April 06, 2007
Megan Gibson and Amanda Scarborough both pitched complete game shutouts as the 4th-ranked Texas A&M softball team (31-6, 5-3 in Big 12) handed the Nebraska Cornhuskers (27-13, 3-4 in Big 12) two 1-0 losses on a windy Friday night at the Aggie Softball Complex.
?We always say it doesn?â„¢t have to be pretty, it just has to be a win,? A&M head coach Jo Evans said. ?What was pretty was our pitching and their pitching was, too. Our defense was great and made plays when we needed to make plays. When you?â„¢re not swinging the bat as well as you need to, you better pitch and play defense and that?â„¢s exactly what we did. Our kids looked comfortable on defense and did a nice job tonight.?
After registering just one hit in the first game of the doubleheader, the Aggies started the nightcap with back-to-back singles by Sharonda McDonald and Macie Morrow. However the damage was done in the third inning as Gibson became the Aggie career leader in home runs with her two-out solo shot, to give A&M its 31st win of the season. The long ball came on a 2-1 count and was the 40th of Gibson?â„¢s career, it served as her 26th RBI of the season.
?People just need to understand what a huge accomplishment that was for Megan, to reach that milestone,? Evans said. ?Megan is now among the ranks of some really amazing hitters that played at A&M, I think that is really awesome.?
The Huskers threatened to score in the second with runners on second and third and just one out, but Scarborough dug down and struck out Carmen Kier and Alex Hupp to end the inning.
Scarborough (15-4) went on to earn the win, working seven complete, allowing just three hits. She struck out nine batters and did not allow a free pass.
?I love seeing no walks from Scarborough,? Evans ended. ?She was ahead of the hitters most of the time and just seemed to be in total control. Amanda is just exuding confidence out there.?
It was Morrow, the Aggies?â„¢ freshman shortstop, who came through in the clutch in the first game, hitting a walk-off single that scored Bailey Schroeder from second base in the bottom of the eighth. The single also ended the no-hitter Nebraska?â„¢s Molly Hill had going through seven 1/3 innings.
Hill worked a complete game for the Huskers, allowing just the one run off one hit. Hill walked eight Aggie batters, including Schroeder to start off the eighth inning.
Gibson (13-2) earned the win in the first game, working all eight, giving up five hits and one walk. She struck out five. Gibson allowed just two Husker batters to reach scoring position.
McDonald snapped her 21-game hitting streak, going 0-for-2 with a walk in the first of the two games. She ended the evening having gone 2-for-5.
A&M returns to action on Wednesday in a single game against the Islanders of Texas A&M- Corpus Christi. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex.