No. 17 A&M's winning streak reaches 12 with pair of Friday run-rules
Game #11: No. 17 Texas A&M 10, St. Thomas 2 (5 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (11-0), St. Thomas (1-11)
WP: Emily Leavitt (4-0)
LP: Christina Crawford (0-5)
Box Score
No. 17 Texas A&M dominated the St. Thomas Tommies in run-rule fashion on Friday afternoon in five innings, 10-2.
Emily Leavitt started in the circle, but the Tommies hit a homer in the first to take an early lead.
The Aggies wasted no time in response.
A&M matched the intensity offensively with a Jazmine Hill homer to bring in Trinity Cannon and take the lead 3-2.
“That is why we recruited her,” A&M head coach Trisha Ford said. “That is who she is. I knew last year was an off year, and I told her when she entered into that portal, ‘Come home, come back where you are comfortable’. I guess it doesn't surprise me. I expect it out of her. I know that that's who Jaz Hill is.”
Leavitt closed the top of the second inning with a pair of strikeouts and totaled an impressive six on the day.
An action-packed inning followed, starting with a trio of singles from Allie Enright, Mya Perez and Rylen Wiggins. The performance at the plate brought in three runs to bring the score to 7-2.
The momentum didn’t stop there.
Fans weren’t seeing double. Hill hit another home run to bring in Cannon and advance the score to 9-2.
“Our pitchers weren't loving pitching to our lineup preseason,” Ford said. “But I said, ‘Hey it helps you get better, it helps them get better,’ and then it's that saying: Iron sharpens iron. You're only going to get better by pushing each other.”
In response, the Tommies found nothing offensively, leaving two runners stranded to end the top of the third.
Enright hit a double to center field in the bottom of the third inning brought in by Kennedy Powell’s single.
Shaylee Ackerman stepped into the circle to relieve Leavitt, allowing no runs and no runners on base.
Ford was able to allow some other players to see the field on the defensive side, while Ackerman notched back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
Game #12: No. 17 Texas A&M 10, North Dakota State 0 (5 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (12-0), North Dakota State (6-8)
WP: Emiley Kennedy (5-0)
LP: Madison Wihlm (0-1)
Box Score
In the second game of Friday's doubleheader, No.17 A&M run-ruled the North Dakota State Bison, 10-0, to remain undefeated in the Texas A&M Invitational and for the season.
The Aggies' defense stayed strong going into the second game of the doubleheader, clinching a shutout
The Bison had many pitching changes throughout the game, but A&M’s Emiley Kennedy stayed in the zone with her defense supporting her.
Coming off some high-stress innings last week, Kennedy stepped into the circle and threw a shutout.
“I love the offense; it helps when the runs are on the scoreboard, and I feel comfortable in the circle,” Kennedy said.
A&M’s defense never let up.
North Dakota State’s Bella Dean crushed a line drive out to first base, and Amari Harper made a diving catch to keep the Bison offense at bay.
Kennedy felt comfortable in the circle, knowing her teammates could make great defensive plays.
“Our defense is top-tier,” Kennedy said. “Amari made that catch, and I was like, ‘Thank you.’ I’m glad they are behind me.”
After a tremendous play by Harper, the defense sustained as the Aggies had another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth.
The Maroon & White’s defense wasn’t the only shining part of the performance at Davis Diamond today because Enright hit her fourth home run for the season, a two-run blast.
“This isn't happening just because of luck,” Ford said. “This kid studies the game; she has a drive.”
Enright ended the night with seven RBIs, three hits and one homer.
The Aggies kept the momentum through the bottom of the fourth. Julia Cottrill singled to second base to bring in Koko Wooley and Harper for a 6-0 lead.
To follow, Enright continued her incredible night by bringing in the last few runs for the Aggies ending the game in the fifth, 10-0.
“The conversations we are having in the dugout are way more elevated than they were last year, Ford said. “They’re talking the game, they know their plans, and they have bought into each other so that has been really nice to see.”