February 09, 2007
Timely home runs by juniors Jamie Hinshaw, Megan Gibson and Amanda Scarborough helped lead the 13th-ranked Texas A&M softball team to two victories (4-3, 10-2 ) over No. 4 Northwestern and No. 21 Fresno State in the opening day of the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
Hinshaw earned State Farm Player of the Day accolades after going 3-for-7 with three runs scored and five RBI, including the game-winning blast against Northwestern.
?It?â„¢s nice coming into this tournament playing so well,? commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. ?I thought our pitchers did a really nice job, Scarborough and Gibson both. They were both in control the entire time. They made some very good pitches. We gave up a few runs, mostly on our mistakes, which we can correct. I?â„¢m not overly concerned about that. I thought our kids did a good job to bounce back.?
Scarborough and Gibson each earned a win in the circle. Scarborough threw seven complete against Northwestern, allowing three runs on five hits. She walked only one Wildcat batter and struck out six. Gibson worked six innings in the circle, giving up one run on five hits and struck out a career high nine batters allowing just one free pass against Fresno State.
The Aggies went down 1-0 in the top of the first against Northwestern in A&M?â„¢s first game of the tournament, when starting pitcher Scarborough walked lead off batter Katie Logan. Logan would advance to second on an error and eventually score on a passed ball.
A&M would even the game in the bottom of the second when Gibson led off with a walk of her own and was able to score on a bases-load walk by Sharonda McDonald.
The game remained tied through the next four innings, as Scarborough retired 11 consecutive batters, after the walk to begin the game, before giving up a bleeder up the middle to Wildcat shortstop Tammy Williams in the top of the fourth.
Northwestern would come back to take control of the lead in the top of the seventh. Jessica Rigas was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Back-to-back singles by Kelly Dyer and Darcy Sengewald scored Rigas and another passed ball brought in Sengewald, putting the Wildcats up 3-1.
In the Aggies?â„¢ last inning to bat, Joy Davis and McDonald both drew walks to put the tying runs on base. Jami Lobpries laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Hinshaw found the sweet spot on the bat as she sent a towering shot over the left-center field fence for her first walk-off home run of the season.
?It?â„¢s always a thrill to win a game with a walk-off home run,? Evans continued. ?Hinshaw stepped up there and did a great job. JD and Sharonda set the table and then Lobpries laid down a great bunt. That?â„¢s the way you write it up and it?â„¢s nice to have it come through.?
In the Aggies?â„¢ second game of the day, it was again their opponent who got on board first as Fresno State?â„¢s Kristin Sylvester reached on a walk, advanced on a single and then eventually scored on an Aggie throwing error.
In the top of the third, Gibson belted her first home run of the season, 31st of her career to tie the game one-all.
In the top of the fifth, Hinshaw reached on a single up the middle, stole second and then scored on a two-run blast by Scarborough to dead center, putting the Aggies up 3-1.
A&M would add to its lead in the sixth when Davis lined a single into left field. McDonald advanced Davis to second where she would eventually score off a shot into center field by freshman Macie Morrow. One batter later, Hinshaw would push the Aggies up 5-1 with a double in the left-center field gap.
After a Bulldog pitching change, as Scarborough walked, Hinshaw stole third. Gibson lined the ball up the middle for an RBI single, giving A&M a 6-1 lead.
Hinshaw and Scarborough would combine, yet again, to push the Aggies up 9-1. With the bases loaded, Hinshaw hit the ball to second base scoring Davis. McDonald and Morrow would come home on a single up the middle by Scarborough. Freshman Mandy Gegen entered the lineup to pinch hit for Ronda Smith, she drew a walk to bring in A&M?â„¢s 10th run of the game.
The Bulldogs brought five batters to the plate in the seventh, scoring one run as the Aggies went on to win 10-2. Lisa Gorzycki finished the seventh inning in the circle giving up one run on two hits, she struck out one.
On the day, Gibson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI and drew three walks. Scarborough drove in four RBI on two hits and a walk.
?Against Fresno, the kids just showed great discipline at the plate, they really did all day,? Evans concluded. ?They saw two All-American pitchers today and didn?â„¢t panic and didn?â„¢t get frustrated. They just did a really nice job of staying disciplined at the plate and taking their walks. I really liked our approach at the plate today.?
The Aggies will continue play in the Kajikawa Classic on Saturday with two games. The first set for 4:30 p.m. against N0. 3 UCLA and then A&M turns around to face Utah at 6:30 p.m.
Fans can listen to all games this weekend live and free of charge on aggieathletics.com through the new Aggies All-Access. Those attending the tournament can listen to the action inside the Tempe Sports Complex on or around 89.9 FM.
NOTES: Davis stole her 38th consecutive base against Northwestern; one attempt later her consecutive stolen base record dating back to Feb. 20, 2004 was snapped. As a team A&M drew a combined 17 walks on the day.