Leavitt, Vestal toss 10-strikeout no-hitter to crush Prairie View A&M
Game #36: No. 14 Texas A&M 10, Prairie View A&M 0 (5 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (29-7, 8-4), Prairie View A&M (16-15, 11-0)
WP: Emily Leavitt (7-1)
LP: Breanna Reyna (7-6)
Box Score
After being swept by LSU, Emily Leavitt and Brooke Vestal combined for a no-hitter as No. 14 Texas A&M run-ruled Prairie View A&M on Tuesday, 10-0.
“I feel like that [win] definitely gave us some confidence going into this next series just because, you know, the last series really was a kick in the gut,” Leavitt said. “But, to bounce back like this really brings the vibes up from the team going into Kentucky.”
Having pitched a perfect outing, Leavitt tossed seven strikeouts across four innings while walking none.
“Around the third inning, [pitching a perfect game] would come into my mind and I was like, ‘Nope. Nope. Don’t know. I am not looking,’ so I was really trying not to think about it ‘cause I had other things to focus on,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt also added she takes time during non-conference games to work on her bullpens in preparation for upcoming games, including Kentucky.
Despite a flawless showing from Leavitt, A&M head coach Trisha Ford opted to replace her with Vestal, who struck out the side in the final inning.
“Both of them [Leavitt and Vestal] need to get some innings in, and Vestal didn’t throw this whole weekend,” Ford said. “I wanted to make sure that she at least went in an inning, and we were able to get her settled in ‘cause we’re gonna need her. We know this throughout our conference season and we’re gonna need her this weekend, so I thought it was really important.”
Junior Koko Wooley delivered a solid performance, hitting a double in the first and a triple in the third where she advanced home due to a fielding error from the Panthers.
That capped off a seven-run third inning for the Aggies.
“Koko is amazing,” Ford said. “I could watch that kid all day long. When that ball got past the outfielder, I was like, ‘She’s on three,’ and then the ball moved. It feels like it gets away like a foot-and-a-half and she’s scoring.
“[Reading plays] is part of our game, and so our ability to execute all those phases of the game is going to be important for us for this weekend and moving forward.”
Freshman Mya Perez came up big, leading the Aggies with three RBIs.
With Vestal pitching in the fifth, she allowed the only walk of the day — which ruined the Aggies’ perfect game.
Vestal quickly bounced back and struck out the next two Panthers to secure the victory.
“It was a good bounce-back win,” Ford said. “I think we had some big hits when we needed to get some big hits. I’m excited to practice these next couple of days… there are still some things we need to work hard on and get better at.”
The Aggies will host Kentucky for a three-game series starting this Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.