Game #20: No. 15 Texas A&M 11, Kennesaw State 2 (6 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (13-7, 0-0), Kennesaw State (4-13, 0-0)
WP: Sidne Peters (5-2)
LP: Leah Jannakos (4-2)
Box Score
Game #21: No. 15 Texas A&M 12, Saint Mary’s 1 (5 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (14-7, 0-0), Saint Mary’s (13-6, 0-0)
WP: Sidne Peters (6-2)
LP: Madeline Huan (2-2)
Box Score
They say pressure makes diamonds, but you have to add in a little heat to bring home a solid gem. For head coach Trisha Ford and No. 15 Texas A&M, it was time to turn up the heat.
A&M brought in two more wins on Saturday night, defeating Kennesaw State 11-2, followed by a run-ruled 12-1 win over St. Mary’s on the third day of the Texas A&M Invitational.
Though it may have seemed like a slow and steady beginning, the Aggies were just getting into their groove.
Pitching for 2.2 innings, senior pitcher Grace Sparks started the Maroon & White off strong in the circle with a steady start, before Sidne Peters stepped in, bringing home the two wins for the Aggies.
“I thought Grace had a great start,” Ford said. “She got us two innings of great work, and I thought she did a great job. And then Peters, I let her throw quite a bit today. I wanted her to get into the groove and find some things, and I thought she did a nice job.”
Ford wasn’t afraid to make changes that she knew would bring home the victory as the Aggies settled in.
“We went defensive heavy just because I feel like we’ve been burned too much not to,” Ford said.
Sophomore infielder KK Dement came ready to play a different game on Saturday night. Though she may have had a slow start to her season, Dement’s bat is just getting hot.
With two home runs in the first matchup against Kennesaw State, Dement pushed a .571 total average between games, going 4-4 with AB’s and hits.
“She hasn’t been playing how she knows she’s capable of playing,” Ford said. “She’s still managing, getting a hit a game. She’s scrappy, and I love that kid. She works so hard for this program and for her teammates.”
The Aggies added four unanswered points to the board in the first four innings. The Owls managed to get on the board with two runs in the top of the third and fourth, but not before Dement's first home run of the game at the bottom of the fifth.
Mya Perez hit a soaring home run in the bottom of the sixth before the Aggies brought in their final three runs to run-rule Kennesaw State.
A quick turnaround to the second game of the night didn’t shake the Aggies. Instead, they turned up the heat against the St. Mary’s Gaels.
Ariel Kowalewski hasn’t been shy in her first season with the Aggies. Between the two games, Kowalewski hit .600 and scored three runs. Kowalewski doesn’t let the pressure get to her, but rather it seems she thrives under it.
“I brought (Kowalewski) into my office this morning and talked her through some things, and that kid, she deserves a medal. I hope she gets everything she deserves.”
Before opening weekend, the Florida transfer hadn’t swung her bat in the regular season since 2025, after transferring to A&M in December of 2024.
She has proven to be a diamond in the making with her outstanding performance behind the plate.
“Going into college, I was recruited as a catcher. I’ve been a catcher my entire life,” Kowalewski said. “It's my comfort, really.”
The Aggies brought home the run-rule win against the Gaels with a three-run fourth, which included a second home run of the night by Perez.
A diamond in the rough can still shine bright, with the right amount of pressure and when the heat is turned up.
That is exactly what the Aggies are doing.
The Maroon & White will close out the Texas A&M invitational on Sunday, March 1, at 1:30 p.m., where they will face off against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns for a second time.
