No. 14 Aggies survive late rally from Kentucky to claim series, 10-9
Game #38: No. 14 Texas A&M 10, Kentucky 9
Records: Texas A&M (31-7, 10-4), Kentucky (23-14, 2-9)
WP: Emily Leavitt (7-1)
LP: Jaden Vickers (5-5)
Box Score
Texas A&M is a diamond sport school.
The 14th-ranked Aggie softball team is now 31-7 on the season and 10-4 in conference play after securing a series win over the Kentucky Wildcats with a 10-9 victory on Saturday at Davis Diamond.
The second of three between A&M and Kentucky could be described as hard, long-winded, exciting, stressful... The list goes on.
Trisha Ford put it best after the most latest success.
“Conference wins are so hard,” the head coach said.
Both teams exploded early, as Kentucky scored the first run via a single to right field by Peyton Plotts. Consequently, the Aggies’ defense capitalized to minimize the damage.
In the bottom half, A&M took a lead that they’d never surrender.
Rylen Wiggins doubled to left-center to score Amari Harper and Jazmine Hill. However, the momentum didn’t stop there.
To follow, Kramer Eschete sent a bomb over the wall to add her first home run as an Aggie to bring the score to 5-1.
“I was focusing on relaxing and doing a job,” Eschete said. “I was really focused on seeing the ball, seeing the ball, seeing the ball. Then I was getting so frustrated, so I just needed to relax, get on base and do what I can, and it worked out in my favor.”
Shaylee Ackerman started in the circle but was eventually relieved by Emily Leavitt due to a Lauryn Borzilleri home run and three walks in the second.
Clinging to a 5-3 edge, Leavitt stepped up big with two crucial strikeouts to escape yet another Wildcat threat.
Saturday’s game was characterized by the dominant second-inning performance that would have led people to think A&M was going to run-rule the Wildcats.
If only it were that easy.
Harper saw 11 pitches before she singled to left center and then advanced to second on a fielding error. Then, on a Hill triple, Harper scored. Trinity Cannon brought home Hill with a sacrifice fly.
After a Wiggins single, an Eschete double, and walks to Gracyn Coleman and Kennedy Powell, the score was 9-3. as the lineup turned over for a second time.
Harper then reached on another error by the shortstop to advance the score 10-3.
As a reminder, it was still the second inning.
While the Aggies stayed silent in the innings to follow, Kentucky tried to stay alive in the fourth as Erin Coffel singled up the middle to score Hallie Mitchell.
Leavitt responded by notching three straight strikeouts.
“Leavitt did a good job coming in and stopping the bleeding,” Ford said.
If only the bats could have responded as well.
“I went to the outfield and told them to realize that the little things just won us that ball game,” Ford said. “If Jaz misthrows over our cut or if Koko isn't there, it's a lot of things. It was some fundamental softball.”
The Wildcats refused to go quietly.
Bozerelli notched her third homerun for the weekend in the sixth to pull Kentucky within five.
An inning later, Grace Lorsung and Plotts went back to back as Brooke Vestal relieved Leavitt.
That move ultimately faltered as Emiley Kennedy entered with two Wildcats in scoring position with two down in the top of the seventh.
“Emiley is our dog,” Ford said. “She comes in stressful situations, and she throws full games. I thought she did a good job. She is ready at any point in time.”
With A&M one strike away from the win, Rylea Smith singled to score a pair. However, Smith was thrown out trying to stretch the base hit into a double.
Consequently, the play was challenged, but after review, the play was upheld.
Despite all the stress, the Aggies secured yet another Southeastern Conference win.
“We just kept working,” Ford said. “These are things you learn throughout the season, and you learn how to put it in your back pocket and pull it out when you need it because you are in the middle of hard, and we are going to continue to be moving forward.”
The Aggies look to complete the sweep over Kentucky on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.