Aggies finish 5-0 in Texas A&M Invitational after routing Kansas, 12-0
On Sunday, the Maroon & White hammered a nail in the coffin of a dominant Texas A&M Invitational by destroying Kansas, 12-0, in run-rule fashion.
In the first, with Koko Wooley, Haley Lee and Makinzy Herzog on base, Morgan Smith walked to start an early rally. One by one, the Aggies continued to send runners home. Back-to-back RBI singles by Rylen Wiggins and Mayce Allen forced Kansas to turn to reliever Savanna DesRochers.
“Eight out of our nine players had a hit,” Texas A&M coach Jo Evans said. “The one that didn’t have a hit got herself on base on a walk. Just really happy to see the way our kids hit and played today.”
Soon after, Dack hit an RBI double. After batting around, Wooley stepped up to the plate again and brought home Dack with a single to make it 7-0.
In the second, the Jayhawks responded by loading the bases, but a fly ball caught by Ferguson ended the threat. Wiggins then her second home run of the season, upping the score to 8-0.
Herzog’s impressive pitching performance this weekend continued on Sunday as she tossed seven strikeouts, giving her 18 on the weekend.
“I love Makinzy,” sophomore Trinity Cannon said. “She is so fun to cheer for. It’s really easy on the defensive when she’s throwing because she is so comfortable up there, and having a comfortable pitcher just makes us feel so relaxed.”
The Jayhawks set themselves up again in the fourth with bases loaded and no outs. A double play and a pop-up turned the Jayhawks away, scoreless.
Herzog also displayed her comfortability at the plate, singling up the middle in the bottom of the fourth. Cannon then hit a run-scoring single for her second RBI of the day. Dack provided the final blow of the game with a three-run double.
“We wanted to get up really early in the game so we could give our pitchers extra innings off,” Cannon said. “That’s exactly what we did.”
Shaylee Ackerman closed in the circle, and the Jayhawks had no answer, concluding the game 12-0.
Texas A&M outscored its opponents this weekend 42-7, but coach Evans said she is more than happy with that result.
“That sounds like a football score,” coach Evans said. “I would be ridiculous if I said I wasn't happy with that. Our offense is taking a lot of pressure off the defense.”
An 11-0 start is Texas A&M’s best start since 2018.
The Aggies return to Davis Diamond next weekend for the Reveille Classic, facing Tennessee State, Texas Southern and No. 7 Oklahoma State.