Tag: texas a&m softball

See where Texas A&M lands on the Softball America’s Top 25 rankings

The Texas A&M softball team makes Softball America’s Top 25 rankings

The Aggies, under the first-year head coach Trisha Ford, had a little bit of a mixed bag but showed signs of improvement overall. After an overall binging multiple familiar faces through the portal and adding some seasoned coaches, the arrow is pointed up for this A&M squad.

Coach Ford’s Aggies will enter the 2024 season just inside of the top 20 Softball America’s Top 25 rankings at No. 19. Some other notable teams were the perennial top dog Oklahoma in the No. 1 spot, Tennessee is No.2, Texas is No. 7, and LSU is No. 12. There is a lot to be excited about moving forward. Coach Ford believes she has a team ready to make some noise as a team.

“I think we could be a Super Regional team 100%  and it’s just going to be whether or not we can put the pieces together. Super Regional teams a lot of things can go whichever way and then you’re at the promised land, so my goal is for us to just get to Super Regionals and see what happens from there. But it’s just going to depend on how consistently we can execute at a high level. We have the talent it’s just going to be can we you are you going to love that grind are you going to love the day in and day out the high-level Softball play the pressure you know you have to love”

Texas A&M will open the season at Davis Diamond when they host the Aggie Classic from February 9 -11th.

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 full 2024 schedule for the Texas A&M Softball team has been released

The Aggie softball team now knows the date and who they will be playing in 2024.

Year two under Trisha Ford is approaching, and the full schedule has been released.

Coach Ford, similar to Head women’s basketball coach Joni Taylor, hit the transfer portal with a purpose and brought in some familiar faces to go with her already talented team. There will be no shortage of competition, especially in the infield, where a lot of speed and athleticism have been added.

Not only is the Aggie roster stacked with talented new faces, but Coach Ford has added veteran coach Eric Leyba and talented player developer Bobby Buchanan. From the players to the staff, the team has a healthy mix of experience and youth that makes this squad that will surprise the softball world this season.

One of the highlights of the non-conference schedule is the Judi Garman Classic, which takes place from February 29 – March 3 in Southern California and is hosted by Cal State Fullerton.

As we prepare for an amazing season, you can check out some highlights from fall ball.

The Aggie Softball team officially inks it’s 2024 class on National Signing day

Texas A&M head softball coach Trisha Ford brings in a haul on National Signing Day with 10 class of 2024 players signed

National Signing Day is here for several college athletics, including softball. The Aggies brought in a good haul, inking ten newcomers as coach Trisha Ford starts to build her roster for the future.

Harley Vestal

  • Blue Bell/TSWA Class 5A all-state first team
  • THSCA 5A Softball Super Elite Team
  • District 26-5A Offensive MVP

Kate Munnerlyn

  • All-Bay Area First Team
  • West Coast Preps Softball Pitcher of the Year
  • Blue Bell/TSWA Class 5A all-state first team
  • 2nd team All-Conference

DeeDee Baldwin

    • 2nd Team All-Conference

Khamara “KK” Dement

  • All-Central Sequoia League First Team
  • Jennie Finch Classic participant
  • Player of the Week multiple times

Della Jasinski

  • Honorable Mention Pitcher Blue Bell/TSWA Conference 5A All-State team
  • First Team All Brazos Valley
  • District Pitcher of the Year

Sydney Lessentine

  • District 3-5A All-District

Taylor Brown

  • Three-Time Conference Player of the Year
  • Three-Time All-State
  • Three-Time Missourian Player of the Year

Larisa Perez

  • Blue Bell/TSWA Class 6A all-state first team
  • District 12-6A Co-Offensive Player of the Year
  • Lady Dawg Most Valuable Player of the Year

Frankie Vrazel

  • Two-Time All-District Offensive MVP
  • Danbury High Female of the Year
  • Softball Newcomer of the Year (Freshman)

Kelsey Mathis

  • #11 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100
  • Two-Time 1st Team All-District

Congratulations to these young ladies for committing to the best University in the Great State of Texas, and we wish them all a great senior season.

Texas softball looks to single-handedly eliminate Texas A&M

Texas can send Texas A&M home for the offseason on Sunday afternoon.

The Texas softball team is one win away from the next round, and one win from eliminating its bitter rival. After the Longhorns defeated the Texas A&M Aggies 2-1 on Saturday afternoon and sent the team to the elimination bracket, the two meet again on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.

In this double elimination tournament, Texas holds the advantage in the final matchup. The Aggies (2-1) need two wins to eliminate the Longhorns (2-0) in Austin.

We don’t want to underrate A&M who gave Texas a battle in the first matchup. The team held a 1-0 lead before the Longhorns came back to win 2-1. The Aggies have four key players batting above .300 with Julia Cottrill and Trinity Cannon over 1.000 in on base plus slugging percentage. Even so, it will be an uphill battle for the Lone Star rivals from College Station.

Texas will look to move to the next round with an early win.

Charting Texas softball’s path to the Women’s College World Series

We look at who Texas softball might have to beat to get to the College World Series.

Texas softball is on the rise after following a national championship appearance last season with a strong showing in 2023. This year saw the team win 42 games headlined by a sweep of this year’s No. 6 tournament team Oklahoma State.

Head coach Mike White’s team didn’t receive the most optimal seeding for this year’s Tournament. Despite the immediate victory of hosting a regional, the NCAA placed Texas as the No. 13 team in the bracket.

The Longhorns slot seven places behind the Oklahoma State Cowgirls despite better overall record, conference record and standing, conference tournament results and a head-to-head sweep. As a result the team will face a difficult path to the College World Series.

Here’s a look at who Texas might need to get past within its bracket to reach Oklahoma City.

Texas softball to host Texas A&M in its NCAA Tournament region

Buckle up. Texas and Texas A&M softball are placed in the Austin Region.

A rivalry could be renewed in a high stakes environment for last year’s national runner-up softball team. The Texas Longhorns will host the Texas A&M Aggies in the Austin Regional this weekend in what could be a passion-filled battle.

Despite the recent hiccup that saw the team swept by Baylor in Waco, it has been steadily successful all season. Texas (42-13-1) is joined by Texas A&M (33-19), Texas State (34-23-1) and the Longhorns’ first opponent Seton Hall (42-16).

Despite the difficult SEC schedule the Aggies faced, the Longhorns would figure to be the heavy favorite to win the region. The season has saw Texas sweep then-No. 3 Oklahoma State and face premier nonconference competition.

The year saw head coach Mike White’s team split with formidable Alabama and Virginia Tech programs and earn a convincing neutral site victory over Missouri to start the season. In addition, the Longhorns have more seen more reps than most against this year’s title favorite, No. 1 Oklahoma.

Texas will take on Seton Hall in its tournament opener.

Texas A&M softball will face Texas State in the Austin Regional in the 2023 NCAA Tournament

It has been announced that Texas A&M will face Texas State in the Austin Regional with a chance to face the Texas Longhorns

On Sunday afternoon, In head coach Trisha Ford’s inaugural season, Texas A&M was officially invited to participate in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. As a 2-seed in the Austin Regional, they are scheduled to face 3-seed Texas State from Friday, May 19-21. Despite their lackluster performance in SEC play, with a 1-0 loss to South Carolina during the SEC Tournament, the Aggies are thrilled to have made it to the big dance with hopes of causing an upset against a regional host.

The Aggies (33-19) finished .500 in the SEC at 12-12, securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament due to their early and midseason accomplishments, including ranked wins against Arizona, UCF, Baylor, and series wins against Arkansas and Kentucky. Led by the trio of Koko Wooley (.323 AVG, 3 HR, 29 RBI), Julia Cottrill (.354, 10 HR, 43 RBI), and Rylan Wiggins (.282, 3 HR, 14 RBI), who recently earned All-SEC Honors last week, are looking to find some consistency with for days to prepare mentally.

The Aggies have a shot at facing off against the Texas Longhorns, provided both teams advance from their opening-round games. However, despite their past struggles, the upcoming regional competition is a golden opportunity for the Texas A&M team to triumph. They have a solid chance to clinch the regional championship, a feat they have not accomplished since 2018. Gig ‘Em!

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 Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

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Game Two Recap & Highlights – Softball No. 21 Texas A&M vs No. 3 Tennessee

The Aggies get a big SEC, and even up the series, with win over Tennessee

In another defensive battle, No. 21 Texas A&M (22-12) was able to win game two, 3-1, over No. 3 Tennessee (28-3).  The Aggies were able to get on the board early and keep the Volunteers scoreless in the last inning. So far through these first two games the Aggie pitching has been very impressive only allowing three runs through two games to a team that normally scores anywhere from five to eight runs a game. These are the types of performances Coach Ford said her pitchers were able to produce and it was a perfect time for them to show up.

The first score of the game was all Julia Cottrill, who started it off with a single to right field. Then she stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She ended up scoring on a throwing error by the catch for the 1-0 lead.

Madison Preston picked up where the pitchers left off from game one by keeping Tennessee scoreless in the first three innings while striking out five batters along the way. Keely Williams, who went 0-5 in game one, was not going to be denied on Saturday. She hit a triple to score fellow freshman Amari Harper and gave Preston a little more breathing room.

Preston was absolutely dealing and her change-up kept Tennessee on their heels all game. After getting an insurance run from Williams, she retired the next nine batters only allowing one hit and striking out two. In the bottom of the sixth, Koko Wooley hit a single to score Rylen Wiggins extending the lead to 3-0.

Emily Leavitt was brought in to close the game, and after a few rough pitches and allowing one run she was able to settle in and pitch the final batter into a ground out

Final Score: Aggies 3, Volunteers 1 – W: Preston, Madison (4-1); L: Pickens, Karlyn (6-3) S: Leavitt, Emily (3)

Game three will take place at 1 pm at Davis Diamond on Sunday.

Check out some highlights from the Texas A&M softball official Twitter account.

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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Ode to Joy Invitational: Sunday Recap – Aggie Softball

Aggie’s fall to Baylor on the final day of the tournament

No. 25 ranked Texas A&M (14-6) split a pair of games Sunday to finish day two of the tournament at 1-1. They won the first game to Sam Houston University (8-12) but dropped the No. 19 ranked Baylor Bears (17-2) in extra innings. At the end of the end tournament, the Aggies went 2-2 beating each team once.

game one recap – Texas a&M vs Sam houston

Game two started similarly to game one but in the reverse. Texas A&M takes first base after Koko Wooley is hit by a pitch, then Morgan Smith hit a single up the middle advancing Wooley to second. Smith at bat would be followed up by consecutive outs putting the Aggies in the familiar territory of leaving runners on base this weekend.  Freshman Keely Williams ended that trend with a one-score RBI double to give A&M a 1-0 lead.

The middle of the game turned into a pitching duel between Madison Preston and the Bearkat’s Regan Dunn. With batters on both sides swinging very aggressively.  Preston was in the zone after she settled in retiring twelve straight batters with a career-high nine strikeouts and only allowing two hits.

The Bearkat’s only real threat to score this game came in the 5th inning when Sam Houston was able to get two runners on base. Coach Ford brought Emily Leavitt in to relieve Preston and it almost seemed like a miscue, because Leavitt would allow the runners to get into scoring position due to a wild pitch. But she wasn’t fazed and close out the top of the fifth with two strikeouts. Wooley added another score for A&M to left field scoring Amari Harper from second base.

After starting the top of the sixth with a quick out Grace Uribe got her first hit of the game with a single that snuck through the right side. to round out the scoring Keely Williams hits a bomb into the wind to right-center field for her first career home run putting the Aggies up 4-0.

Leavitt closes out the game in the top of the seventh inning with some dominant pitching striking out all three batters in order leaving the Bearkats scoreless. She earned a save, ending the game with six strikeouts, and only allowed one hit through 2.2 innings.

Both pitchers combined for a season-high fifteen strikeouts.

Final Score: Aggies 4, Bearkats 0 – W: Preston, Madison (3-1); S: Leavitt, Emily (1) L: Dunn, Regan (2-3)

game Two recap – Texas a&M vs Baylor

Texas A&M goes down early giving up a run in the first inning. With two outs Trinity Cannon misplayed an infield hit allowing the batter to reach first base. That allowed Baylor to follow up with an RBI double giving the Bears a 1-0 lead.

Top of the third Koko Wooley lays down a solid bunt to reach first base and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Morgan Smith hits an infield RBI single to tie the game at 1-1 going into the bottom of the third.

Trish Ford pulls Kennedy at the bottom of the third for Leavitt who took care of the side after facing four batters.

The top of the fifth starts with back-to-back singles to left field by Allie Enright and Harper. Rylen Wiggins gets a sac bunt to move the runners to second and third, but the Aggies can’t capitalize leaving two on base.

Gracyn Coleman started the top of the seventh with a single down the third baseline. She gets thrown out at second trying to steal eliminating a chance to get in scoring position. The Aggies can get anything going as they ground out to end the inning still tied 1-1.

In the bottom of the seventh Baylor was threatening with a double followed up with a sac bunt to move the winning run to third base. With one out Leavitt forced consecutive pop-ups to end the inning with Baylor left in scoring position.

After a low-scoring game that was tied after the seven innings, they went into extra innings and the rule placed a runner at second base for the remainder of the game. The Aggies at the top of the eighth went scoreless giving Baylor a chance for a walk-off win. Toven of Baylor would end it with a single up the middle for the win 2-1.

Final Score: Aggies 1, Bears 2 – W: Orme, Dariana (6-1)   L: Leavitt, Emily (3-2)

The Aggies will start conference play at 6 p.m. on March 10 when they travel to Fayetteville for a 3-game series against the top ten-ranked Razorbacks.

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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Ode to Joy Invitational: Saturday Recap – Aggie Softball

Aggie Softball goes 1-1 on first day of tournament

No. 25 ranked Texas A&M (12-5) split a pair of games Saturday to finish day one of the tournament at 1-1. They dropped the first game to Sam Houston University (8-10) but rebounded to defeat the No. 19 ranked Baylor Bears (14-2).

game one recap – Texas a&M vs Sam houston

The game was a tight contest most of the morning after Sam Houston got an early lead going up 1-0 after the first inning. Texas A&M would manage to get three hits in before the fifth inning, but nothing came of them as they stranded four runners on base.

At the top of the fifth inning, Sam Houston took advantage of an error to score another run going up 2-0. Then with runners on second and third the Bearkats hit a double to right center allowing both to score and pushing the lead to 4-0.

The top of the seventh started with back-to-back outs before Amari Harper hit a single up the middle to safely make it on base. That would be the last hit and runner on base for the inning. Out number three came via strikeout and that would be the end of the game.

Final Score: Aggies 0, Bearkats 5 – W: GUIDON, EMMA (2-2) L: Ackerman, Shaylee (3-2) 

game Two recap – Texas a&M vs Baylor

Defense, defense, defense. The Aggies once again were able to get runners on base but could not capitalize until the top of the 7th. Leading up to the final inning Texas A&M had five hits but left nine runners on base.

The main story of game two was the battle on the mound from the 6’2″ left-handed sophomore pitcher Emiley Kennedy She would pitch all seven innings throwing a no-hitter against the No 19 ranked team in the country. It was no walk in the park either. Kennedy walked the first batter she faced, but the next nine batters wouldn’t see first base.

In the bottom of the fourth things start to get a little dicey with her walking two and hitting another batter. But her team had her back capped off by an amazing diving catch by Allie Enright to keep the no-hitter intact.

With a scoreless game entering into the final inning, the Aggies had to start putting points on the board to award Kennedys pitching. After a Wooley pop-up to the shortstop for the first out the Baylor pitching started struggling hard. Here was the sequence – Morgan Smith walked, Trinity Cannon gets hit by a pitch, a wild pitch allows Smith and Cannon to advance, then Riley Valentine gets walked. Now with the bases loaded Grace Uribe hits a grounder that gets her out at first but allows Smith to score. For the last two scores of the inning freshman, Keely Williams hit a two-run double to extend the lead by three.

Kennedy went back to work to close out the game to cement her no-hitter. The first batter got caught looking for a strikeout. Batter number two hit a grounder back to Kennedy for an easy out at first, and the last out was a fly-out to center field.

Final Score: Aggies 3, Bears 0 – W: Kennedy, Emiley (5-1) L: RyLee Crandall (4-1)

Quotes from the post game:

Emiley Kennedy on her pitching

“I think I just hit my spots and trust in my defense and knew if I threw them ground out, they would get them and have my back.”

Keely Williams on her 7th-inning double

“…I tried to stay focused. I didn’t want to do anything to much or too little, and like I said just stay focused and I produced.”

Coach Trish Ford on the first game and how they responded in the second game

” The first game was rough…let’s call a spade a spade but I thought we did a really good job. I talked them between games and I said we have to flush we did not play our game and either we can start point fingers or we can come together and get tighter…”

“…I thought we did that. I was very happy with how they responded.”

The Aggies will be back in action at 10 am against Sam Houston and 3 pm against Baylor.

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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