Coming off of an emotional 3-2 loss to No. 1 Texas Tech the night before and having to deal with an uncomfortably early 9:30 a.m. first pitch, one could excuse a hangover game for No. 11 Texas A&M softball, who was playing its fifth game in four days — and second against the Providence Friars.
But there was no hangover to be found, as the Maroon and White rounded out the Aggie Classic showcase with an 8-2 win over the visiting Friars on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Davis Diamond.
“We talked about it quite a bit this morning and obviously last night after that game of just, ‘Hey, it’s time to reset, we’ve gotta refocus and get ready for the next opponent,’” head coach Trisha Ford said. “‘We can worry about that game last night this week in practice.’”
Senior left-handed pitcher Taylor Pannell earned the start in the circle for A&M, earning her first start as an Aggie after pitching an inning earlier in the weekend. Unfortunately for her, Providence took advantage with a solo home run to center field by junior second baseman Cameron Dunn with two outs to take a 1-0 lead.
“I didn’t think it was terrible,” Pannell said. “Clearly, she got a piece of it. But it’s alright, we came back and won.”
The Aggies rode a pair of big innings to the win. After senior third baseman Kennedy Powell got things started in the bottom of the third inning with a speedy dash to first on a bunt, sophomore right fielder Ariel Kowalewski doubled through the legs of the Friars’ first baseman and down the right field line for her second hit of the game after a first-inning single to center field gave the Maroon and White their first hit of the morning.
Kowalewski finished the day with three hits, leading all batters.
“Every time she gets in the box, I know how hard that kid works, and so I’m always like, ‘She’s prepared,’” Ford said. “There is not going to be a day that comes where I, as a coach, look up there and go, ‘Oh gosh.’ She works her tail off, that’s kind of in her DNA.”
Powell scored from third on an ensuing wild pitch that evened things up, 1-1. It wouldn’t be the last of Providence’s pitching woes. After the Davis Diamond crowd got a “Ball 5” chant started, the Friars pulled starter graduate student right-handed pitcher Tori Grifone, who gave up four hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
The chant reached “Ball 8” under senior RHP Emily Jonte, who quickly gave free rides to a pair of Aggies, including a walk of sophomore shortstop KK Dement that loaded the bases. Jonte was then pulled and replaced by junior RHP Alyssa Twomey
That set up senior 2B Tallen Edwards perfectly, who drove in Kowalewski while freshman pinch runner Piper White was called out after a collision at home plate. Ford challenged the call looking for obstruction, though, and the call was overturned, giving A&M a 3-1 lead.
After review: Obstruction at home plate
Ags get 2 runs 👍 pic.twitter.com/p1zy74qBku
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) February 8, 2026
Dement scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore left fielder Kelsey Mathis, before Twomey mercifully ended the inning with a strikeout.
Edwards led all batters in RBIs with three against the Friars, while seven Aggies recorded at least one hit. Kowalewski said it was encouraging to see her teammates have success in the batter’s box.
“It’s like a confidence boost I feel like, just being able to see everybody get their hits and everything,” Kowalewski said.
Unlike Providence, A&M’s pitching staff was able to handle things smoothly. Pannell’s outing lasted 3.1 innings, and the only blemish was Dunn’s homer. She posted a total of five strikeouts.
Pannell was relieved by a combination of senior RHP Grace Sparks and junior RHP Sidne Peters, who combined for four strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work while giving up four hits and just one run. Peters, who finished the game, was credited with the win.
The Aggies’ next hitting showcase came in the fourth inning, when A&M posted a trio of runs beginning with an RBI single by junior designated player-turned-first baseman Mya Perez. A bases-loaded walk of Dement by Twomey put A&M up 6-1, and Edwards’ third RBI — this one on a sac fly — grew the advantage to 7-1.
Providence showed signs of life by cutting the gap to 7-2 after a leadoff single by senior center fielder Gabriella Lee eventually turned into an RBI groundout by junior catcher Emma Eichten.
But A&M stretched its offensive muscles one last time in the sixth inning with a solo shot to center field by senior designated player Micaela Wark that brushed the leaves of the tree just beyond the center-field wall. Wark’s blast was the Aggies’ only homer of the game and the last run by either team.
Missile by Micaela 🫡
5 games, 4 home runs for @micaela_wark pic.twitter.com/J0XJR1H2Wu
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) February 8, 2026
After going 4-1 in its opening showcase, A&M turns its attention to the Clearwater Invitational in Clearwater, Florida, where it’ll face a doubleheader of No. 20 Oklahoma State at 9 a.m. followed by No. 19 Duke at noon on Friday, Feb. 13.
