Game #5: No. 11 Texas A&M 8, Providence 2
Records: Texas A&M (4-1, 0-0), Providence (1-4, 0-0)
WP: Sidne Peters (2-0)
LP: Tori Grifone (0-2)
Box Score
An early, foggy start didn’t keep the Aggies from having clear sights on the game ahead.
The Maroon & White defeated Providence, 8-2, in another lopsided win at Davis Diamond with the help of two high-performing transfers.
With a 9:32 a.m. first pitch, 11th-ranked Texas A&M closed out the Aggie Classic to bring the team to a 4-1 season-opening record, with their only loss being to No. 1 Texas Tech.
“We had a very emotional game last night, lost a heart-breaker,” head coach Trisha Ford said. “So today was a challenge to turn it around and have to get up early.”
Missouri pitching transfer Taylor Pannell woke up Aggie fans early this morning as she made her first start with A&M.
As Pannell settles into Aggieland for her senior year, she is looking to find the role she needs to play to help the Aggies take it all the way this season.
“I’m here to help us get to Oklahoma City, so whatever that role is, I’ll fulfill it,” Pannell said.
The not-so-early bird pitched for three innings with her game face on. Throughout opening weekend, Pannell totaled seven strikeouts in four innings pitched and walked zero batters.
“It was different,” Pannell said. “That’s the earliest I have ever played in college softball, but we made it through the morning.”
Behind Pannell’s 3.1 innings, Grace Sparks allowed one unearned run in 1.2 innings, and Sidne Peters tossed two scoreless frames.
“Next weekend they’re going to play this early, so there was some thought behind it,” Ford said. “Being able to get up after a late night and turn it around.”
After a seemingly perfect pitch by Pannell resulted in a Cameron Dunn home run in the top of the first, the relentless Aggies kept a strong hold on the game.
A&M brought it home with seven unanswered runs during a four-run third and a three-run fourth.
Senior transfer Micaela Wark added a soaring home run in the sixth, her fourth in five games.
Sophomore Florida transfer Ariel Kowalewski stepped into the box with bright eyes to set her place with the Maroon & White as a high performer.
The outfielder had three hits and two runs, pushing her average to .400. Kowalewski stepped to a new position in right field after calling third base her home throughout her career thus far.
“I’ve adjusted pretty well, I feel like,” Kowalewski said. “Just a lot of communication out there. Being able to talk to coach [Russ Heffley], coach (Jeff) Harger and coach Ford about it.”
Kowalewski made her debut with the Aggies this weekend, but her hard work on and off the field doesn’t go unnoticed.
“She’s great,” Ford said. “Every time she gets in the box, I know how hard that kid works, so I’m always like she’s prepared.
“I know there is not going to be a day that comes that I, as a coach, look up there and go ‘Oh gosh, she works her tail off.’ It’s kind of in her DNA.”
Beyond Kowalewski’s 3-for-4 day, Tallen Edwards drove in three runs.
Looking ahead to next weekend, the Aggies head to Clearwater, Florida, to first face No. 20 Oklahoma State — the previous team of second baseman Edwards and Wark — in a five-game stay at the five-game Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational.
Ironically, the Aggies and Cowgirls will meet on Friday morning at 9 a.m. CT.
