Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Texas A&M (NCAA Regional)
Softball Drops First Game Of NCAA Tournament
May 15, 2003 | Softball
May 15, 2003
Tucson, Ariz. - The Boston College softball team dropped its opening game of the NCAA Tournament Thursday afternoon at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium on the campus of University of Arizona. The Eagles fell to Texas A&M, 8-4. BC falls to 33-21 on the season and will play Princeton Friday morning at 12:00 p.m. EST in the loser's bracket. The Princeton Tigers fell to South Carolina, 8-7.
BC dug itself into an 8-0 hole before striking for a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The Eagles gave up single runs in the second and third innings before Texas A&M broke open the game with a six-run fourth inning. The Eagles battled back to cut the deficit in half, but would not get any closer.
Texas A&M belted a leadoff triple and, with two outs, scored its first run with a single up the middle. A solo home run in the third inning gave the Aggies a 2-0 lead. Two walks, three singles and a grand slam gave the Aggies six runs in the fourth inning for its 8-0 advantage.
BC chipped away at the lead with two runs in the fifth inning. Kimmy Hopkin (Dove Canyon, Calif.) began the inning with a single. Elena Ferrero (Van Nuys, Cali.f) followed with a walk and both players scored when Jacqui Goodchild (West Hills, Calif.) connected for a single to deep right center. An attempt by the right fielder to throw Hopkin out at the plate resulted in an error that scored Ferrero.
In the sixth, Lisa Fischer (Coopersbug, Pa.) led off with a walk and scored one pitch later when Erin Mackey (River Forest, Ill.) blasted a two-run home run to left center field. The Eagles would get no closer than their 8-4 margin.
Tekae Malandris (Chula Vista, Calif.) took the loss on the mound, pitching three innings. She allowed five hits and three earned runs. Kim Ryan (Bay Shore, N.Y.) pitched three innings of relief, allowing six hits and five earned runs.
BC hopes to stay alive with a win over Princeton Friday at 12:00 p.m. EST. If the Eagles win, they will play again at 10:00 p.m. EST.
