Preston's gem silences No. 3 Tennessee, No. 21 Texas A&M evens series

After a heartbreaking loss Friday night, the 21st-ranked Aggies rebounded to take down No. 3 Tennessee at Davis Diamond on Saturday, 3-1.

The star of the game was Texas A&M starting pitcher Madison Preston, who is playing her first season back since having a baby a year and a half ago.

Preston — who played at Alabama before transferring to Arizona State — had only faced SEC competition out of a relief role before today’s six-inning showing against the Lady Vols. Her longest prior appearance in the league was three innings vs. Arkansas on March 10.

“She probably started picking up a ball last spring,” head coach Trisha Ford said. “She hadn’t pitched in a game since February of 2020. The thing that impresses me about her is that she has chosen the hard.”

It was only Preston’s third start of the year, the first being a five-inning no-hit victory over Tarleton.

On Saturday, Preston tallied eight strikeouts, nearly tying her career high of nine. She gave up only two hits, two walks and one run through six innings.

“I wouldn’t say there was pressure,” Preston said. “It was more motivation.”

Preston victimized Tennessee standout Kiki Milloy thrice, handing the senior All-American the fifth hat trick of her career.

CJ Smith, TexAgs

The duo of Preston and Leavitt combined to hold down Tennessee for A&M’s first win over a top-three team since April 23, 2022.

Emily Leavitt, who also had a fantastic showing in the circle on Friday, relieved Preston in the top of the seventh inning. Earning the save, Leavitt tallied one strikeout, giving up no hits or runs and walking one batter.

Offensively, the Aggies did not repeat their Friday night slow start. In the bottom of the first inning, Julia Cottrill hit a single to right field for the first hit of the day.

After two steals to get to third, she ran in the game's first run for the Aggies on a throwing error by Tennessee catcher Giulia Koutsoyanopulos.

The momentum did not stop there, though.

Defensively, Preston continued to dominate in the circle and kept Tennessee from striking back.

In the bottom of the third inning, Keely Williams came up big for the Maroon & White. After Amari Harper successfully got on base and stole second, Williams slammed a triple to center that rolled to the wall following Milloy’s diving attempt, bringing in Harper.

“Looking back at the previous game, I was 0-for-5,” Williams said. “I don’t really look at my stats, but I just try to stay within myself and play my game.

“I would like to compliment Maddie because, in the circle, she did her job. Part of that was giving us our momentum.”

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the A&M offense added an important insurance marker.

After Tennessee pitcher Nicola Simpson walked Rylen Wiggins, she was able to make her way around the bases and ultimately make it 3-0 on Koko Wooley’s RBI single.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Aggies ran into their first threat of the day as Leavitt loaded the bases. The Lady Vols even cracked the scoreboard on an RBI fielder’s choice for the first out, a run charged to Preston following a leadoff walk.

However, it didn’t take long for Leavitt to find herself again as she struck out Katie Taylor for the second out. With the bases loaded, Mackenzie Donihoo hit a slow roller to third, where Wiggins slammed her foot on the bag and spiked the ball to celebrate the huge victory.

“I would say, let’s just get another one,” Williams said. “Play how we are playing right now and get after it.”

The Aggies are now tied in the series against the Lady Vols. The deciding game of the series is Sunday at 1 p.m.