The Battalion Page 7 Monday • March 31, 1997 ady Aggies split two Big 12 doubleheaders By Jamie Burch Softball Complex, the Lady Aggies opened its sec­ managed to score just two runs in the bottom of The Battalion ond season of Big 12 play against Iowa State Uni­ the fifth inning, losing 8-2. versity (12,10, 1-1) Saturday, and the University of Between Game 1 and 2, injured Head Coach Joe [instead of spending Easter weekend looking Nebraska (13-15, 2-2) Sunday. Evans took the field to talk with her team. Jackson :eggs, the Texas A&M Softball Team (22-19, 2- Leading the Cornhuskers 2-1 in the top of the said Evans’ speech aimed to motivate her frustrat­ [spent the holiday searching for its first confer- sixth inning of Game 2 yesterday, junior pitcher ed team. iipp Ice win. Trina Solesbee walked the first two batters of the “She told them they were a better team than Playing a pair of doubleheaders at the Aggie inning. Following a conference on the mound what happened in the first game,” Jackson If" with Assistant Coach Joy Jack- said. “She said they were letting son, Solesbee settled down. yesterday’s (Saturday) loss af­ Nebraska first baseman Rachel “I was really happy fect them. Coach Evans also Dunham grounded to third with the second said they needed to focus, play base, but reached on the field­ their game and stop hanging ers’ choice when third base- win today (Sun­ their heads. man Kami Tucker stepped on “She also reminded them third to retire the lead runner. day). Seven innings they have to come out ready to But a passed ball allowed the ago, I was very dis­ play every inning,” Jackson said. runners to advance. “And if the opponent scores, not With two runners in scoring appointed in where to get down on themselves.” position, Solesbee got out field­ we were.” Saturday’s loss came in Game er Jennifer Williams to ground 2 of the doubleheader against the out and struck out second base- Joy Jackson Cyclones. After winning the man Alice Brewer to end the Assistant coach opener, 4-2, the Aggies took a Cornhusker scoring threat. four-run lead into the sixth in­ Solesbee retired the side in ning of the nightcap. order, in the top of the seventh Solesbee, the starting pitcher, inning, for the complete game. surrendered four straight singles and two runs to Jackson said Solesbee redeemed herself from start the sixth. Senior pitcher Lori Gioco entered Saturday’s loss to Iowa State with her performance. in relief. A passed ball allowed another run to ■ “Trina did an outstanding job,” Jackson said. cross the plate. Gioco then relinquished an RBI “She came back and proved to herself and to single to junior designated hitter Jaime Kahler her teammates that she can play with the best and freshman shortstop Jessica Polo, to cap off of them. When she walked the two batters with the five-run inning. no outs, I went out to talk to her. She said she Splitting both doubleheaders, the Aggies stand was okay. at .500 (2-2) in the Big 12. Jackson said she has “I could see the fire in her eyes and knew that she mixed feelings about this weekend. was going to get the job done.” “I was really pleased with the second win to­ Solesbee said the two walks forced her to focus. day (Sunday),” Jackson said. “Seven innings ago, “I was just missing (the plate) by a little bit,” I was very disappointed in where we were. One Solesbee said. “You just have to push yourself inning cost us the chance of being 3-1, which I that much harder. You have to get it done or we think played over into the first game today. could lose.” “Honestly I feel like we could have been 4-0.1 The Aggies’ one-run victory in Game 2 resulted guess I’m not real happy, but I’m thrilled with the Rogge Heflin, The Batealion in a series split with Nebraska. In Game 1, the Ag­ second (conference) win. Our players know they Rogge Heflin, The Battalion - Senior outfielder Gina Perez checks her swing gies fell behind 8-0 after the Cornhuskers posted could be 4-1. With the Big 12 the way it is, it’s any­ Sophomore third baseman Kami Tucker celebrates her home run uagainst Iowa State Saturday. five runs in the top of the fourth inning. The Aggies body’s to win.” against Iowa State Saturday. rdi A&M tracksters pick up gold Rangers make another run at title TEXAS RANGERS Sportswriter Greer will patrol left. SEATTLE MARINERS Larry Wade turned in a NCAA qualifying time The Rangers got a Dean Palmer returns to Seattle is clearly the best offensive dose of reality in their third base and Mark team in baseball. The question for this Staff and Wire Report first-round playoff loss McLemore to second. team lies in their pitching staff, espe­ Will Clark should have a Despite placing second to the University of Texas to the eventual World Se­ cially in the arm of Randy Johnson. ries champion New York huge year after having The only surprise going into the Saturday at the annual dual meet between the two Yankees last season. close to 20 bone chips season is Jose Cruz, Jr., who didn’t teams, the Texas A&M Men’s and Women’s Track and They needed some help removed from his el­ make the team. Instead, Rich Ama­ Field teams had plenty to be proud of as they won eight in the bullpen — bad. So bow. Benji Gil will step in ral will start 1997 in left field with and 10 gold medals, respectively. what did they do? Noth­ at short. And as always, Ken Griffey, Jr. in center and Jay Although falling to the University of Texas 89-74, ing else but sign the best Jeremy Furtick the best catcher in base­ Buhner in right. The best designat­ the men’s team recorded several carreer-best times. closer in baseball and Senior journalism ball, Ivan Rodriguez, will ed hitter in basebali, Edgar Mar­ Leading the men’s team was Larry Wade, who last year’s World .Series major be behind the tinez, will anchor the rest recorded a NCAA qualifying time of 13.61 in the 1 IO­ MVP, John Wetteland. plate and of the lineup which in­ meter hurdles in his first meet since his back injury Wetteland will take the spot of Mickey Tettleton will cludes Russ Davis at last season. Mike Henneman, who had more do the DH’ing. Sc. ^ third base, Alex Other gold winners in the men’s track events in­ than his share of problems closing The Rangers Rodriguez at clude the 1600-meter relay team, with a time of games last season. The rest of the proved last year • short and Paul 3:11.05, and the 400-meter relay team (40.02). Also bullpen is juiced-up too. Rookie Dan­ they weren’t af­ Sorrento at first. claiming gold medals were Danny McCray in the 200- ny Patterson, who has had a stellar fected by the Dan Wilson will m meter dash (20.81), Travis McAshan in the 400-meter spring, and Xavier Hernandez, will pressure of the do the catching. hurdles (52.44), and Derrick Woods in the 400-meter share the role of set-up man. Julio playoff drive, Without dash (52.44). Santana, Ed Vosberg and Jose Alber- even with Seattle Johnson, this In men’s field events, Russell Nuti continued his ro will round out the middle relief. hot on their trail. team is not going quest to break 200 by winning gold in the discus with The starting rotation is one of A healthy Clark to the postseason, a throw of 193-9, while freshman Travis Grasha placed the most solid one-through-five will more than ^ y ^ _ as evident by last first in the javelin with a freshman record throw of staffs in the league. Ken Hill, John make up for the drop­ year’s absence from 217-1. John Nance vaulted 16-3.25, almost a foot Burkett, Darren Oliver, Roger Pavlik off in power numbers the playoffs. With the Big from Kevin Elster to Gil and the higher than his nearest competitor, taking first place and Bobby Witt are all returning Unit headlining the rotation, the ", from last year’s rotation that led bullpen will shut opponents down. combination of Jeff Fassero, Scott in the pole vault. Look for Dean Palmer to challenge Despite losing 79-65, several Lady Aggies had big baseball in victories. Manager Sanders, Jamie Moyer and Solomon Johnny Oates’ philosophy calls for for the home run crown. Torres doesn’t look that bad. But days. In women’s competition, Kelli Schrader and An- Projected Record: 97-65 janette Kirkland led the Lady Aggies by accumulating a staff full of No. 3 starters, and with without him, Bob Wolcott gets the Key Series: July 10-13 @ Seattle call and Fassero is the ace. The loss five gold medals. the exception of Hill and Burkett, Mariners. Texas suffered a four- of Mike Jackson from the bullpen Schrader led the Lady Aggies with three golds by he has just what he asked for. 1996 AL MVP Juan Gonzalez will game sweep at the end of last sea­ will hurt this team. They are left placing first in the hammer throw (118-9), the discus lead the deadly Texas offense onto son in Seattle that almost cost with Bobby Ayala, Rafael Carmona, (161-2), and the shot put with a throw of 40-10.5.