May 17, 2008

Box Score

COLLEGE STATION - Megan Gibson is a two-time All-American and she showed why Saturday as the senior threw a two-hit complete game shutout leading Texas A&M to a 4-0 win over Louisiana Tech in the College Station regional.

With the win, the Aggies (51-7) advance to Sunday's championship game at noon while Louisiana Tech falls into the losers bracket and faces possible elimination with a 5 p.m. Saturday game against the winner of Auburn and Stephen F. Austin.

"In order for us to bounce back we have to bring our A-game," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "We came in here today intimidated by our surroundings and the team we played, and that's something we hadn't been doing. We didn't make the routine plays defensively."

Gibson (35-1) was masterful in the circle, allowing only two infield hits - a Kylie Bassett single to third base in the second inning and an Emma Barnes bunt single in the sixth inning.

She also struck out 11 batters in the game while registering zero free passes. Louisiana Tech (36-28) never advanced a runner past first base in the game.

A&M took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Jami Lobpries registered a two-out bloop single to right field, scoring Jamie Hinshaw from third. On the play, Tech right fielder Lyndsey McIlwain slipped on the outfield grass preventing her from getting to the ball as it fell in, giving the Aggies the lead.

Texas A&M then took advantage of a throwing error with two outs in the third plating its second run of the day. With runners on first and third and two outs, Gibson stole second base. Tech catcher Regan Clark's throw to second was on target but the Tech middle infielders failed to cover the bad and the throw bounced off of Gibson allowing Rhiannon Kliesing to score from third.

Tech starter Krissi Oliver kept her team close, allowing only three hits and two runs - one earned - in 6.0 innings of work.

Freshman Wanda Malone came on in relief to begin the seventh and surrendered a leadoff single to Kelsey Spittler who then advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout by Kleesing.

Natalie Villarreal then singled to right field, scoring Spittler and upping the advantage to 3-0.

Malone then induced a ground ball from Gibson, but third baseman Summer Young's throw to second to try to get the lead runner sailed into the outfield, allowing Villarreal to score from first on the play and giving the Aggies a 4-0 lead.

Freshman Meghan Krieg came on in relief of Malone and retired the Aggies without any more damage.

Gibson retired Tech in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Oliver (18-14) was the hard-luck loser despite surrendering only one earned run.