February 17, 2007
Junior third baseman Jamie Hinshaw went 5-for-7 on the day with three runs scored and an RBI to help the No. 3 Texas A&M softball team move to a perfect 9-0 start on the season with a 7-4 win over Rutgers (0-4) and an 11-0 five-inning run-rule of Arkansas (3-6) in front of 1,139 fans Saturday night at the Aggie Softball Complex.
?I was very pleased with our overall play tonight,? commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. ?I really like the way the freshman played. They all got a chance to get in and every one of them got at least a hit. We made a few mistakes but still found ways to win.?
The Aggies plated three runs in the first inning against the Scarlet Knights and another in the third to take a 4-0 lead all the way to the fifth before back-to-back Rutgers?â„¢ singles broke freshman pitcher Emily Shadow?â„¢s no-hitter. Rutgers managed to score a run before a 5-6-3 double play ended the inning.
Ronda Smith gave the Aggies?â„¢ the insurance runs they would need secure the win in the top of the seventh when she blasted a three-run home run over the center field fence. The home run was Smith?â„¢s first of the season.
The Scarlet Knights mounted a comeback in their last at-bat scoring three runs of their own on a single and then back-to-back doubles by Nicole Lindley, Christine Royland and Ashley Hartley. However Shadow was able to coax two fly outs and a ground out to stifle any further scoring opportunities.
?Rutgers did a good job to battle,? Evans continued. ?They were very aggressive and managed to come back within a couple of runs. I liked our poise on the field. We didn?â„¢t panic. We made plays and got the job done.?
Shadow earned her first win of the season, working seven complete innings in the circle. She gave up four runs, two earned on eight hits. She struck out one.
?Emily went out and did a good job. She pitched a complete game and I think she learned some things and it gave us the opportunity to learn some things about her,? said Evans.
In the Aggies?â„¢ second game, freshman shortstop Macie Morrow?â„¢s three-RBI double in the second inning was only the beginning of a phenomenal night at the plate for the entire A&M team. The Aggies managed eight of their 11 runs in the second inning off eight consecutive base hits.
Every Aggie that came to the plate against Arkansas logged at least one hit. Freshman designated player Alex Reynolds and pitcher Megan Gibson each went 2-for-2 with a run scored. Reynolds drew a walk in her other at-bat while Gibson was hit by a pitch.
?I was especially pleased with the way we came out tonight against (Miranda) Dixon,? Evans concluded. ?She gave us fits last night and our kids really struggled against her. To see us come out and make adjustments at the plate, that?â„¢s the sign of a good team, that we didn?â„¢t let her get in our head. We said we can make some adjustments and be better. We hit the ball really hard tonight against Arkansas throughout our lineup. Gibson did a nice job for us in the circle in the second game.?
Gibson was 3-for-3 on the day at the plate and earned her fourth win on the mound, against Arkansas. She worked four innings allowing no runs, just two hits and one free pass. Lisa Gorzycki finished off the last inning for A&M in the circle, striking out one Lady?â„¢Back batter.
With a stolen base in each game today, McDonald extended her streak to six consecutive games with at least one stolen base.
The Aggies conclude the 2007 Aggie Classic on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. with a game against Texas-San Antonio.
Fans wanting to purchase season and individual game tickets can do so by calling 1-888-99-AGGIE or logging on to www.AggieAthletics.com.