Texas A&M
Houston
Aggies Take Two from Houston
Feb 22, 2006 | Softball
February 22, 2006
The 8th-ranked Texas A&M softball team (9-2) handed the Cougars of the University of Houston (10-3) two losses (7-2, 4-1) on windy Wednesday night at the Aggie Softball Complex.
?The scores certainly aren?™t indicative of the kind of games they were,? commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. ?I thought Houston played very well and hit the ball well. They are the kind of team that really keeps you on your heels. They have some kids that can swing the bat and I think their pitchers did a good job tonight too.?
The Aggies scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth on four hits to hand the Cougars their second loss of the season and break their 10-game winning streak.
Starting Houston pitcher, Candi Kloecker threw a no-hitter entering the sixth. She walked Jamie Hinshaw. Amanda Scarborough then laid a sac bunt down to advance Hinshaw. Kloecker chose to put Megan Gibson and Holly Ridley on base with intentional walks, loading the bases. Ronda Smith was credited with an RBI on an error by the Cougar right fielder Laurie Wagner. Rocky Spencer singled to leftfield, driving in Ridley and pinch-runner Kristine Test. Joy Davis sent a three-bag shot into left scoring Spencer. Sharonda McDonald laid down a perfect bunt and scored along with Davis on a Hinshaw single to right. Hinshaw was then thrown out trying to advance to second to end 10-batter inning.
Houston tried to mount a small comeback in the top of the seventh as Elaina Nordstrom hit a towering shot into the wind for a solo homer. Christa Raley walked and stole second and scored on Angel Shamblin?™s double to leftfield.
Gibson recorded the complete game victory (5-0), giving up two runs on three hits while striking out six.
In game two of the doubleheader it was the Cougars who struck first. In the top of the first, Jessica Valias reached on an infield single and Katie Bush laid down a sac bunt advancing Valias to second and then later to third on a wild pitch. Nordstrom then hit a sac fly to leftfield scoring Valias.
A&M had the opportunity to tie the game and score leadoff hitter, McDonald, in the bottom of the first. Hinshaw singled to right but McDonald was thrown out the plate.
The Aggies tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Hinshaw reached first and advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman. Scarborough hit a clutch double to score Hinshaw. Spencer followed-up with a walk before Smith sent a shot to the train-tracks giving A&M a 4-1 lead.
Scarborough improved to 3-2 with the complete game victory. She gave-up one run on five hits while striking out nine.
?I was really proud of our kids and really proud of Amanda Scarborough,? said Evans. ?She pitched great; and did a good job of finding a way to get outs. I am really impressed with the way she was able to gut it up.?
Smith was named State Farm Player of the Day with the three run blast that put the Aggies on top in game two.
The Aggies will be traveling to Cathedral City, Calif. this weekend to play in the Palm Springs Classic. You can access live audio and stats for this weekend?™s games by logging on to AggieAthletics.com.
NOTE: Hinshaw extended her hitting streak to seven games. McDonald stole her 64th consecutive base, 100th career.
