Tag: Trisha Ford

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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‘Going to go back to playing Aggies softball’: Texas A&M coach Trisha Ford previews SEC Tournament

“Everybody is (different), but we can absolutely take confidence in it. I think we do much better with opponents that we’re familiar with.”

The No. 8 Texas A&M softball team has earned the No. 3 seed in the SEC Tournament and will play the winner of South Carolina versus Mississippi State in the first round.

Aggies head coach Trisha Ford spoke to the media Monday to preview the upcoming conference tourney.

“I think everybody is (different) to be honest with you. But we can absolutely take confidence in it. I think we do much better with opponents that we’re familiar with. We’ve played the both of them and they were both tough games,” Ford explained. “Mississippi State has done a good job of continuing to get better and so has South Carolina. It’s going to go back to playing Aggies softball. We’ve gotta pitch well, we’ve been playing very clean defense. The other piece is having those timely hits. I think the first and last one, we could tighty up a little bit.

“(Emiley Kennedy) has been in a lot of bad luck. We’ve put her in four games at the end or extras and she’s actually gotten a loss but only pitched like an inning or so. That makes it a little bit tougher, but one of the perks or responsibilities for being that pitcher in a staff.

“For me, it’s about going back and playing our game, executing the short game. Continuing those pieces, that’s what’s going to really help us win, especially as we continue this conference tournament and postseason, is being able to execute those little things.”

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Coach Trisha Ford explains why No. 8 Texas A&M softball team was swept at No. 11 Florida

The No. 8 Texas A&M softball team ended the regular season on a sour note, being swept in a three-game SEC series at No. 11 Florida. Despite that, the Aggies earned the No. 3 seed and a double bye into the quarterfinals of the upcoming SEC …

The No. 8 Texas A&M softball team ended the regular season on a sour note, being swept in a three-game SEC series at No. 11 Florida.

Despite that, the Aggies earned the No. 3 seed and a double bye into the quarterfinals of the upcoming SEC Tournament, which begins Wednesday.

“Obviously, a tough weekend for us. I thought we competed well all three games, the last one just got out of hand quickly,” Ford recalled. “Here’s the thing, we just need to focus our energy, regroup and get ready for the SEC Tournament and the postseason. I think you can look back at our conference series overall, we did pretty good throughout the year. We had two of them that we were really close into getting at least one or two on the road and things didn’t go our way.

“It’s a good time for us to reset, regroup and I’m excited that we were still able to earn a top three seed in our conference, then get ready for the winner of Mississippi State and South Carolina. Two very familiar opponents since we played them both this year.”

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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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‘We’re built very similarly’: Coach Trisha Ford explains keys for No. 8 Texas A&M at No. 11 Florida

“We’re built very similarly. We have some speed at the top of our lineup just like they do with Kendra Falby and Skylar Wallace,” she said.

The No. 8 Texas A&M softball team (39-9, 15-6 SEC) has a three-game conference series in Gainesville at No. 11 Florida (40-12, 14-7) this weekend to conclude the regular season.

“We’re built very similarly to be honest with you,” Aggies coach Trisha Ford said Wednesday. “We have some speed at the top of our lineup just like they do with (Kendra) Falby and (Skylar) Wallace, Korbie (Otis) actually runs pretty well too. We are very similar so there is some athleticism. I think we’re going to have to play clean defense. For us, it’s about limiting their free bases.

“If you look at Florida, there is a lot of walks and hit by pitch. They tend to score those free runners at a very high rate. That’s really going to be where our focus is and we’ve been talking to the pitchers for the last couple of days. It’s just being able to throw the ball over the white, being comfortable with it and these are the reasons why.

“I think we’re going to have to play clean defense though because I do believe that they’re going to try to cause havoc with some short game, putting runners in motion, maybe some fake bunts, steals, delayed steals, we’ve talked to the team about all of that.”

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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)

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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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