Potent offense should be solidified by portal adds, talented youngsters
Trisha Ford and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie softball team return to Davis Diamond on Thursday to open the 2025 season with the Aggie Classic. We’re looking ahead to the upcoming campaign with our 2025 Texas A&M Softball Preview Series.
Texas A&M softball looks to continue its upward ascent under coach Trisha Ford in 2025, but the Aggies face a significant challenge: Replacing an exodus of offensive firepower.
The Aggies need to fill the shoes of Trinity Cannon as their top slugger, as well as Jazmine Hill and Julia Cottrill as their best RBI producers.
Under Ford’s reign, the Maroon & White have lit up the scoreboard, averaging more than six runs per game en route to boasting the second-best scoring offense in the Southeastern Conference in 2024.
Now, the Aggies will have to find new power sources to navigate in muddy SEC waters.
Sluggin’ Seniors
Despite ranking 25th nationally in home runs per game, A&M’s offense lost 51 of its 68 round-trippers to the transfer portal and exhausted eligibility, with the bulk of the loss coming from the 18 crushed by Cannon during her senior campaign.
Senior Allie Enright returns as the team’s most prolific offensive piece. The Santa Clarita, California native started 58 of A&M’s 59 games a year ago and finished second on the team with a .582 slugging percentage and 10 homers. Enright also scored 35 runs to go along with an SEC All-Defensive Team nod in right field.
Lightning-fast senior infielder Koko Wooley led the 2024 squad with a .382 batting average and 60 hits, but she really stands out on the base path. The dynamic speedster stole 19 bases, moving into fifth place in A&M history with 64 in her career. While not typically a power hitter, Wooley’s star burned brightest when she hit a walk-off home run in a win over Auburn. She collected 2024 All-SEC Second Team honors for her contributions.
After transferring from Louisiana in 2024, outfielder Kramer Eschete brought an offensive spark as a junior during her first season in Aggieland. The Brenham native batted .311 in conference play and was second on the team with 14 stolen bases on her way to earning All-SEC Second Team recognition. Eschete remained a steady force throughout the year, with a .412 on-base percentage and now shoulders even more of the offensive burden in a new-look offensive lineup.
To stem the tide of the departures, the Maroon & White dipped their toes into the transfer portal and brought in key veterans to give the roster some juice from the plate.
Graduate infielder Mac Barbara transfers in from San Diego State as the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year. The Long Beach, California native returns to the SEC after a lone freshman season at Ole Miss, where she had 61 RBIs. Barbara hit 16 home runs and had a .508 on-base percentage in 2024.
Joining Barbara to bolster the batting, senior catcher Olivia “Ojo” Johnson is back in her native Lone Star State after three seasons at Washington. In her final year in Seattle, Johnson was a constant offensive presence, hitting .300 with 21 RBIs and four home runs.
Back in the fold
After transferring from UCLA, junior third baseman Kennedy Powell’s first year in College Station saw her rise in the biggest possible moments. Powell was consistent throughout the year, with 15 multi-hit games, but she took her game to another level in the SEC Tournament. Powell hit .667 with a 1.334 OPS and scored the game-winning run in the quarterfinal, which earned her a spot on the SEC All-Tournament Team.
Junior infielder Amari Harper was a steady producer in her second season for the Maroon & White. Harper started 45 games and managed 35 runs as she tallied the team’s third-best batting average at .348. Harper split time between first and third base throughout the year and played her best ball against Ole Miss. The sophomore went 4-for-10 at the plate and hit the only home run of her career in a series sweep of the Rebels.
As the Aggies look to fill the offensive void their heavy hitters left behind, lesser-used players may need to step into more prominent roles. Sophomore infielder Mya Perez is a prime candidate to take on more responsibility. Primarily deployed as a pinch hitter in her 29 appearances, Perez only accounted for nine RBIs on a .214 batting average, but she rose to the occasion in the Austin Super Regional. Then a true freshman, Perez started all three games and went yard for the first time in her career to send game two to extra innings against Texas.
Sophomore outfielder Hailey Golden returns after being oft-used as a pinch runner in her freshman season. The Pearland native has yet to make an appearance at the plate, but she chipped in with 16 runs and stole two bases in her 25 appearances a year ago.
Fresh freshman faces
With departures from the 2024 lineup abundant, A&M hopes the No. 12-ranked recruiting class can give the team an injection of youth and talent.
Freshman catcher DeeDee Baldwin was a force at the plate during her high school career for Canyon. The right-handed hitting catcher hit .465 with 18 home runs and was named UIL District 26-5A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior.
Freshman infielder KK Dement is expected to bring some firepower to the dish for the Maroon & White upon her arrival to Aggieland. Dement attended Selma High School in California, where she secured Tri-County Conference - Kings Division's Most Valuable Player honors as a senior. The explosive offensive player hit .565 with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs in her final high school season.
Ranked as the No. 11 recruit per the Extra Elite 100 list, freshman outfielder Kelsey Mathis was a major producer at Midway High School in Waco. Mathis hit .570 and19 bombs as she led the Panthers to a UIL 6A state runner-up finish. She was named to the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 6A All-State First Team for her efforts.
Another member of the Extra Elite 100 list, freshman infielder Larisa Perez was a standout both at the plate and on the base paths. The Copperas Cove product hit .588 as a senior with 15 homers and 64 RBIs, but she also managed 15 stolen bases and 41 runs.
Danbury High School’s do-it-all star, freshman infielder Frankie Vrazel also competed on the track team, but it is the diamond where she shines. The No. 5 utility player on the Extra Elite 100 list, Vrazel cemented herself as an offensive powerhouse in her senior season with 46 RBIs and a 1.517 OPS.
