Kassie Humphreys (6-10) recorded the loss for Kansas. She threw 6.2 innings giving up two runs on three hits, striking out six and walking four Aggie batters.
Lobpries was named State Farm Player of the Game with her two-run blast to win the game.
The Aggies and Jayhawks will meet for the second game of the two-game series Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Live audio and stats will be available at AggieAthletics.com. Fans attending the games can listen to the broadcast inside the stadium on 89.9 FM.
Tickets for this weekend, and all home games, are available at the gate and by calling 1-888-99-AGGIE.