No. 17 Aggies claim series win in Starkville with doubleheader sweep

Game #26: No. 17 Texas A&M 9, No. 21 Mississippi State 0 (5 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (24-2, 4-0), Mississippi State (20-5, 2-2)
WP: Emiley Kennedy (13-1)
LP: Aspen Wesley (6-2)
Box Score

It just means more.

It has meant more for the Aggies from the start of the season.

Entering Southeastern Conference play, nothing has changed.

In the second SEC series of the season, No. 17 Texas A&M cruised past No. 21 Mississippi State in a long-winded doubleheader on Saturday afternoon 9-0 and 8-5, respectively.

Consistency has been the key for the Aggies. No matter the opponent, they show up to play.

Starting the opener, A&M immediately created difficulty for the Bulldogs in the circle.

Emiley Kennedy led the Aggies in a five-inning shutout and the 13th run-rule win of the season.

Kennedy — who was recently named National Pitcher of the Week — reached her 100th strikeout of the season in the bottom of the first frame.

Bulldogs’ starter Aspen Wesley was relieved by Matalasi Faapito late in the top of the second inning.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

For the first time in program history, Texas A&M is 5-0 to start SEC play.

In an action-packed second inning, Rylen Wiggins smashed a home run to left field, bringing in Allie Enright to take an early 2-0 lead.

Leadoff hitter Koko Wooley found much success at the plate in Game 1, finishing with two doubles.

That includes an RBI double in the second that scored Kennedy Powell.

Powell was initially called out at home, but after review, the play was overturned in A&M’s favor.

Stepping in the box for the second time, Aiyana Coleman doubled to right field, bringing in Julia Cottrill, Trinity Cannon and Jazmine Hill. With two outs, the Bulldogs challenged the call of Coleman being safe at second in hopes of ending the Aggies' momentum.

Again, the call did not fall in Mississippi’s State’s favor, bringing the score to 7-0.

The Aggies quickly executed on the defensive side, ending the bottom of the second inning on a double play.

Mississippi State’s first hit of the day came from Salen Hawkins in the fourth, but it ultimately wasn’t capitalized on as two runners were left stranded.

The Bulldogs did not take advantage of the last frame as one runner was left on base, and Kennedy notched her seventh strikeout.

Game #27: No. 17 Texas A&M 8, No. 21 Mississippi State 5
Records: Texas A&M (25-2, 5-0), Mississippi State (20-6, 2-3)
WP: Shaylee Ackerman (5-1)
LP: Josey Marron (8-2)
Box Score

Winning 25 games does not come as an accident. Especially as a 5-0 team in SEC play.

In the second matchup of Saturday’s doubleheader in Starkville, the Aggies again defeated the Bulldogs 8-5.

Texas A&M head coach Trisha Ford made a few lineup changes for the second game, with Keely Williams entering the lineup for Coleman and Emily Leavitt starting in the circle.

Juxtaposing the first game, both teams capitalized defensively for a quick first two innings.

All four pitchers who entered for the Aggies made an immediate impact. Leavitt opened the door for Kennedy to close the victory.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

In both games combined, Koko Wooley batted 5-for-8 with one RBI.

Wooley scored both of A&M’s early runs on a throwing error in the first inning and by stealing home in the third.

The Bulldogs woke up in the bottom of the third, scoring their first run of the day when Sierra Sacco singled to center field to make it a 2-1 game.

The Aggies failed to respond in the box until the fifth frame.

The action picked up for both teams as the Aggies scored five runs in the top of the fifth. Allie Enright provided the spark by launching a three-run homer.

Concluding the fifth, the Bulldogs’ Brylie St. Clair scored on a single as they tried to stay alive.

Wooley has remained a vital piece of the lineup as she scored half of the Aggies' eight runs.

Shaylee Ackerman relieved Leavitt and picked up her fifth win (5-1). Brooke Vestal followed and gave up a home run that brought the score to 8-3.

In the next inning, Kennedy replaced Vestal. She gave up two runs but was ultimately able to close out the game in the seventh inning.

The Aggies will look to sweep the Bulldogs on Sunday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT.