No. 12 A&M capitalizes on Ole Miss errors to take series opener, 5-2

Game #44: No. 12 Texas A&M 5, Ole Miss 2
Records: Texas A&M (35-9, 13-6), Ole Miss (25-20, 3-13)
WP: Emiley Kennedy (18-7)
LP: Catelyn Riley (4-6)
Box Score

A run is a run no matter how it’s scored.

This proved to be true as all of No. 12 Texas A&M’s runs came unearned in Friday’s 5-2 victory over Ole Miss at Davis Diamond.

“I don’t care how it goes down in the book,” Texas A&M head coach Trisha Ford said. “At this point in time we need wins. I am excited about winning a game like that. Now we know that we can win a ballgame like that, with our defense, with our pitching, hitting. We’ve kind of done it all.” 

The Maroon & White now sit at 35-9 overall and 13-6 in Southeastern Conference play.

For the Aggies, the key to success was their base running as they capitalized on three errors committed by the Rebels.

By the top of the second frame, Aggie ace Emiley Kennedy had already notched three strikeouts.

She ended the day with seven in total. 

“That is just what she does,” Ford said. “The growth that she has had this year has been tremendous.”

The game was deadlocked until the bottom of the fourth, and although the Aggies found success getting on base, four runners were left stranded up until that point. 

Ford added: “I thought we were barrelling up balls early in the game, sometimes you are like, ‘Well, it is going to be one of those games, and we are going to have to figure out how to claw through this.’ I think they did a tremendous job of finding a way to win this ball game.”

The fourth inning was the start of the Rebels' downfall defensively.

With two Aggies on base, Hailey Golden advanced home on a wild pitch and Rylen Wiggins also scored from second as the Rebels were not able to track down the ball.

In response, Angelina DeLeon smoked a two-run homer to even the score, 2-2.

Ole Miss’ efforts to take the lead would be ultimately short lived as their defense let them down.

In a moment where Kennedy lost her footing, her defense pulled through on a pivotal play by thwarting a bases-loaded threat. 

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Striking out seven batters and allowing just two runs on four hits in seven innings, Emiley Kennedy was awarded her 18th win of the season.

“I think she knows,” Ford said. “I went out there and told her to look me in the eyes and let’s get back to doing what we do. For her, it's a moment to regroup and start throwing her pitches again.”

In the fifth frame, Amari Harper singled and Kramer Eschete reached on the fielder's choice as both advanced after consecutive throwing errors.

Julia Cottrill went down swinging but reached on a wild pitch before advancing to second on a throwing error by the catcher as Harper and Eschete also scored.

The Rebels then had another opportunity to erase A&M’s two-run lead as they put two runners aboard.

This time, they found no success. Pinch-hitter Jamie Mackay grounded out as the grand total of runners left on base grew to seven. 

In the sixth, Rylen Wiggins advanced home on a throwing error by the catcher to further increase A&M’s lead, 5-2. 

“I was really impressed with our base running tonight,” Ford said. “I felt like that was the game changer. “We preach that base running will win or lose you ball games.”

The Aggies will begin Game 2 at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday as they look to secure the series win against Ole Miss.