Texas A&M 2, Texas Tech 0 (Final)

May 2, 2003

Fifth-seeded Texas A&M used a couple of dazzling defensive plays to hold off No. 9 seed Texas Tech, 2-0, in Game 7 of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Softball Tournament at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. Texas A&M will play the winner of No. 2 seed Oklahoma State and No. 6 seed Nebraska Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Texas Tech threatened in the top of the first when Esmerelda Perez led off with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Shayne Gipson. An out later, Perez was gunned out at the plate by centerfielder Cheryl Fowler as she attempted to score on a Kelly Rhyne single. A&M starting pitcher Jessica Slataper escaped the first inning unscrathed.

Texas A&M got on the board in the second thanks to a solo blast by Lindsay Wilhelmson. The Aggies manufactured an unearned run off Tech starting pitcher Amie Stines in the third inning when leftfielder Jana James drove in Rocky Spencer who reached by error.

The Red Raiders only mustered one hit after the first but it was nearly enough. Tech shortstop Kristi Robles was robbed by James who reached over the leftfield fence to take away a would-be two-run homer.

Tech closed its season with a 22-41 record, while A&M improved to 35-19.

Texas A&M Head Coach Jo Evans
On rebounding from the loss against Oklahoma earlier in the day:
"I felt good coming into this game because we played well in the first game. It is no fun to play poorly and then have to turn around and play again. The fact that we didn't win was very dissapointing and our team was a bit dejected after the game, but on the other hand, they knew they played well."

On Jana James robbing Kristi Robles of a two-run home run:
"I said that that was the difference maker. If she doesn't make that catch, then it is 2-2 and anything can happen from that point. That was huge. She had a couple other balls that she got a nice jump on, had a good read and made some nice plays."

Texas Tech Head Coach Bobby Reeves
On what he told his team following the game:
"I told them, `Well, you've heard my last Gipper speech of the year.' Our record is not very good at all, but the thing I can say about this bunch is that they never gave up. Not in any game we played. You give me six more inches on the ball (Kristi) Robles hit and we're still playing."

On Kristi Robles' near two-run homer:
"It was absolutely deflating. Especially for a senior in her last at bat. Of course we had our chances in the first inning and I probably made a bad decision in sending the runner. But you never know where the throw is going to go and you do what you think you've got to do. This is a tremendous group of kids. They've battled all year and have had some adversity. But they've held their heads up and faced it head on. That's a tribute to our five seniors and I guarantee I'm going to miss them."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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