Pitching staff shines as Aggies sweep third day of A&M Invitational
Double the wins, double the fun.
A pair of gems from Emily Leavitt and Shaylee Ackerman lifted the Maroon & White to commanding wins over Michigan State and Texas-A&M Commerce in Saturday’s doubleheader of the Texas A&M Invitational at Davis Diamond. The duo combined for 17 strikeouts through 12 innings of work as the Aggies remain perfect to start the 2023 campaign.
Game 1: Texas A&M 4, Michigan State 0
In spite of 40-degree temperatures, Leavitt had no trouble staying hot inside the circle.
Behind her brilliant complete-game shutout, the Aggies cruised to a decisive 4-0 victory over Michigan State in the first game of the twin bill.
Leavitt persisted through all seven innings, allowing just four hits and issuing one walk alongside eight strikeouts.
“I thought (Emily) Leavitt did a great job of pounding the zone and throwing her offspeed, which allowed her to throw seven complete innings,” Aggie head coach Trisha Ford said.
The Minnesota transfer set the tone from the onset as she struck out her first batter before inducing Cam Wincher into a 7-6-3 double play to end the frame. Offensively, the Aggies benefited from three unearned runs to immediately stake a 3-0 lead.
Leavitt retired the side in order in the second inning, and the Aggies added extra insurance when Julia Cottrill’s sacrifice fly plated Koko Wooley.
A&M’s control of the mound held firm until Leavitt gave up two singles and a walk in the fourth. With the Spartans threatening for the first time, Leavitt maintained composure after a brief visit and ultimately worked around the bases-loaded jam to preserve the shutout.
“I just think she’s dynamic, honestly. She’s able to control both sides of the plate and throw an offspeed,” Ford said of Leavitt. “When she has command of her changeup, she can go up, down, in and out, and it makes things hard as a hitter.”
Despite all of the Aggies’ five hits coming through the first two innings, offensive firepower wasn’t required this time around as Leavitt retired eight consecutive batters to seal the win.
Game 2: Texas A&M 11, Texas A&M-Commerce 0 (Five innings)
Not to be outdone, Ackerman turned in a dazzling performance herself with a personal-best nine strikeouts in an 11-0 run-rule win over A&M-Commerce.
The senior righty nearly completed her first career no-hitter until Elizabeth Guerrero singled to right field in the fifth. Prior to that inning, Ackerman had retired 12 consecutive batters.
Nonetheless, she still topped career numbers set just yesterday against Northern Kentucky in innings pitched and strikeouts with tonight’s complete-game shutout.
“Just a little [bummed out],” Ackerman said. “I realized going into that last inning that it (no-hitter) was there, I tried to keep that thought out of my head, but it creeped in a little.”
Following a rather quiet outing against the Spartans, the Aggie bats were in full effect during the second inning of the nightcap.
Morgan Smith drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on Keely Williams’ double. Smith subsequently crossed the plate via Riley Valentine’s sac-fly before Amari Harper’s RBI double scored Williams.
The flurry of runs continued when Wooley smashed a three-run in-park homer. Cottrill got in on the action with a two-strike homer of her own to extend the Aggies’ advantage to 7-0.
Williams and Valentine finally capped off the explosive 10-run inning with an RBI single and three-run bomb, respectively, to make the run-rule victory only inevitable.
In the fourth, Houston transfer Paige Lott put the finishing touches on another impressive day for the Aggies with a solo homer that bounced off the scoreboard.
“The second game, we came out with good energy,” Ford said. “It’s the focus thing. What I do like is we’re focusing on the second half of things. As we get through this season, the second game or third game and even later on in the innings, I’m going to see that piece sharpen up.”
Up Next
The Aggies look to emerge from the Texas A&M Invitational unblemished for the second consecutive season after tomorrow’s rematch with A&M-Commerce. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT.