Lee's 22nd not enough as A&M falls to No. 17 Kentucky in extras, 2-1
Down to the wire.
Game two of a three-game series between No. 17 Kentucky and Texas A&M was much closer than the opener, which the Wildcats won, 5-1. Saturday’s contest came down to the bitter end, with Kentucky prevailing, 2-1, in eight innings.
“That’s a tough one,” said Texas A&M head coach Jo Evans. “That’s a tough one to lose.”
In the bottom of the fourth, freshman Mariana Torres earned her first double as an Aggie. Evans said Torres’ first collegiate double is proof the Aggies are developing their younger players.
“For her to be able to go out there in her second at-bat and be able to get the double is a big deal,” Evans said. “Your first double in your collegiate career is a big deal. It just validates that we are developing these young players.”
Still scoreless in the fourth, A&M was outhitting the Wildcats with five hits to Kentucky’s one, a stark difference from this point in the game from Friday.
Senior pitcher Kayla Poynter tossed 7.1 innings and took the loss despite only allowing one earned run. Evans said she was delighted with Poynter’s performance.
“I thought Kayla Poynter was phenomenal on the mound,” Evans said. “It started from the get-go, from the first inning. ... I think it just really made a statement to our team and how prepared she was to come out and pitch.”
Poynter was ultimately relieved by Grace Uribe in the eighth after allowing a run to give Kentucky a 2-1 lead.
The seventh inning began in a scoreless tie before Kentucky’s Tatum Spangler drove in Kayla Kowalik for the game’s first run.
However, the Aggies did not go quietly.
In the bottom of the seventh, on the first swing of her at-bat, Haley Lee hit her 22nd home run of the season to tie the game. Going into the matchup, Lee was second in the SEC for home runs.
“I will say this about Haley Lee: That’s what great players do,” Evans said. “Only great players do that. Players in the clutch that can recognize what’s going on in the game.”
The Aggies failed to walk it off in the seventh, stranding Makinzy Herzog on second. The ballgame then moved into extra innings.
In the eighth, Kentucky took the lead, and the Aggies were unable to answer.
Texas A&M will attempt to salvage tomorrow’s series finale as the Aggies celebrate senior day at Davis Diamond. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. CT.