No. 16 seed A&M breezes by UAlbany in NCAA Tournament opener, 6-2

Game #54: #1 Texas A&M 6, #4 Albany 2
Records: Texas A&M (41-13, 15-9), Albany (33-13, 14-6)
WP: Emily Leavitt (9-2)
LP: Wendi Hammond (24-9)
Save: Shaylee Ackerman (1)
Box Score

Business was handled.

Behind a five-run first frame on a beautiful Friday evening in Aggieland, No. 16 national seed Texas A&M downed the UAlbany Great Danes with ease, 6-2.

"We got our first win here, which was the most important thing," head coach Trisha Ford said. "This win sets us up for tomorrow."

Back at Davis Diamond, the Aggies felt the love of the 12th Man from the jump, and on the opposing end, Albany felt the pressure.

"They were kind of scared in the first inning," Albany coach Chris Cannata said. "That's your fear going in — that the kids will be in awe of the stadium and nervous. I am proud that they settled down after that."

The overwhelming environment didn't prevent the Great Danes from striking first.

After Emily Leavitt walked Albany's Morgan Petty, Maddi Petrella stepped up and hammered a two-run bomb that cleared the left-field scoreboard.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Koko Wooley was the only Aggie to register a multi-hit afternoon, finishing 2-for-4. A&M only had nine total hits in the win.

Yet, the Great Danes' scoring would stop there as the Aggies found their own aggression at the plate.

A&M punched back with a five-spot in the first inning as Koko Wooley kick-started the offense.

"I had no doubt in our mind that our pitchers could get us back in the game," Trinity Cannon said. "Our bats were hot. We were really aggressive this game."

The Aggies' leader in batting average (.370) later scored thanks to a two-RBI single from Cannon to tie the game.

The Ags didn't end there as they kept finding their way around the bags.

With Amari Harper at the plate and the bases loaded, the first baseman snuck a hit past the shortstop to score Julia Cottrill. Kramer Eschete followed suit, plating two with a single through the left side.

A&M's offense dwindled throughout the following innings, only scoring one additional run from a sac fly in the third.

In the circle, Leavitt pitched four innings, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out three.

In relief, Shaylee Ackerman did her job and did not allow a run in three innings of relief.

"They are very capable," Ford said of Leavitt and Ackerman. "We have to get them back on the horse. I thought we had good moments and ones they would like to adjust a little more. At the end of the day, for us to get through this regional, we have to have every one of our arms. This was a great opportunity for them to come out and get a win."

With the win, A&M will face a familiar opponent in Texas State on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT, looking to keep the victories rolling.

"It will be like a conference series," Trisha Ford said. "We are very familiar with each other. We will have to one-up them."

The Bobcats walked off A&M earlier in the year in a midweek clash.

On Saturday, the Aggies have the opportunity to even the score when it matters.