The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M
Softball falls to No. 5 Texas A&M, 3-0
04.25.2007 | Softball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The No. 18 Texas Softball team's pitching staff combined to hold Texas A&M to three runs, but the Longhorns managed just three hits as they fell to the fifth-ranked Aggies, 3-0, in front of 1,809 fans Wednesday night at the Aggie Softball Complex.
The loss dropped UT to 29-16 on the year and 4-9 in Big 12 play, while Texas A&M improved to 37-7 overall and 11-4 in league play.
Longhorns' starter Meagan Denny (18-13) suffered the loss for UT, tossing three innings and surrendering two runs on four hits before giving way to Erin Tresselt. Texas A&M righthander Amanda Scarborough (20-4) picked up the victory, throwing a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out seven.
"Amanda Scarborough is a great pitcher and she came out and threw a tremendous game tonight," head coach Connie Clark said. "She kept us off-balance all night and when we did have opportunities we were not able to capitalize on them."
Aggies' senior centerfielder Sharonda McDonald led off the Texas A&M first inning rally with a single through the left side. Macie Morrow followed with a walk, but McDonald was erased when rightfielder Megan Gibson reached on a fielder's choice. Junior pitcher Amanda Scarborough advanced Morrow and Gibson with a single to centerfield and a bases-loaded walk to Jami Lobpries plated Morrow and gave the A&M an early 1-0 advantage.
Texas A&M added individual tallies in the third and fifth, using a pair of one-out doubles to rightfield by Gibson to start both threats. Scarborough followed with a hard-hit single to centerfield in the third, allowing Gibson to score from second and push the Aggies lead to two. Texas elected to walk Scarborough after Gibson reached in the fifth, and when Lobpries was hit by a pitch the bases were loaded for the Aggies. First baseman Alex Reynolds registered a two-out single through the left side with the bases loaded, scoring Gibson to give A&M a 3-0 lead.
"Scarborough came out and did a great job," sophomore rightfielder Kacie Gaskin said. "She had more speed, more control and she was much sharper than when we faced her at our place."
"Her pitch selection was superb tonight and her defense really helped her out," Gaskin continued.
Texas managed just three hits in the game, tallying a pair of singles in the second inning, when Gaskin and senior first baseman Jacqueline Williams posted back-to-back singles. Gaskin reached on a one-out single through the middle, but was gunned down attempting to steal second base. Williams followed with a bloop-single down the rightfield line, but was stranded at second base. Gaskin added a second single in the seventh, but was left on base along with freshman shortstop Loryn Johnson, who reached on an A&M error.
The Longhorns return to action Thursday, April 26 when it takes on Texas Tech in a doubleheader, beginning at 5 p.m.
