A&M softball squad opens season with pair of victories

Special to the Eagle

TEMPE, Ariz. - Timely home runs by juniors Jamie Hinshaw, Megan Gibson and Amanda Scarborough helped lead the 13th-ranked Texas A&M softball team to a 4-3 victory over No. 4 Northwestern and a 10-2 win over No. 21 Fresno State in the opening day of the Kajikawa Classic on Friday.

Hinshaw went a combined 3 for 7 with three runs scored and five RBIs, hitting a game-winning three-run homer against Northwestern.

Down 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh against Northwestern, A&M's Joy Davis and Sharonda McDonald both drew walks and Jami Lobpries laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Hinshaw sent a towering shot over the left-center field fence for the walk-off homer.

Scarborough and Gibson each earned a win in the circle.

Scarborough threw all seven innings against Northwestern, allowing three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out six.

Gibson worked six innings against Fresno State, giving up one run on five hits and striking out a career-high nine while walking one.

Davis stole her school-record 38th straight base against Northwestern but was thrown out trying to steal against Fresno State, ending her streak.

The Aggies will continue play in the Kajikawa Classic on Saturday with two games, facing No. 3 UCLA at 4:30 p.m. and Utah at 6:30 p.m.