By ROBERT CESSNAOKLAHOMA CITY -- The Texas A&M softball team waited 13 years to rejoice winning the Big 12 tournament, yet the Aggies had no problem getting on the bus and leaving. That's because they expect to be back, celebrating much greater accomplishments.
A&M wrapped up a business-like weekend with a 5-0 victory over Nebraska on Sunday at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, earning the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
The fifth-ranked Aggies (49-7) were awarded the No. 5 seed by the NCAA selection committee Sunday night. A&M will host a four-team regional this weekend, which will include Auburn, Louisiana Tech and Stephen F. Austin.
The regional winners will move on to a best-of-3 Super Regional. If the Aggies win their double-elimination regional, they'll host the winner of the Amherst Regional, which is being hosted by Massachusetts but includes 12th-seeded Stanford.
A&M won its regional last year and beat Florida in Super Regionals to reach the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, ending a 19-year hiatus. But there the Aggies went 0-2, which has been the impetus for this team to return.
The Aggies are 7-2 against Top 25 teams in nonconference play this season, set a school record for league victories en route to the regular-season title at 17-1, and then allowed only one run in three Big 12 tournament games.
A&M players congratulated each other after the final out, donned championship T-shirt and hats, then posed for pictures with friends and family. There were lots of hugs and smiles, but nothing wild.
"We were debating a dog pile," senior third baseman Jamie Hinshaw said. "But, we're like, 'No, we're gonna to do that for the World Series. We're gonna save it.'
"So, I think that's what's so exciting. We're waiting to do all the celebrating a little later on in the season."
A&M head coach Jo Evans said the team also didn't show much emotion when it clenched the league's No. 1 seed at Nebraska.
"It's not that we are taking it for granted," she said. "[But] our expectation is to win. When you feel like you have that confidence and talent, and expectation, then the element of surprise isn't there."
She's also proud that her team never acts obnoxious and is respectful of its opponent.
A&M certainly could have been boastful after its two-day blitz through the tournament. Right-handed pitcher Megan Gibson was exceptional, allowing only one run in three games. A&M's defense was solid, making only one error, which came on a tough play late in the Nebraska game. A&M hitters had some tough luck in the first two games, but had 10 hits against Nebraska.
"This is exactly what we came her to do," said Evans, who had been worried about the Aggies' nine-day layoff between their final regular-season game and Saturday's tournament opener.
Gibson (33-1) had her second shutout of the weekend. She allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked two -- her first walks of the tournament, which ended a string of 14 2/3 innings without a walk.
"Actually, I didn't feel as sharp," Gibson said. "I felt really sore. But I think in these situations, it's all about mental toughness, and just a lot of focus. And that's really what I relied on."
Her teammates made it a little easier with two runs in the second and three more in the fourth.
Hinshaw, Holly Ridley and Erin Glasco strung together singles to open the second for a 1-0 lead. A&M added another run on Macie Morrow's bloop single just over shortstop Whitney Barrett, who thought Ridley interfered with her chance to make the catch. The umpires didn't think so, after conferring when Nebraska head coach Rhonda Revelle came out to protest.
A&M put the game away with a three-run fourth inning as Jami Lobpries, Morrow and Kelsey Spittler had singles.
All that was left was the celebration, and what the players think will be a return trip to OKC.
"One of the best feelings I've had as a coach is when we pulled up in the bus, that first day to come here and practice," Evans said. "It felt like we were playing where they play the College World Series. That we were back in that realm, where before, it's always been it's where we play the Big 12 tournament."
Evans, Hinshaw and Gibson, however, did say it was nice to get that monkey off the program's back of having never won the tournament.
"We haven't played well in this tournament in the past," Evans said. "We came out this weekend and really looked good. I thought we had a great team effort."
Added Hinshaw with a laugh, "Well, as a joke we tell everybody we broke the curse for all future Aggies, that they can win the tournament now."
Nebraska (25-28) had its string of playing in 13 straight NCAA Tournaments halted. The Cornhuskers were the league's first 10th seed to reach the championship game.
NOTES -- Gibson, who missed her graduation commencement Saturday, was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Hinshaw, Ridley and catcher Erin Glasco joined her on the all-tournament team. Nebraska's selections included junior right fielder Haley Long, who starred at Brenham. ... A&M is now 18-20 all-time in the Big 12 tournament, while Nebraska is 33-17. ... Rhiannon Kliesing and Morrow helped resolve a couple question marks in the batting lineup, Evans said. Kliesing who had a two-run homer in a 3-1 victory over Texas on Saturday, had a single Sunday and solidified herself as the leadoff hitter. Morrow, who was 5 for 33 entering the tournament, was 3 for 6 and singled in both innings A&M scored against Nebraska.
• Robert Cessna's e-mail address is robert.cessna@theeagle.com.
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