This loss was kind of a heartbreaker. No. 24 Texas A&M (27-17, 8-11 SEC) fell for the fourth straight time against an SEC opponent. They did not play a clean game defensively or take advantage of multiple scoring opportunities. The Aggies had a massive 11 hits, which only translated to five runs and nine batters stranded on base. Ole Miss (27-19, 6-10 SEC) used the Aggies miscues against them and cashed in numerous times off errors. With how muddy the SEC standings are, Texas A&M needs to find a way to get back on track soon before they fall to the bottom of the league.
Ole Miss got on the board first with a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning and was headed for a rally before the Aggies stiffened up. Texas A&M responded with Amari Harper and Trinity Cannon both getting singles then back-to-back walks allowing Harper to score tying the game at one apiece.
The Rebels added three more runs over the next two innings while the Aggies left five runners on base. However, the A&M answered back strong in the top of the fifth. Morgan Smith was able to drive in Julia Cottrill on a RBI single. Rylen Wiggins followed that up with a single of her own putting runners on first and second base. Sophomore outfielder Allie Enright came to the rescue with a three-run dinger over right field wall to take the lead 5-4.
Enright's three-run blast puts the Aggies up 5-4 as we head to the bottom half of the fifth.@allieenrightt | #GigEm pic.twitter.com/qi5TCy5CxD
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 22, 2023
Unfortunately for the Maroon & White that lead was very short lived as Ole Miss tied it up in the bottom of the fifth. Thats where the score stood until the bottom of the seventh inning.
Coach Ford brought Emily Leavitt in to close out regulation play for a chance to extend the game. It started off well with the first batter lining out to first base. Then after a nine pitch at bat, Leavitt hit the batter for a free base, but the next batter had a fly out to right field. Now we are at two outs and a runner on first. With a pitchers count at zero balls and two strikes, Leavitt hit the batter for another free base putting runners at first and second. That lead to a three-run walk off home run for a final score of 5-8 and the Aggies dropping game one of the series.
Final Score: Aggies 5, Rebels 8 – W: Sparks, Grace (4-3); L: Leavitt, Emily (8-6)
Final: Texas A&M 5, Ole Miss 8.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. on the SEC Network.
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) April 22, 2023
Game two will start at 1 pm on April 22nd in Mississippi.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1
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