Aggie softball ends Alabama's undefeated start with 4-3 walk-off victory

The Aggie softball team (18-13, 2-7 SEC) defeated No. 4 Alabama, 4-3, in the third game of conference play, handing Crimson Tide their first loss of the season. After suffering losses in the first two games of the series against Bama, Payton McBride hit a walk-off RBI single to give the Aggies the win.

“Today, we were just going up there and attacking the strike zone making sure that we got the pitches and our defense was going to protect our pitcher,” McBride said.  

Alabama opened up the game by scoring two runs off of starting pitcher Kendall Potts, giving the Tide an early advantage.

In the bottom of the third, Texas A&M freshman Morgan Smith hit a double after knocking a line drive into the left field corner. With two outs, Baylee Klingler hit an RBI single to right field to open up the scoring for the Aggies.

The Crimson Tide would add another run with a second base tag-up from Wallace at the top of the fifth. Wallace rounded third and scored after the throw to home from the Aggie defense was overthrown.

The Aggies continued to rally as McBride started off the bottom of the sixth with asingle between shortstop and third. A subsequent double by Abby Smith set up an opportunity for the Aggies to score again.

On full count, Morgan Smith hit an infield pop fly between Crimson Tide pitcher, shortstop and third baseman that fell, scoring Abby Smith and putting runners on the corners for the Aggies. Kelbi Fortenberry hit a grounder and another Alabama error allows A&M to tie the game up after six.

Still tied in the bottom of the seventh, Alabama brought in Sarah Cornell to pitch after a walk was issued to Blake-Ann Fritsch. With two outs and runners at first and second, a base hit to center field off the bat of McBride scored the final run of the game, securing the win for the Aggies.

“This win feels really good. We didn’t play well on Friday and Saturday and it’s one thing to not win, but it’s another to not play well and not win,” head coach Jo Evans said after the game. “I was disappointed in our inability to be in the game the first two days. Today, we talked about mixing up the lineup, we talked about kind of changing our mojo and being able to come out and get after it and compete.”

The Texas A&M softball team will seek to keep their momentum in a double header against Sam Houston State on Wednesday. The first game will begin at 4 p.m. at Davis Diamond.