Tag: Aggie softball

Head coach Trisha Ford speaks after Texas A&M’s loss to Florida in the SEC Semifinals

Texas A&M Head Coach Trish Ford and Infielder Kennedy Powell speak after the quarterfinals lost to Florida

Florida (45-12) just seems to have Texas A&M’s (40-13) number this year, and Coach Trisha Ford and her team have not been able to figure out that puzzle. After being swept by Florida in the regular season series finale, the Aggies had a chance for redemption in the Semifinals of the SEC Softball Tournament.

The fourth time was not the charm for the Maroon & White. After falling behind by five runs early, they cut into the lead to keep it close, but the Gators added a few insurance runs late, shutting the door on a comeback. Following the 7-3 loss, Coach Ford and Kennedy Powell shared their thoughts after the game.

“So obviously tough loss we’ve played Florida I feel like in the last week several times great team but you know you guys know that it was a couple swings away a couple things that we can execute here and there and we’re in that ball game” – Coach Ford

“We have a never quit mentality I mean it doesn’t matter how many runs we’re down or how bad the game gets we feel like we’re never out of it until that last out” – Kennedy Powell

You can check out the full game post-game presser below

Texas A&M now waits for the NCAA Softball Selection Show that will take place on May 12 at 7 pm EST on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+.

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Walk-off hit advances No. 9 Texas A&M to SEC Tournament semifinals where they fell to No. 8 Florida

The Texas A&M softball team made it to the SEC Tournament semifinals where the ultimately fell to the Florida Gators 7-3.

Koko Wooley came to the rescue late in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal game against South Carolina with a clutch hit for the win.

Texas A&M (40-13) was in the midst of a pitching duel between Emiley Kennedy and Sage Mardjetko that lasted through six innings with South Carolina up 2-1 entering the bottom of the final inning.

Until this point, the only score for the Aggie was a solo shot by senior infielder Trinity Cannon in the first inning and it was goose eggs until Wooley stepped in the batter’s box with one out and the bases loaded. Then with the outfield playing in, Koko saw a pitch she liked and sent it to the center field wall for a walk-off double, scoring Scout Lovall and Kennedy Powell.

 

game quarterfinal:

Texas A&M vs. South carolina / win / 3-2

  • Total offense: 7 hits, 3 runs
  • Pitching: Emiley Kennedy, W (21-10), pitched 7.0 innings, 10 Ks, 125 pitches.

Unfortunately for the Aggies, they had to face one of the hottest team in the SEC right now, the Florida Gators, in the semifinals. Texas A&M had an opportunity to get some revenge, however, the fell into an early 5-0 deficit that they could not climb out of, losing 7-3. Outside of Kennedy, the pitching has been a little inconsistent and something Coach Trisha Ford will think about as now we wait to see where they land in the regional seeding.

game semifinal:

Texas A&M vs. Florida / Loss / 7-3

  • Total offense: 5 hits, 3 runs
  • Pitching:
    • Emily Leavitt, L (21-10), pitched 1.2 innings, 1 K, 57 pitches
    • Shaylee Ackerman pitched 2.0 innings, 1 K, 42 pitches
    • Brooke Vestal pitched 2.0 innings, 3 Ks, 37 pitches
    • Mya Perez pitched 0.1 innings, 1 K, 8 pitches.

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UPDATE: Due to weather the Texas A&M softball quarterfinals game has been moved

Rainy weather has forced the final two quarterfinal games of 2024 SEC Softball tournament to be postponed a day

Texas A&M (39-12, 15-9 SEC) will have to wait one more day before they can take the diamond in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 SEC softball tournament. Rain has interrupted the flow of the tournament and the Aggie’s Thursday game against South Carolina will not take place on Friday.

The Aggies earned a first-round bye after earning the No.3 Seed and found out their opponent after South Carolina beat Mississippi State to advance to the next round. With the delay, the teams will now face off on Friday, May 10, 35 minutes after game one is complete. You can check out the full schedule update below.

Texas A&M needs this win to regain some confidence and momentum after being swept to close the season. I have no doubt Coach Trisha Ford will have them ready to battle.

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Texas A&M softball holds on to their top ten ranking in the newest polls

Even after getting swept by Florida Texas A&M remain in the top ten as they head into tournament play

Texas A&M (39-12, 15-9) fell just shy of 40 wins after getting swept by Florida but still had one of their better records in the last few years. They have a few days to regroup before the SEC Tournament starts where they earned a No. 3 seed and will face the winner of the Mississippi State/South Carolina game.

For now, the Aggies are still a top-ten team and remain a tough team to play in a three-game series. So, they need to focus on the task at hand and get some momentum in the SEC Tournament before heading into the Regionals.

Following their sweep to Florida, all major softball polls have moved the Aggies down a few spots in the newest polls.

The 2024 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, with one representing each of the NCAA’s Division I Conferences. Records reflect games played through May 5. The poll is released on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. ET during the regular season.

RANKINGS

Rank Team Record Points Previous
1 Texas (32) 45-6 800 1
2 Tennessee 40-9 747 3
3 Oklahoma State 44-9 736 4
4 Oklahoma 46-6 717 2
5 Duke 43-6 664 5
6 UCLA 34-10 636 7
7 Stanford 42-12 622 6
8 Florida 43-12 564 11
9 Texas A&M 39-12 502 8
10 LSU 38-14 483 10
11 Missouri 40-14 480 13
12 Washington 31-12 435 9
13 Florida State 41-13 370 12
14 Georgia 38-15 368 14
15 Virginia Tech 38-11-1 349 16
16 Arkansas 36-15 335 15
17 Mississippi State 33-17 271 20
18 Arizona 33-15-1 268 18
19 California 36-16 232 19
20 Alabama 33-16 203 17
21 Louisiana 40-16 161 21
22 Boston University 49-4-1 156 22
23 Clemson 33-16 81 23
24 Oregon 28-18 57 25
25 Northwestern 33-10 46

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

Kentucky (36), Miami (32), Texas State (18), Baylor (9), Grand Canyon (9), South Carolina (9), Virginia (9), Auburn (1).

DROPPED OUT:

No. 24 Kentucky

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The No. 8 Texas A&M softball team falls in game three 11-3 to No. 9 Florida

The Aggies can’t avoid the sweep getting rule-ruled through six innings on Sunday by Florida

No. 8 Texas A&M (39-12, 15-9 SEC) couldn’t keep up with No. 9 Florida (43-12, 17-7 SEC), getting run-ruled 11-3 and swept by the Gators to close out the regular season.

In a less-than-ideal ending to the season, the Aggies will limp into the SEC tournament after being swept for a second time by a top-ten conference foe. After two closely contested games in Gainsville, A&M put up 11 hits, but enough runs didn’t cross the plate as they left a staggering 11 runners on base. The opportunities were there, and the normally clutch-hitting Aggies kept coming up short.

Despite the recent three-game skid, Texas A&M has had a commendable season, one of their best in recent times. They have secured a No. 3 seed in the Tournament, which is a testament to their hard work and dedication. Head coach Trisha Ford is ready to strategize and guide her team to their winning ways, ensuring they make a strong showing in the tournament and carry that momentum into the upcoming SE’s regionals.

game three:

Texas A&M vs Florida / Win / 11-3

  • Total offense:  11 hits, three runs
  • Pitching: Emiley Kennedy L (20-10) pitched 3.0 innings, 2 Ks, 59 pitches. Emily Leavitt pitched 2.2 innings, 1 Ks, 66 pitches.

Texas A&M will be back in action in the Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament where they will face the winner of Mississippi State vs South Carolina starting on Thursday, May 9, in Auburn, Alabama.

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Aggies’ Emiley Kennedy a finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year

Texas A&M’s Emiley Kennedy makes the cut as a Top 26 finalist for Collegiate Player of the Year

Texas A&M ace Emiley Kennedy has made a big leap this season, becoming the Aggie go-to pitcher when they get into a bind in a big game. She’s also been one of the top pitchers in the SEC and is currently sitting in the top ten of the following categories.

  • ERA (7th) – 1.51
  • Opposing batting average (3rd) -.170
  • Innings pitched (3rd) – 157
  • Batters struck out (3rd) – 165
  • Wins (2nd) – 20
  • Saves (3rd) – 5

Below is a little about the award and the announcement dates from USA Softball

Each NCAA Softball season, USA Softball recognizes a Collegiate Player of the Year based on outstanding play over the course of the entire season. At the beginning of each season, USA Softball issues a Top 50 “Watch List” for Player of the Year, followed by a list of finalists that narrows from Top 25 to Top 10 and Top 3. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is awarded during a team reception the week of the WCWS.

Player of the Year — Announcement Dates
  • Top 25 Finalists — May 1
  • Top 10 Finalists — May 15
  • Top 3 Finalists — May 20
  • Player of the Year — Prior to the WCWS

As the season winds down, head coach Trisha Ford will need the best out of her “Lefty” if they plan on making a deep run in the postseason. They are already in a prime position to host a regional, and if the pitching outside of Kennedy can get a little more consistent to allow her to rest, the sky is the limit.

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Texas A&M softball enters the top ten during their conference bye week

The Aggies move up in the rankings overall on their day off

Texas A&M (39-9, 15-6 SEC) made a few moves after two very convincing midweek wins and a conference bye week. The Aggies run-ruled both Houston and Sam Houston before getting their first real break of the season. They then face No. 11 Florida in their final SEC series of the season.

Now, as a consensus Top 10 team coming off a bye week, they can solidify a home regional with a strong finish to the season. The crazy thing is, they can still get a little better.

Following their big midweek victories, all major softball polls have moved the Aggies up a few spots in the newest polls.

The 2024 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, with one representing each of the NCAA’s Division I Conferences. Records reflect games played through April 28. The poll is released on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. ET during the regular season.

RANKINGS

Rank Team Record Points Previous
1 Texas (30) 42-6 798 1
2 Oklahoma (2) 45-2 770 2
3 Tennessee 37-9 720 3
4 Oklahoma State 42-8 696 4
5 Duke 44-6 658 5
6 Stanford 39-11 621 7
7 UCLA 30-10 574 9
8 Texas A&M 39-9 546 10
9 Washington 31-10 545 8
10 LSU 36-13 535 6
11 Florida 39-12 452 12
12 Florida State 40-10 430 16
13 Missouri 37-13 424 14
14 Georgia 37-13 404 11
15 Arkansas 34-13 15
16 Virginia Tech 38-11-1 333 13
17 Alabama 32-14 244 17
18 Arizona 32-15-1 202 19
19 California 33-15 194 20
20 Mississippi State 30-16 167 18
21 Louisiana 38-14 147 25
22 Boston University 45-4-1 136 23
23 Clemson 33-16 111 22
24 Kentucky 30-18 90 21
25 Oregon 27-16 65 24

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

Northwestern (62), South Carolina (33), Miami (22), Texas State (16), Grand Canyon (6), Virginia (3), Baylor (2)

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.

The Texas A&M softball team recorded a pair of midweek wins as they rolled into their bye week

The Aggies score back-to-back midweek wins run ruling both teams as they near the end of the regular season

Texas A&M (39-9, 15-6 SEC) is knocking on the door to a 40-win regular season with three games left until the SEC Tournament starts on May 7. The Aggies picked up their 38th and 39th wins last week when they poured on the runs, betting Houston and Sam Houston with a combined run total of 22-2 run-ruling both teams.

A&M is in prime position to host a regional with one of their best seasons since 2017. Aggie veteran Trinity Cannon led the way for the Maroon & White with three hits, eight RBI, and two home runs across the two games. She has been one of the most clutch hitters for A&M this year and they will need to lean on her leadership to close out the season strong.

Day one:

Texas A&M vs Houston / Win / 12-2

  • Total offense:  9 hits, 12 runs
  • Pitching: Emiley Kennedy W (20-7): 2.2 innings, 3 Ks, 51 pitches. Emily Leavitt: 2.1 innings, 3 Ks, 49 pitches.

 

Day two:

Texas A&M vs Sam Houston / Win / 11-0

  • Total offense:  9 hits, 11 runs
  • Pitching: Shaylee Ackerman W (8-1): 6.0 innings, 5 Ks, 87 pitches.

Texas A&M will wrap up SEC play with a series against No. 12 Florida in Gainesville, Fla starting on Friday, May 3, at 6 p.m. CT.

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Texas A&M softball enters the top ten in a handful of the polls

The Aggie softball team keeps making noise in the NCAA landscape moving into the top ten after a sweep of Ole Miss

Texas A&M (37-9, 15-6 SEC) is essentially a top-ten team if you average the four main polls and they have been backing it up on the field. Outside of being swept by LSU last month, the Aggies have been playing like one of the top teams in the country.

Whether it’s spectacular defensive play, solid pitching, clutch hitting, or a combination, A&M is finding ways to win games. They are very close to securing a home regional, which would be a major advantage, as the Aggies have an impressive 23-2 record at Davis Diamond.

Coach Trisha Ford does not settle for just good; she wants her players to be great on the field and in life. It appears her squad has fully bought in and will leave with no regrets once this season finally ends.

Following their sweep of Ole Miss, all major softball polls have moved the Aggies up a few spots in the newest polls.

The 2024 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, with one representing each of the NCAA’s Division I Conferences. Records reflect games played through April 21. The poll is released on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. ET during the regular season.

RANKINGS

Rank Team Record Points Previous
1 Texas (28) 38-6 791 1
2 Oklahoma 42-4 772 2
3 Tennessee 34-8 720 4
4 Oklahoma State 39-8 666 6
5 Duke 39-6 652 3
6 LSU 35-10 592 7
7 Stanford 36-10 590 5
8 Washington 30-8 566 8
9 UCLA 27-9 554 12
10 Texas A&M 37-9 536 11
11 Georgia 36-11 516 9
12 Florida 37-10 466 10
13 Virginia Tech 35-9-1 403 15
14 Missouri 35-13 377 13
15 Arkansas 32-12 360 16
16 Florida State 36-10 294 18
17 Alabama 31-12 291 14
18 Mississippi State 30-13 240 17
19 Arizona 31-13-1 235 19
20 California 31-14 163 20
21 Kentucky 29-15 120 24
22 Clemson 31-15 117 21
23 Boston University 40-4 110 23
24 Oregon 26-16 100 22
25 Louisiana 33-15 74 25

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

Northwestern (25), South Carolina (21), Texas State (19), Virginia (9), Miami (6), Auburn (4), Grand Canyon (3), Baylor (2), Eastern Kentucky (1).

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The Texas A&M softball team enters the top ten in the power rankings

Texas A&M is one of the breakout teams this year winning six of the seven SEC series for a total of 15 conference wins

One of the better hires we’ve seen before the departure of former Texas A&M Ross Bjork was bringing in softball coach Trisha Ford from Arizona State. In year one under Ford, she led the Aggies to their most overall and conference wins in five seasons. In year two she is starting to flex her muscles and now that her identity has become law on the softball field.

Her no-nonsense approach has brought a sense of accountability and an understanding that just being good won’t cut it at this level. Her team has taken this to heart and has leaped to the next level. While I believe they are a few dominant players short of being among the elite, they are a team you do not want to see when they are clicking.

As we wait for the new polls to drop it’s likely the Aggies will have finally cracked the top ten in most polls. They still have one top-ten team to face in Florida, but right now they sit at No. 7 in the power rankings and are on track to host a regional if they can pick up another SEC win or two.

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