Simmons, White record two hits apiece in Game 2

Box Score     Box Score 2
GREENSBORO, March 13, 2007 – Mamie Jones has plenty of pitching this season, but it is coupled with youth. But the only way the 13-year head fast-pitch softball coach knows how to make them better is by getting them on the mound. On Tuesday, Jones got a couple of quality starts from her young staff, but could not hold off Gardner-Webb as the Aggies lost both games of a doubleheader, 7-2 and 8-2.

Yahamma White and Chaola Simmons went 2-for-3 in the second game with Simmons earning an RBI.

In the first game, Sasha Philpot (6-5) gave up just four earned runs, while striking out seven Bulldogs, but the normal potent offense of the Aggies produced just four hits in the game. In Game 2, freshman Channing Statham (0-2) had an impressive showing in just her second start, going 5.2 innings, giving up just three earned runs on four hits.

Through four innings, she held the Bulldogs scoreless, but ran into trouble in the fifth when Jessie Williams hit a hot shot off of her glove and it rolled slowly to second baseman Lillian Bullock, allowing Williams to reach. Many Ward sacrificed her to second, which set up what would turn out to be a big play in the game.

Kelly Linsley hit a groundball to Aggies first baseman Jessie Larson. Larson decided to attempt to throw out lead runner at third, but Williams slid under Deanna Keys’ tag, putting runners at first and third with one out. Williams scored on a wild pitch, Abbie Looper followed with a walk and Melody Harrell cleared the bases with a two-run triple to left-center field to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.

The Aggies fought back in their half of the fifth. The Aggies loaded the bases thanks to a Statham walk, a Yahamma White base hit and Dial later reached on an error.

But the Bulldogs pitcher Angie Walls got a big out when she forced Larson, the Aggies leader in RBI, to foul out to the catcher. Walls’ wild pitch, however, helped Statham scored the Aggies first run of the game. Veney would walk to reload the bases, but in another crucial play, Dial was picked off at second by Ward for the second out.

A walk to Bullock loaded the bases for a third time in the inning and Chaola Simmons came through with a base hit to left field to make it 3-2.

Down 5-2 in the sixth, the Aggies had another chance to take the lead as Veney, the potential go-ahead run stood at the plate with two outs. But Veney’s line drive shot the left went straight to Williams, the Bulldogs’ left fielder.  The Bulldogs would add two runs in the sixth and three runs in the seventh to add to give themselves a cushion as the Aggies went quietly in the seventh.

The Aggies dropped to 9-16 on the year and will travel to Western Carolina on Thursday to play the Catamounts in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.