Double Header Recap and highlights: Softball – No. 24 Texas A&M vs No. 11 Kentucky

The Aggies put 24 runs on the board to take the series in double header against Kentucky

No. 24 Texas A&M (19-10) headed to Lexington Kentucky to start their second conference series against the No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats (19-7) on Friday. However, mother nature had other plans and the game got postponed to Saturday forcing the teams to play a doubleheader. One of the things I’ve come to admire about how coach Trisha Ford teams her team focused and holds them accountable. After giving up five runs in the first inning of game one the team never wavered and completed a comeback win, then went on to run-rule the Wildcats in game two.

game one recap

The first inning probably couldn’t have started much worse than it did with the Aggies going three and out, then the Wildcats having a five-hit five-run inning.

Texas A&M would cut into the lead with a three-run second inning off an RBI single by Rylan Wiggins, a sac fly by Grace Uribe, and Amari Harper scoring on a wild pitch.  Going into the top of the fourth, Kentucky still held a 5-3 lead, but that would change when A&M Consolidated product Aiyana Coleman went yard over the left field fence tying the game 5-5.

The tie was short-lived as Kentucky took the lead for the second time with the runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up by two before Trinity Cannon hit a sac fly to left field to score Keely Williams in the top of the fifth. The Wildcats answered in a major way by scoring a massive four- runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to put them up 11-6 heading into the last two innings of the game.

Once again looking to cut into the lead, the Aggies put two runs on the board with RBI singles off the bats of Williams and Morgan Smith. Down by two runs in the final frame, the Aggies needed some quality hits and boy did they get them. The scoring started with a homer to left field, followed by an infield hit by Allie Enright that scored Koko Wooly to tie the game at 11 apiece. With runners on first and second, Williams hit a three-run homer to center field to take the late lead 14-11.

Not going away Kentucky hit a two run home-run to cut the lead to one with two outs, but Shaylee Ackerman closed out the game striking out the final batter to secure the win.

Final Score: Aggies 14, Wildcats 13 – W: Ackerman, Shaylee (5-3); L: Lacatena, Alexia (7-2)

game Two recap

This game was never in doubt with the Aggies scoring in every inning minus the second and got a much-needed early ending after a quick turnaround from game one.

The Aggies started off modest with a single from Cannon that scored Julia Cottrill for the lone score in the first inning. Then in the third, Wooley hit a two-run double down the left field line followed by an infield ground out by Amari Harper to score Cannon giving the A&M a 4-0 lead early in the game.

After two more Aggie batters reached base safely due to being walked, Freshman Keely Williams was back at the plate for an encore performance from game one. On the first pitch Williams cleared the center field fence for her second three-run home run of the day, pushing the lead to 7-0.

Cannon closed out the scoring with a sac fly to plate Morgan Smith. The Aggies 8-0 lead placed them in run-rule territory. Wanting to add some cushion to the lead in the top of the fifth, Wiggins hit a single through the left side scoring Harper. The last score of the game would come from Freshman Aiyana Colman with a solo shot to right center putting the Aggies ahead 10-0. Even though Leavitt walked a few batters in the bottom of the fifth it didn’t matter because she managed to get out of the inning without giving up any hits or runs allowing Texas A&M end the game a few innings early.

Final Score: Aggies 10, Wildcats 0 – W: Leavitt, Emily (6-4); L: Gayan, Sloan (0-2)

The final game will be on March 26 at 12pm close out the series before they head back to Davis Diamond to take on Lamar in a midweek showdown

Check out some highlights of the doubleheader from the official Texas A&M Softball Twitter account