Ackerman tosses a complete game as A&M takes Game 2 from Auburn
Game #31: No. 14 Texas A&M 3, Auburn 2
Records: Texas A&M (27-4, 7-1), Auburn (15-8-1, 2-6)
WP: Shaylee Ackerman (6-1)
LP: Maddie Penta (8-5)
Box Score
The Aggies are back on top.
After losing to Mississippi State and Texas State, No. 14 Texas A&M clinched a series win over Auburn due to a sixth-inning insurance run driven in by Allie Enright.
The Maroon & White ultimately prevailed on Saturday afternoon, 3-2.
Shaylee Ackerman was the workhorse on the afternoon. She pitched all seven innings and notched two strikeouts and allowed only three hits.
"She's understanding what is making her effective on the mound, and it is not by using her arm," A&M head coach Trisha Ford said. "It's by making sure she is using the ground, being able to use that energy from the ground up, and being able to get her legs and her hips in the pitch rather than throwing with her arm."
The Maroon & White found trouble early as Anna Wohlers hit a solo home run to take the lead.
Auburn's defense stayed solid throughout, but that did not deter the Aggies at the plate. After a scoreless three innings, Koko Wooley singled to bring in Kramer Eschete and even the score.
Eschete has evolved throughout the season, working her way to a spot in the lineup, and it is not the result of anything but hard work.
"I just feel like my confidence is so much better here," Eschete said. "I feel that plays a big part in a game like this. It is a game of failures, so that really elevated my game."
In the bottom of the third, Auburn utilized both challenges in one play to question whether Wooley left early and if she was safe at third. Alas, both calls were upheld.
Throughout the game, A&M was victorious in squeezing out of two-strike battles against Auburn's All-American pitcher, Maddie Penta.
Conversely, the Aggies' defensive game did not falter.
"We made the routine plays," Ford said. "Amari Harper had some great plays at first base. Some tough hops were over there. I think when we play really good defense, we tend to win softball games."
In the bottom of the fifth, Eschete singled up the middle and notched her second stolen base on the day.
The duo of Wooley and Eschete became the X-Factor for today's game as two of A&M's runs resulted from a Wooley RBI.
"Kramer continued to work at her craft and continued to get better," Ford said. "So she's taken advantage of the opportunity she has been given, or I actually would say she has earned."
Throughout the stadium, fans erupted as Enright hammered a bomb to right field to ensure an Aggie win and another SEC series victory.
The noise didn't stop there. Two strikes from Ackerman had fans thinking the game was locked in.
Although, the victory wasn't the Aggies' just yet.
A pitch later, Amelia Lech hit a solo home run as the Tigers tried to stay alive.
Ackerman finished the job in front of her defense as Annabelle Widra grounded out to second base to ensure an Aggie win.
The Aggies will look to complete the sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.