Game #23: No. 15 Texas A&M 9, Louisiana Tech 1 (5 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (16-7, 0-0), Louisiana Tech (13-7, 0-0)
WP: Sydney Lessentine (7-1)
LP: Allie Floyd (4-3)
Box Score
Echoes of a French horn rendition of the National Anthem and smoke rings lingering from the Spirit of ‘02 led off a special Military Appreciation game for Texas A&M Softball.
Cannons were not the only thing booming throughout Wednesday evening as the No. 15 Aggie bats were blazing in a 9-1 run-rule victory in five innings against the Bulldogs.
“I just want to say thank you to all the military that were here tonight,” A&M head coach Trisha Ford said. “A&M always does it first class… That’s always, I think, a very special game for me.”
Mya Perez got things started for the Aggies in the bottom of the first, as she blasted a ball over center field for her ninth home run of the season, giving A&M a 1-0 lead. Perez went 1-for-2 with a walk and a hard-hit lineout to right field in the bottom of the fourth.
“Mya’s home run in the first was one of the hardest hit balls I’ve seen in a while,” coach Ford said. “Her line out to right field, apparently, was 81 (miles per hour) as well, so I think she had a great day.”
Micaela Wark recorded her 10th home run of the season with a 273-foot three-run shot in the third to put the Aggies up 5-0. Wark went 1-for-3 with three RBIs.
Center fielder Kelsey Mathis and right fielder Frankie Vrazel recorded back-to-back two-out RBI doubles in the bottom of the fifth, punching the score to 8-1.
Kennedy Powell then drove an RBI single into center field to seal the game at 9-1.
“It’s a game of momentum,” coach Ford said. “You gotta take advantage of our opportunities, and we can’t chase… The more you keep it simple, the more you have a clear plan. I think it’s easier for them to digest and execute.”
In the top of the fourth, Larisa Perez was tagged with a fielding error, leading to Bulldog right fielder Allie Furr reaching first, and pinch runner Carolina Eidson advancing to third.
Bulldog designated hitter Reese Torres then singled into right field for an RBI, accounting for Louisiana Tech’s only run of the night.
Despite the error, the Aggies made defensive stops in the clutch, stranding five Louisiana Tech runners on base.
“I think we’re getting more and more comfortable,” Ford said. “Early in the year, I was going too offensive. Now I think we’ve tidied up on both. We’re catching fly balls, which is good, and I think we’re just more comfortable.”
Sydney Lessentine threw a complete game for the Aggies, allowing four hits, the lone unearned run and one walk while striking out two.
“She worked both sides of the plate,” Ford said. “I feel like we’ve been stuck on the inner half, and she worked really hard on getting that outer half pitch, and I thought she did a really good job of hitting that spot. I think she still has more in her, if you can believe it.”
A&M will travel to San Marcos on Friday, March 6, to face Tarleton State at 11 a.m. and Texas State at 4 p.m. in the San Marcos Showdown.
The tournament will be the last weekend of non-conference play for the Aggies before they travel to Baton Rouge to face LSU from March 13-15.
