The 12th-ranked Aggie softball team (32-8, 5-4 SEC) dropped the weekend's series finale to No. 9 South Carolina by surrendering the long ball on Easter Sunday at the Aggie Softball Complex, 5-3.
In back-to-back innings, the Gamecocks hit homeruns to grab the final game of the series.
South Carolina opened the scoring in the third inning. After Kamryn Watts laid down a bunt, a high throw from Aggie Riley Sartain allowed her to reach third base. Two batters later, Kenzi Maguire roped an RBI-single into right field to give the Gamecocks the lead.
The Gamecocks struck again in the fourth inning thanks to a big home run from Jana Johns off of the light pole in left center field. In the top of the sixth, Maguire sent a ball over the left field wall for a three-run homerun.
Despite having runners on base in the first three innings, A&M finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. After laying down a bunt, Erica Russell advanced to third on a groundout by Keeli Milligan. Sarah Hudek then plated Russell with an RBI-single through the right side of the infield. Tori Vidales followed suit by muscling a pitch over the center field wall for a two-run homerun, her seventh of the year.
“Well, I knew I wanted to take advantage of the hitter's count. I had a 2-0 count before that pitch came,” Vidales said. “And I knew what the game plan had been, and I was trying to stay true to my approach. They had a shift on me so I was really trying to think right back up the middle, and luckily I got a pitch I was looking for.”
Freshman Kayla Poynter (2-2) got the nod in the circle for the Aggies. Poynter struggled a bit with her command, issuing five walks and five hits and surrendering two home runs. When it was all said and done, Poynter tossed seven innings, giving up 4 earned runs on her way to a loss. Head coach Jo Evans said she liked the effort she saw from Poynter, who will continue to develop as the season goes on.
“I actually thought she had a pretty good day out there," Evans said. "When I watch her and see what she did with their hitters, I think that’s a kid who can help us win. And I think that’s an important part of her progression as a pitcher is to be able to play in a game like this and situations like this. She’ll keep learning.”
Despite dropping Sunday’s game, the Aggies took the series after wins on Friday and Saturday.
The Aggies will return to the diamond on April 6 when they travel to take on Mississippi State in Starkville. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
