One opportunity to play the Women’s College World Series runner-up — and another chance to get back at the team that has plagued the success of the two NCAA Tournament runs in the Trisha Ford era.
The stakes are high for Texas A&M softball when Texas comes to Davis Diamond for the first and only time this year for an exhibition at 7 p.m. Friday.
The last time the two met was in Austin at McCombs Field, where the Longhorns dismantled the Maroon and White’s promising season in a close 6-5, Game 3 loss in the NCAA Super Regional. Ultimately, Texas would advance to Oklahoma City and play back-to-back national champion Oklahoma in the championship series.
The pitchers’ duel on Friday will be vastly different from the teams’ last meeting. Losing both Shaylee Ackerman and Brooke Vestal, the Aggies will turn to old faces in the circle with seniors Emiley Kennedy and Emily Leavitt. On the other hand, the Longhorns will rely on returners senior RHP Mac Morgan and sophomore RHP Teagan Kavan.
Kavan is coming off a historic season for Texas, finishing with a 2.20 ERA and a record of 20-3 in the circle, combined with 135 strikeouts. The Big 12 Freshman of the Year will look to shut down a new and questionable offense led by senior shortstop Koko Wooley.
The infielder tallied 60 hits with a .382 batting average in her 47 games played. After losing leaders in the batter’s box in Trinity Cannon and Julia Cottrill, the Fightin’ Farmers will have to bank on transfers and newcomers to help provide the extra effort on offense.
Since the end of last year, A&M has garnered hype in the transfer portal with the addition of a pair of Washington transfers: sophomore pitcher Sidne Peters and senior catcher Ojo Johnson. Other transfers, including junior P Grace Sparks from Ole Miss and graduate INF Mac Barbara from San Diego State, will also look to bolster the experience of the team after losing five starters following the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Johnson will be key to putting pressure on Kavan as she racked up 19 home runs, 65 RBIs and 48 runs in her three years at Washington. Another heavy-hitter on offense, Barbara, will be essential to breaking the score open. With 45 home runs, 100 runs and 179 hits at San Diego State, Mac will be undeniably the most anticipated hitter in this matchup.
With uncertainty looming in most areas of the Aggies’ game plan, fans have to remember — and trust — Ford’s consistent and constant improvement of the team she inherited in 2023. From a 31-28 record in 2022, to finishing 44-15 last season, Ford has shown that her accolades and resume are not to be underestimated.
With plenty of new faces between transfers and 10 freshmen, the Aggies will look for a completely different outcome this time around.
