Texas A&M unable to complete sweep as No. 2 Alabama salvages finale

On Sunday, Texas A&M failed to complete the series sweep against No. 2 Alabama. The Tide fired back after Friday’s upset and Saturday’s run-rule with a 4-2 win, bolstered by fantastic pitching from All-American Montana Fouts.

“I’m proud of our ball club because we came out and fought hard today,” Texas A&M head coach Jo Evans said. “You know you have Game 3, and you've already won the series. Sometimes you go ‘Well, at least we won two games.’ I thought our players played with great intention, to come out and win, and we used our lineup in every way we could.”

Alabama’s Jenna Lord started off the game by crushing her second homer of the season, and A&M did not respond until the second inning when Cayden Baker hit an RBI single to tie the game.

In the third, starting pitcher Grace Uribe walked Savannah Woodward, and Makinzy Herzog took over in the circle. On Herzog’s second pitch of the day, Alabama’s Ashley Prange hit an RBI double to take back the lead.

In the top of the fourth, Herzog added another strikeout after walking back-to-back batters. On a wild pitch, Mayce Allen injured her left hand and did not return to the game.

“We’re not sure [about the injury],” Evans said. “She’ll go get it checked out with the doctor, and we’ll take a look and see what it looks like.”

Despite the loss of the catcher, the 18-athlete roster quickly filled in and found a way to compete.

“People are always asking about our roster, and it's not big,” Evans said. “You look at how talented we are with the 18 kids we have, and Mayce goes down, and we don’t skip a beat. I’m really proud that we’ve got kids that can play multiple positions, and they’re ready in whatever situation we put them in.”

The Aggies escaped the fourth unscathed with two runners left on base. A&M stranded seven total runners on Sunday.

“We certainly had our opportunities,” Evans said. “Seven left on base, but there were times we were in scoring position with opportunities, and that’s what you ask of your kids.”

In Allen’s absence, Katie Dack stepped up as the designated player. On her first swing of the day, Dack launched her seventh home run of the season to tie things up, 2-2. It was the ninth homer Fouts has given up this season.

The Tide wanted to have some fun of their own. Prange answered by nailing a solo homer over the wall. In the sixth, Woodward hit a sacrifice fly and Megan Bloodworth ran home, claiming a 4-2 lead.

Alabama’s Fouts pitched all seven innings, throwing 140 pitches, eight strikeouts and stranded 10 Aggies.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Katie Dack’s seventh home run of the year in the fourth accounted for A&M’s second and final run of the afternoon.

A&M could not come up with any late response to Fouts’ stellar day in the circle.

“We had opportunities, and she would bow up, make a pitch and get herself out of it,” Evans said. “You can see why she’s an All-American. Today is a day you tip your hat to Fouts. I thought she was really good.”

Despite Sunday’s loss, the Aggies’ performances on Friday and Saturday secured the series. Alabama has only lost one another SEC series this season.

“We are a talented team, and I’ve known that,” Evans said. “We haven’t always gotten the outcomes we wanted, so I think people have doubted us, that maybe we're not talented enough. I think our kids know that that is not the case.”

The Aggies will return to action on Wednesday, April 27, as they take a break from SEC play to face Lamar at Davis Diamond. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. CT.