Offense sputters in rubber-match defeat, 2-1

Game #49: No 24 South Carolina 2, No. 10 Texas A&M 1
Records: Texas A&M (34-13, 15-6), South Carolina (29-22, 7-14)
WP: Emma Friedel (9-5)
LP: Taylor Pannell (1-2)
Box Score

In the series finale on Sunday in Columbia, No. 10 Texas A&M fell to No. 24 South Carolina, 2-1. The Aggies dropped their second SEC series of the year and are now 35-14 overall and 15-6 in conference play.

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, A&M pitcher Grace Sparks faced a tough situation in the circle. Sparks entered in relief for Taylor Pannell, who walked the first Gamecock batter in the inning.

After walking another, Sparks faced Karly Shelton, who bunted to the circle. On the throw attempt, Sparks misfired, hitting Shelton on the basepath and sending the ball past first base. The bunt allowed Quincee Lilio to advance home and walk it off for South Carolina.

From the get-go, the Aggies were given multiple chances to capitalize on pitching miscues.

In the first inning, South Carolina pitcher Jori Heard hit both Mya Perez and Ariel Kowalewski and walked KK Dement to load the bases for Micaela Wark. Despite the free passes, Wark struck out swinging.

The second inning saw a similar fate, as Heard allowed two infield singles to Tallen Edwards and Kennedy Powell before hitting Frankie Vrazel to put three on for Perez.

The Aggies found success this go-around, as Heard knicked Perez for the second straight time to score A&M’s sole run of the day.

Bella Costello, TexAgs

Mya Perez had an RBI in all three games at South Carolina this weekend.

It was the second time Perez was hit by a pitch for an RBI in the series, happening in game two to score the first run in Saturday’s 2-1 win.

In two innings, Heard hit four A&M batters. She pitched 5.1 innings, allowing four hits, one run, two walks and striking out five.

Heard was relieved by Emma Friedel in the sixth, who limited any offensive chances the Aggies had. She spun 1.2 innings, holding A&M scoreless with no hits, walking one and striking out one.

South Carolina’s pitching staff stranded 10 runners on base with five in scoring position.

A&M saw three pitchers rotate in the circle, beginning with Sidne Peters, who allowed six hits, one run, one walk and struck out two.

Peters pitched four shutout innings against the Gamecocks until Tori Ensley hit a solo home run in the fifth to forge a 1-1 tie.

Pannell relieved Peters in the sixth but walked the final batter she faced, which became the winning run. Pannell was tagged with the loss, bringing her total to 1-2 on the season.

Sparks entered for Pannell in the seventh, attempting to send the game to extra innings, but failed to secure an out before the walk-off win.

The Aggies will face Oklahoma at home next weekend to finish the regular season. The finale series of the year begins on Thursday night.