Game #44: No. 11 Texas A&M 4, No. 14 Mississippi State 1
Records: Texas A&M (32-12, 12-4), Mississippi State (34-12, 6-10)
WP: Sidne Peters (12-4)
LP: Peja Goold (14-8)
Box Score
On Friday night, the Aggies proved there’s only enough room for one Maroon & White team in College Station.
No. 11 Texas A&M asserted its dominance over No. 14 Mississippi State, securing a 3-1 win in Game 1 of a three-game set in Davis Diamond.
It marked the seventh straight win for the Aggies as well.
In the circle, Aggie pitcher Sidne Peters spun a complete game against the Bulldogs, allowing only four hits, one run and striking out four batters.
“I thought Peters pitched a gem,” Texas A&M head coach Trisha Ford said. “She pitched her way out of some situations she put herself in, but she just kept pounding the zone and spreading. I just think she did a great job.”
Through the first four innings, Peters kept the Bulldogs scoreless. The first Mississippi State hit came in the fourth inning, and their only run came in the fifth. Peters secured her 12th win of the season, bringing her record to 12-4.
“I can’t remember the last time I threw a complete seven-inning game,” Peters said. “It felt really good, I will say that. Tonight felt really, really good, and it felt even better to do it for my teammates and help in any way that I could.”
Coming into Friday night, Bulldogs’ pitcher Peja Goold held an ERA of 1.57 and a win-loss record of 14-7. Despite her statistics, the Aggie offensive arsenal showed out early, securing a lead they would never lose.
The power-hitting Mya Perez let one fly over the center field wall on the first pitch she saw, putting the Aggies up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. The long ball was her 15th of the season.
“I knew I was going to hit it off that backdoor curve she (Peja Goold) throws,” Perez said. “That was the spot I was looking at. It happened to be the first pitch, and I was just going for it.”
Paislie Allen led off the second inning with a homer of her own, accounting for her fourth of the season and putting the Aggies up, 3-0.
Goold was relieved by Bulldog pitcher Delainey Everett in the fourth, who kept Texas A&M at bay. Everett allowed one walk and held A&M to no hits or runs past the third inning.
“We had a little bit of a hard time getting that timing piece,” Perez said. “I’m sure when she comes back, either tomorrow or Sunday, we’re going to be just fine. I have no worry in my head about her.”
The Aggies will face Mississippi State in Game 2 on Saturday, April 18 at 11:00 a.m. CT.
