Evans notches win No. 900 with Texas A&M as Aggies rally to defeat BYU, 3-2.
The Texas A&M Aggies defeated the BYU Cougars at Davis Diamond Friday night, 3-2, in game one of a two-game weekend series. A solid defensive performance and timely hitting helped propel the Aggies to their fourth consecutive victory.
A&M pitcher Kendall Potts was tapped as the starter for today’s contest, and despite a rocky first few innings came away with the decision. She allowed an early run in the first inning, followed by a home-run in the third, but big defensive plays helped lift her out of the jam.
Potts got stronger as the game went on, and her night was highlighted by a 1-2-3 fifth inning. A three-strikeout sixth inning also helped add to her five strikeouts on the night. She finished the game allowing six hits, two runs and fanning six in seven innings pitched.
The batters in the top of the A&M lineup struggled early in the game to get runners on, and an early 1-0 lead by the Cougars seemed troublesome. Texas A&M powered through, and it would not be long before junior Payton McBride stepped to the plate and delivered in a big way. McBride got the
Aggie offense going with a solo blast over the right field fence to tie the game.
“It was just a beautiful swing to start out that inning,” Evans said. “It gave our team great momentum.”
The Aggies next two batters were walked and hit by a pitch, and following back-to-back sacrifice outs, the Aggies would advance a runner home to take a 2-1 lead. A&M rightfielder Kylie George, in her first at-bat since February 27th, stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI single to add another run to the lead.
The maroon and white held on to the lead, and despite Potts allowing a solo home run to the Cougars in the fourth, A&M’s defense held strong, From the fifth inning on, Potts retired nine of the next ten batters she would face.
“I kind of started settling in and trusting myself,” Potts said. “During the fourth I felt a little out of it. The end of the game was much better than the beginning.”
The win marked the fourth consecutive contest Texas A&M has won, all by a single run. The victory also marked another major milestone for head coach Jo Evans as it was her 900th at Texas A&M
“I’m full of gratitude and really grateful for the opportunity to coach here this long and be a part of this institution,” Evans said. None of that ever happens without having a great staff, and without players who can play, so I’ve been very fortunate a lot of really good athletes.”
The Aggies will return to action tomorrow afternoon to face BYU in the second game of the weekend homestand. First pitch is scheduled for 2:02 PM and the game will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
