Aggie softball redeems themselves with victories over SLU and Kansas
After suffering a confusing loss to Southeastern Louisiana on Friday night, Texas A&M Softball (14-7) flipped the script on the Lions (13-6) in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader. The Aggies finished 2-0 on the day, taking care of Kansas (8-10) in a close contest, while showing improvement on offense as the bats woke up.
Game One (vs. SLU): Texas A&M 10, Southeastern Louisiana 0 (5 innings)
The Aggies claimed a 10-0 run-rule victory over the Lions thanks to a seven-run third inning and excellent pitching with runners in scoring position.
Ashley Daugherty started in the circle for the Aggies, however struggled with her command and loaded the bases. Hannah Mayo relieved Daugherty, stranding the runners and keeping the Aggies out of a deficit. Mayo ultimately completed the game, totaling 4 2/3 innings and stranding ten runners to shut out the Lions.
“[Mayo] is mentally tough; she wants the ball,” said coach Jo Evans. “She looks at [runners on situations] as a golden opportunity.”
On offense, Makinzy Herzog had another dominating outing, going 2-for-3 and earning extra bases on both hits. She opened up scoring for the Aggies with a leadoff home run to center. “I think [the home run] sparked a lot of energy and helped us start off the game right today,” said Herzog, who served as a designated player in the Texas A&M lineup today.
Kelbi Fortenberry went 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, while scoring two runs of her own. She led off with a double in the second and was brought home by Dani Elder, another strong presence at the plate, who finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
“[I kept] the same mentality,” said third baseman Dani Elder. “[That is] to be ready for anything high up in the zone and look for anything I can put the barrel on.”
Fortenberry’s two-RBI single opened the scoring floodgates in the bottom of the third, while Elder and Herzog each contributed with their second hits of the game, extending the Texas A&M lead to 9-0.
The Aggies tacked on another run in the fourth, needing three more outs to secure the run-rule victory. In the top of the fifth, Mayo worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam with a strikeout and ground ball double play en route to the Aggie victory and her first win of the season.
Game Two (vs. Kansas): Texas A&M 7, Kansas 6
The Aggies carried the momentum from game one straight into the first inning of game two. Herzog walked and Morgan Smith got on with a base hit, and the red-hot Haley Lee scored both runners with a double, advancing to third on the throw. A bloop single to shallow right off the bat of Payton McBride scored Lee, giving the Aggies an early 3-0 edge.
Fortenberry also picked up where she left off, as she got aboard in the third with a base hit and quickly stole second. Jourdyn Campbell brought her home with a double, but the Aggie bats cooled off in the middle innings.
Kendall Potts started in the circle, cruising through five innings with zero earned runs. She faltered in the sixth inning, starting by giving up a leadoff home run. A sacrifice fly scored the Jayhawks’ equalizing fourth run, putting the pressure back on the Aggie bats.
Texas A&M rose to the occasion, as a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Lee drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly, while McBride delivered insurance with a two-out, two RBI base knock to give the Aggies a 7-4 lead.
Three outs away from completing the game, Potts stepped back into the circle, but the Jayhawks continued to fight. A two-out, two-run home run cut the Aggie lead to one, but Potts delivered and secured the final out, completing the tight game for the Aggies.
“I thought [Potts] threw well,” said coach Jo Evans. “She got behind, which makes it hard; they’re more likely to strike when you’re pitching from behind, but she did a good job [calming] herself down to get her win.”
Up Next
The Aggies finish off the Reveille Classic with a Sunday morning matchup against Kansas, the final game before SEC play starts. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m.