No. 24 Aggies earn 12th shutout with doubleheader wins over Islanders

Texas A&M softball returned to Davis Diamond on Tuesday night to take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a doubleheader that was rescheduled from February 12th due to weather. Following the home sweep of South Carolina, the Aggies are now ranked for the first time this season at No. 24. 

Game One: No. 24 Texas A&M 7, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 0

In a matchup that looked very close for a long time, the surprising truth is the Aggies ultimately almost run-ruled the Islanders in game one. 

After being outhit 4-1 in a contest notched at 0 heading into the fifth, Haley Lee hit an RBI single to give the Aggies a 1-0 lead and load the bases. Shaylee Ackerman followed, clearing the bases on a deep bomb over the center-field wall to extend the Aggie lead to 5, logging the Aggies’ 36th homer of the season.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

After her two homers today, Shaylee Ackerman now totals six bombs on the season. 

“It was exciting,” said Ackerman of her grand slam. “I was definitely trying to stay calm and just make sure I was sitting on the pitch and staying in the zone.” 

Ashlynn Walls would follow with an RBI double, bringing the total to 6 runs on 7 hits in the inning for the Aggies, who would bat around the lineup in the fifth. 

Makinzy Herzog would also blast one over the wall in the sixth, but it wouldn't make a difference in the team’s 12th shutout of the season. 

Game Two: No. 24 Texas A&M 9, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 2

The second game started off with a lot more offense than the first. After two quick outs for the Islanders in the bottom of the first, Ackerman impressed once again with her second homer of the day to give the Aggies an early two-run lead. On the following at-bat, Dani Elder pushed that lead to three, giving the Aggies bombs on back-to-back pitches.  

Head coach Jo Evans is happy with the production her lineup has shown in recent games. 

“You look at what she’s done, and she’s just been so much more consistent,” said Evans of Ackerman. “It’s so important because you have Haley Lee who no one wants to throw to, and if you have Ackerman swinging the bat like she did tonight, that can make it really tough on a team.” 

The focus of the day’s action was in the fifth innings, as the Aggies had another huge fifth frame in game two. They scored 5 runs on 2 hits, which included another 2-run bomb, this time from Haley Lee. 

The Islanders were able to get a run back in the fifth as well, but they would ultimately fall to the Aggies once again, 9-2. 

Texas A&M is now 25-5 with a trip to Tuscaloosa to take on No. 4 Alabama on the horizon. 

“We know they are a great ball club. They have great pitching and a great history,” said Evans of the Crimson Tide. “But watching Kentucky take the series against them… We know they’re not invincible. We know we will have to play really well to beat them, but this is an opportunity to go and challenge them. This will be a great experience for our kids.”