Cannon homers twice as A&M outlasts Texas in super regional opener

Game #57: #16 Texas A&M 6, #1 Texas 5
Records: Texas A&M (44-13, 15-9), Texas (50-8, 23-4)
WP: Emiley Kennedy (24-10)
LP: Citlaly Gutierrez (11-2)
Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas — A true thriller in the Lone Star State.

A renewed rivalry on the diamond, Texas A&M and Texas' history runs deep.

The increased antics between the two schools created drama and commotion on Friday evening at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

But in the end, A&M created its own noise.

The 16th-seeded Aggies shocked the softball world by taking down No. 1 overall seed Texas in the first game of the 2024 Austin Super Regional, 6-5.

A&M became the first No. 16 seed to take a game from the top dog in six years.

"We knew we had a shot," head coach Trisha Ford said. "Nobody else did."

The Maroon & White displayed their confident mindset early, dealing a massive first blow.

Trinity Cannon sent a three-run shot over the wall to make it a 3-0 ballgame in the first. 

Prior to that mammoth blast, Cannon fouled a pitch off her foot. Texas played it out, turning what appeared to be a triple play.

After the play was overturned, Cannon delivered in the biggest way in what could also be described as a nice birthday present for left-handed pitcher Emiley Kennedy.

"Scoring in the first inning always makes it easier for me," Kennedy said. "You can tell I throw differently with a lead."

Cannon's first-inning homer was enough for Texas head coach Mike White to pull starter Citlalay Gutierrez, replacing her with right-handed hurler Mac Morgan.

Yet, Cannon wasn't done firing.

After the middle innings went scoreless on both sides, a two-run blast from the senior elated an already-hyped Aggie dugout and increased A&M's lead to 5-0.

Yet again, Kennedy was the star in the circle, throwing five innings of shutout ball before a high-powered Texas offense eventually struck back.

After the Maroon & White were able to plate another run in the top thanks to Kramer Eschete, Texas came alive.

A heated interaction between A&M's Russ Heffley and Texas' Steve Singleton revved up a quiet Longhorn lineup as pinch hitter Victoria Hunter changed the game's storyline with one swing.

Hunter's grand slam in the sixth not only increased the pressure on A&M's lineup to add more cushion, but it presented Kennedy with a tall task.

After A&M's offense failed to deliver in crunch time and left the bases loaded in the seventh, it was all on Kennedy with the Longhorns' most dangerous bats at the plate.

With two outs, a solo big fly by Big 12 Player of the Year Reese Atwood may have increased the heart rate of everyone in Austin and College Station, but Kennedy stayed level.

Her fifth strikeout of the day clinched the statement-making win.

TexAgs

With Friday night's victory, A&M is a win away from making the program’s ninth ​​WCWS appearance.

Perhaps, a perfect birthday present for "Lefty" as she recorded her 24th win of the year and could build on it, stating she is "absolutely" ready to pitch again on Saturday.

"They have good hitters and hit pitches they should," Kennedy said. "Just hit my spots, and I'll be OK."

A&M now has the chance to send an even louder shockwave across the state of Texas and all over the country in Saturday's clash with the Longhorns at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The Aggies have not been to the Women's College World Series since 2017.

Ford's second-year group could get there the best way possible.

Through the nation's best.