On Friday, April 24, No. 10 Texas A&M softball will open its final Southeastern Conference road series against No. 24 South Carolina, with postseason positioning and conference momentum on the line.
Rolling through SEC play, A&M swept in back-to-back series against both Ole Miss and then-No. 14 Mississippi State to extend a nine-game win streak. Meanwhile, South Carolina struggled to get its season started, losing five straight conference matchups before finally emerging victorious over Missouri on April 19.
“Just really pleased with what this team is starting to grow into and turn into,” head coach Trisha Ford said after defeating Ole Miss on April 12. “It’s taken us a while to get to this point … but we’re always going to strive to be better.”
Despite being ranked, South Carolina holds a lackluster conference record of 5-13, with only a single SEC series victory to its credit. However, with a northpaw pitcher capable of painting the strike zone, the Gamecocks intend to spoil the fun for any dismissive Aggies.
Senior right-handed pitcher Jori Heard carries the weight of South Carolina’s pitching staff with almost 70 more innings in the circle over any of her bullpen counterparts. The Algonquin, Illinois native maintains an ERA of 1.64, with opposing batters holding a combined batting average of only .212.
After Heard, the Gamecocks turn to junior RHPs Emma Friedel and Nealy Lamb to lead their defense. With a similar number of circle appearances, the backup arms combine to produce only a fraction of Heard’s pitching production, each allowing over two more earned runs than Heard per appearance.
With an SEC record of 14-4, A&M defeated 5 of its 6 conference opponents, falling only to then-No. 1 Texas in Austin.
“It’s just putting the pieces together,” sophomore catcher Ariel Kowalewski said after defeating Ole Miss on April 12. “The whole season, we’ve had our ups and downs. We’ve faced some adversity … but just being able to, throughout the season, know that we’re growing and we’re always going to stick together and have each other’s backs.”
Junior first baseman Mya Perez and senior designated player Micaela Wark serve as the focal point of A&M’s offense, with 1 of the 2 leading the team in numerous categories, including batting average, slugging percentage, RBIs, on-base percentage and home runs. Both halves of the batting duo have launched over 15 longballs each this season, with the next highest home run hitter, sophomore shortstop KK Dement, knocking nine.
The Aggies’ leadoff hitter, senior third baseman Kennedy Powell, has proved why she belongs at the top of A&M’s batting lineup, leading the team with 66 hits and 17 stolen bases.
If an opposing pitcher can manage to get through A&M’s early batting order, very little relief is to be found. With five different Aggies recording over 30 RBI, a single runner on base could spark an offensive explosion.
In the circle, the Fightin’ Farmers rely on co-aces sophomore RHP Sydney Lessentine and junior RHP Sidne Peters. The pitching pair has started 31 of the Aggies’ 46 games, serving a combined 199 strikeouts.
This combination of top-end hitting power, lineup depth and a reliable pitching rotation has made A&M one of the most complete teams in the SEC as the regular season enters its final stretch.
“It’s a game of momentum,” Ford said after defeating Mississippi State on April 18. “We’ve trained for this … so, when we have the momentum, it’s so important for us to keep the momentum.”
As the postseason approaches, A&M has an opportunity to solidify its standing atop the SEC, while South Carolina looks to play spoiler at home. Warm April conditions are expected in Columbia, South Carolina, as the Aggies look to extend their winning streak in a hostile road environment at Carolina Softball Stadium on Friday, April 24, with first pitch set for 6 p.m.
