Munnerlyn fans eight as Edwards notches three hits in Friday win

Game #3: No. 11 Texas A&M 9, Providence 1 (6 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (3-0, 0-0), Providence (1-1, 0-0)
WP: Kate Munnerlyn (1-0)
LP: Alannah Hopkins (0-1)
Box Score

No. 11 Texas A&M brought home another run-rule win on Friday, defeating Providence 9-1 in six innings at Davis Diamond.

The Aggies are now 3-0 in the Aggie Classic ahead of facing No.1 Texas Tech at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7.

For her first home start, sophomore pitcher Kate Munnerlyn came out of the gate strong. The left-hander brought a lot of heat vs. the Friars, totaling a career-best eight strikeouts in four innings pitched, but that didn't come without some fire feeding the flames.

“I’ve worked a lot with, you know, attacking batters ahead and trying to decrease walks and gains,” Munnerlyn said. “But I did walk the girl, and it made me angry, so that kind of fired up that strikeout next.”

Throughout the game, Munnerlyn allowed two hits, one run and walked one — Hailey Frantz, who then scored Providence’s only run in the second.

Oklahoma State transfer infielder Tallen Edwards was another key player in Friday's win. The second baseman went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and pushed her average to .857.

Edwards is not only turning heads of Aggie fans, but continues to wow head coach Trisha Ford day-after-day.

“Tallen’s base running tonight was really, really good,” Ford said. “Her base running reads, her timing taking extra bases was really impressive to me.”

The Gold Glover came to A&M with long-time teammate Micaela Wark after both found themselves needing a new home. Edwards is now playing her senior season with a new outlook on the game, as she and Wark found what they were missing with the 12th Man.

“I think that we’re both now playing with people that really have our backs and tell us that every single day,” Edwards said. “When you have someone that is going to tell you that, you go into the box and onto the field just carefree, just playing softball again.”

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Tallen Edwards’ RBI single in the second inning was the 150th hit of her career.

Wark continued her hot start at Davis Diamond with two hits and two RBIs as she’s now hitting .556. Wark is looking strong ahead of the Aggies' next big competitor in Texas Tech.

“Wark is just continuing to tear it up,” Ford said.

After Munnerlyn allowed a run in the second, A&M ripped off nine unanswered, including three in both the second and the fifth innings, to run away with a third straight mercy-rule victory.

The Aggies now know the competition level ramps up as the weekend progresses.

Ahead of Saturday’s matchup, A&M is preparing to play the game they know and are ready to do whatever it takes to bring it home.

“For me, it's a game,” Ford said. “It’s strategy. How do we get people out? How do we take advantage of some weaknesses?

“I think it's a great opportunity for us to go out, play high-level softball, and let's rock and roll.”

As talk of the town, Tech is a familiar opponent for players such as Edwards, who is ready to step up for her team and bring the energy and confidence needed to face the Red Raiders.

“The same way we just prepared for Providence is going to be the same way we prepare for Tech,” Edwards said. “It’s definitely going to be higher competition, but I think the focus we’ve been taking in these three games can be taken into Tech as well.

“Our main goal is to be better than we were yesterday.”

A&M will continue the Aggie Classic on Saturday with a ranked vs. ranked matchup in front of the 12th Man.