No. 24 Texas A&M run-ruled as No. 11 Kentucky staves off sweep
No. 24 Texas A&M softball dropped the ball on the potential sweep of No. 11 Kentucky and was run-ruled 10-2 by the Wildcats on Sunday.
“Don’t be happy with two out of three,” A&M head coach Trisha Ford said. “Let’s go out here and let’s take a series.”
Kentucky right-handed pitcher Stephanie Schoonover didn’t allow for a single Aggie run in the first four innings.
The Wildcats exploded offensively, scoring eight in the first.
An ominous start began when Kayla Kowalik singled and advanced to third on a throwing error by pitcher Shaylee Ackerman
Outfielder Rylea Smith stepped up with the bases loaded. Smith reached on fielder's choice, and Kowalik scored the game’s first run on catcher Gracyn Coleman’s error.
Already trailing 2-0 with nobody out, Grace Uribe stepped into the circle for Ackerman.
“We’re not crisp pitching-wise,” Ford said.
On a full count, first baseman Meeko Harrison singled through the right side and advanced to second on a throwing error. Smith and Coffel scored as Kentucky’s lead reached 4-0.
After an RBI single by Karissa Hamilton, Taylor Ebbs launched a three-run homer to center. All eight runs scored before A&M recorded an out.
“We just got to grow up,” Ford said. “That first inning is killing us.”
Another pitching change saw Emiley Kennedy become the third A&M pitcher to throw in the bottom of the first.
The Wildcats pushed their advantage to 10-0 on a two-run triple in the bottom of the fourth.
Needing to score three in the fifth to extend the afternoon, Julia Cottrill hit a two-run homer to right.
“We started to compete at the end of the game,” Ford said.
Still, A&M needed another run to escape a run-rule.
Trinity Cannon worked a 12-pitch walk with two outs, but to end the game, Koko Wooley grounded out to the pitcher.
Aggie softball returns to College Station to play Lamar on Tuesday, March 28, at Davis Diamond.
“My message to them is like let’s grow up, let’s figure this out and let’s get better,” Ford said.
First pitch between the Aggies and Cardinals is set for 5 p.m. CDT.