Saturday, May 15, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - Catcher Jennifer Golden (Fr., Conyers, Ga.) hit
a two-run homerun in the bottom of the third inning, and had all
three runs batted in for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball
team (39-19) as the Islanders defeated Winthrop (42-24-1), 3-0, to
repeat as Big South Conference champions. With the win,
A&M-Corpus Christi earned the automatic bid to NCAA
regionals.
The win extended the Islanders' team-record win streak to 17 games.
Winthrop had appeared in three of the last four Big South
tournament championship games.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Sarah Pauly (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.)
took control of the game early on, fanning the first six and last
seven batters she faced, allowing just one hit over the game's
seven innings. The junior right-hander has posted 37.2 consecutive
shutout innings, and has allowed just one earned run over her last
100.2 innings. The game marked the 24th time this season Pauly
fanned at least 10 batters. Pauly now has 429 strikeouts this
season, and needs just two more to tie the single-season mark of
431, which she set last year.
Facing an 0-2 count, right fielder Christy Cortez (Jr., Portland)
blooped a one-out single to right field in the bottom of the first
inning. A fielding error by third baseman Lindsey Merriman on a
ground ball from shortstop Megan Hansen (Fr., Chandler, Ariz.) gave
A&M-Corpus Christi first and second, and third baseman Katie
Evans' (Sr., Tempe, Ariz.) sacrifice bunt moved the runners into
scoring positions. A bouncer up the middle by Golden plated Cortez
to put the Islanders ahead, 1-0.
Left fielder Shana Washington (Fr., Houston) was struck by a pitch
with one out in the Islander second, and moved to second on a
slap-hit single by centerfielder Michelle Petree (Fr., Peoria,
Ariz.). Eagle starter Shahna Ashard retired the next two batters to
escape the jam.
Stephanie Turney led off the top of the third with a double to
centerfield, and moved to third base on a ground out from Ashard.
First baseman Lindsey Maxey (Jr., Shiner) avoided the backstop to
catch a foul pop up for the second out of the inning. Pauly struck
out Big South RBI leader Janiva Willis to preserve the lead.
In the Islander third, Evans was struck by a one-out offering from
Ashard, and Golden followed with a two-run blast to right field,
pushing A&M-Corpus Christi's lead to 3-0. The homerun was
Golden's fifth of the season, and first since March 13th.
Washington drew a leadoff walk in the Islander fourth, and moved to
third on back-to-back bunts from Petree and second baseman Erica
Armenta (Fr., Winslow, Ariz.) to load the bases. Winthrop relief
pitcher Danna Haydar induced a two ground balls and a foul fly ball
to escape the jam.
Golden paced A&M-Corpus Christi offensively with a
two-for-three performance at the plate with a homerun and three
RBI. Cortez went one-for-three with one run scored, and Washington
drew a pair of walks. Pauly struck out 15 batters and allowed one
hit.
Pauly, Golden, Washington, and Cortez were all selected to the Big
South Conference All-Tournament Team. Pauly's selection as
tournament MVP marked the second straight year that she received
the honor.
The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team will await Sunday's
regional selection show to determine which regional site they will
travel to.
