Softball Downs Nebraska 3-1, Advances to Big 12 Semifinals
May 11, 2007 | Softball
May 11, 2007
The 7th-ranked Texas A&M softball team (40-9, 12-6) used two runs in the sixth inning to beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers (37-18, 10-8) 3-1 in Friday?™s quarterfinal game of the 2007 Big 12 Championships at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
?I thought we did a great job of setting the table from the get-go,? A&M head coach Jo Evans said. ?Sho (McDonald) really went out there and set the tone. We stranded a lot of runners tonight, but I love the maturity of our team not to panic and go ?'oh great we missed our opportunities?™ and now we are uptight. We didn?™t, we stayed really loose and just set the table and then got some really timely hits.?
Nebraska plated an early run in the first as starting pitcher Amanda Scarborough walked Meghan Mullin before giving up a double to Devin Porter into left-centerfield. The run would be the only one the Huskers could scratch across as Scarborough retired 19 of the next 21 batters faced.
It took until the fifth inning for the Aggies to push a run across. Jamie Hinshaw reached on a one-out single down the right field line. With two outs, Scarborough hit a single to move Hinshaw to third. Jami Lobpries came up with a clutch single hit to Porter at shortstop for the RBI.
With a 1-1 tie in the sixth, Macie Morrow broke out of a hitting drought, dropping a short single just in front of home plate. Lisa Gorzycki laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Morrow to second. McDonald lined a shot at Porter who overthrew first base allowing Morrow, the go-ahead run to come home. McDonald gave the Aggies a little insurance, scoring on Hinshaw?™s third single of the day.
Scarborough recorded the victory, her 21st of the season. She worked seven complete, giving up just one run on three hits. Scarborough walked one and struck out four Husker hitters.
?Amanda could have caved after that first inning, but she didn?™t,? Evans said. ?When she came off the field and crossed that foul line she said that?™s all they are going to get, and I thought alright, we are okay. She was feeling good about herself and great things happen when she is feeling good about herself.?
Nebraska?™s Molly Hill (17-9) was charged with the loss. She worked five and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs, one earned on nine hits and two free passes. She struck out four hitters. Ashley DeBuhr finished the game in relief of Hill.
Hinshaw was 3-for-4 on the night with a RBI and a run scored. McDonald was 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored.
The Aggies will play the winner of the Baylor/Texas Tech quarterfinal on Saturday at 11 a.m. Fans can listen live on www.AggieAthletics.com and locally in Bryan/College Station on Sports Radio 1150 The Zone.
