April 15, 2006
Amanda Scarborough was 3-for-3 in game two with a three-run home run, two doubles, a walk and three runs scored to help the No. 15 Texas A&M softball team (30-12, 9-3) split the two-game series (6-14, 7-0) with the Iowa State Cyclones (18-20, 2-6) on Saturday at the Southwest Athletic Complex in Ames.
?I thought our kids did a nice job to get focused after the first game,? commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. ?I told them we can either feel sorry for ourselves or get our here and make an adjustment and that?â„¢s what our kids did. In both games we scored a run in the first inning and that?â„¢s really critical, it helps your pitcher out. I thought we hit the ball really well, took our walks and had some people really step-up and hit the ball hard.?
The Aggies posted two runs in the first on Scarborough?â„¢s first double of the game and a single by second baseman Jami Lobpries.
In the third inning, Scarborough led-off with her second double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Rocky Spencer.
Then in the sixth, Jamie Hinshaw extended her hitting streak to eight games with a solo blast. Three batters later, Scarborough recorded RBI 18, 19 and 20 off her fourth home run of the season, a deep shot over the left-center field fence.
The Aggies turned two impressive double plays in game two to stifle any scoring threat the Cyclones may pose.
Scarborough recorded the complete game shutout, her 15th complete game and fifth shutout of the season. With the win she improved to 14-5. Scarborough worked seven innings, allowing no runs on four hits. She struck out three and did not walk an ISU batter.
Amy Ford dropped to 10-9 on the season with the loss. She worked six complete, giving up all seven of the Aggies?â„¢ runs before reliever Katie Reichling was brought in for the last A&M at-bat.
Despite eight of the nine Aggie starters registering a hit, including a 5th-inning grand-slam by designated player Beverly Rowan that put the Aggies up 6-5, A&M dropped game one of the doubleheader to the Cyclones, 14-6.
Iowa State out hit A&M 13-11 in the first game, scoring nine runs in the last two innings to bring the run-rule into effect. In the field, the Aggies committed four errors to the Cyclones one.
Lisa Gorzycki (1-3) came in to relieve starter Megan Gibson in the fifth with a one-run lead. Gorzycki was charged with the loss after giving up eight runs on seven hits in an inning plus of work.
Gibson came back to the circle in the sixth, with no outs and two runners on. She ended the game having worked four plus innings allowing six runs on six hits. She walked two and struckout one.
Alyssa Ransom improved to 8-11 for ISU with the win. She worked six complete allowing six runs on 11 hits. Ransom walked four Aggies batters and struckout three.
Scarborough was named State Farm Player of the Day, with the shutout in the circle and then going 3-for-5 on the day, at the plate, with four runs scored and four RBI.
?The difference between the two games was that Scarborough was outstanding in the circle in the second,? Evans said. ?She threw a lot of ground balls and our defense made plays. Whereas, in the first game, we just didn?â„¢t take care of the ball. We had three or four errors there that were routine plays that made it difficult for us to have a chance to win the game, but Scarborough went out there and did a great job. She deserves a lot of credit.?
A&M returns to action in the friendly confines of the Aggie Softball Complex, Wednesday as it hosts the Baylor Bears in a single game. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.