Kennedy guides #1 A&M to regional final with shutout of #2 Texas State
Game #55: #1 Texas A&M 1, #2 Texas State 0
Records: Texas A&M (42-13, 15-9), Texas State (43-14, 18-6)
WP: Emiley Kennedy (22-10)
LP: Jessica Mullins (31-8)
Box Score
Two of the nation’s top two pitchers went at it.
It’s a familiar storyline floating around College Station right now.
Two nights ago, many diamond sports fans saw Texas A&M’s Ryan Prager and Arkansas’ Hagen Smith battle it out on the mound in a thrilling pitcher’s duel at Blue Bell Park.
On Saturday, less than a mile away, Davis Diamond saw the same, except this time, it was A&M’s Emiley Kennedy and Texas State’s Jessica Mullins.
Both entered the matchup sporting less than 2.00 ERAs. Each has 20-plus wins attached to their name.
The two both took the ball in a midweek meeting earlier this season.
Mullins won round one.
On Saturday afternoon, Kennedy evened the count when it mattered.
And in Trisha Ford’s words, it was “the biggest game of the season.”
Powered by a six-strikeout shutout from Kennedy, No. 16 national-seeded Texas A&M remains in the winners’ bracket with a 1-0 victory over the Bobcats.
The Aggies will now play to win the Bryan-College Station Regional on Sunday.
“I felt like we played our brand of softball,” head coach Trisha Ford said. “You saw two great teams out there executing at a high level.
“When you are in one of these tight ballgames, and you have two really good pitchers, your defense will be the difference maker. I think our defense was the difference maker.”
It was a game of minimal mistakes by the hurlers, but all it took was one to doom the Bobcats.
Pitching six innings, giving up two hits and walking three, Mullins had a stellar day. It was her rocky start that gave the Aggies the advantage.
She walked lead-off hitter Kennedy Powell, who served as the only run of the day, thanks to Trinity Cannon’s sacrifice fly.
From that point on, Emiley Kennedy took control for the Aggies.
A&M’s ace retired 12 straight batters while racking up six strikeouts. She did not walk a single Bobcat.
The Aggies had a chance to plate more runs when they loaded the bases in third.
However, Mullins fought through a nine-pitch at-bat against Jazmine Hill, which ended in a groundout to strand a trio of Aggies.
The hurlers dueled it out through the late innings, but A&M’s early punch was the deciding factor.
“Jessica (Mullins) is really good,” Kennedy said. “I think going toe to toe just shows that we can beat almost anybody.”
Rylen Wiggins and Kramer Eschete highlighted Texas A&M’s defensive performance behind Kennedy as both made plays to keep the Bobcats from remaining on the base paths.
“They were great,” Kennedy said. “I said, ‘Just keep getting outs. I don’t care if it's a 1-0 ballgame.’”
The Maroon & White are now in the driver’s seat, remaining in the win column and have the night off.
Yet, they will face Texas State again on Sunday afternoon
“Today’s game was the biggest game of the season if I am being very frank,” Ford said. “We have rest the rest of the day.”
“When we play Texas A&M softball, a lot of good things happen.”