A rare 80-degree day in February saw Texas A&M softball play its sixth and last game of the Texas A&M Invitational against 4-12 UTSA on Sunday, Feb. 25.
In an extra-inning thriller that had both teams scoreless until the eighth inning, the Aggies were able to beat the Roadrunners 4-1 with a game-winning grand slam from senior DP Trinity Cannon to add to a tied school-high 16 strikeouts from junior LHP Emily Kennedy.
“Emiley Kennedy was lights out,” coach Trisha Ford said. “[She] just kept to her gameplan.”
For the Aggies, they end the weekend at 14-1 for the season, having added five wins to their total.
The game started with Kennedy striking out four Roadrunners in the first two innings to keep UTSA scoreless. However, the Aggies were unable to get anything going outside of two singles from senior C Julia Cottrill and senior CF Jazmine Hill in the first inning.
Pitching remained consistent throughout the next two innings, as Kennedy struck out four more Roadrunners.
The fifth inning for the Aggies had sophomore 2B Amari Harper double to right center field to get things started. Next up was junior SS Koko Wooley, who singled to second base which advanced Harper to third. As sophomore LF Keely Williams was at bat, Wooley was able to steal second.
Things looked even better for the Aggies to finally score in the fifth inning, as Williams was hit by a pitch and advanced to first base. With the bases loaded, Cottrill reached on a fielder’s choice. Everyone advanced, and Harper was on her way home for a run until senior C Taylor Jensen tagged her out, which would end the frame.
The sixth inning saw Kennedy get to 12 strikeouts for the game, passing her career high of 11, as she struck out the side.
A&M was still unsuccessful in the sixth inning, as Hill hit a fly ball that looked to be gone until sophomore CF Madi Hayes made a leaping catch.
Kennedy continued her career day by striking out two more Roadrunners in the seventh inning to make it a total of 14 strikeouts.
A single from Harper was able to give the Aggies one more chance to score and end the game in the seventh. However, junior PR Kramer Eschete was called out as Roadrunner junior SS Camryn Robillard caught her trying to steal second base.
In the eighth inning, UTSA was at bat first with junior PR Lindsey Davis placed on second. She took third base as Davis advanced on a wild pitch.
UTSA was able to score for the first run of the game as senior DH Erykah Guerrero singled to left-center field, sending Davis home. Kennedy was able to keep the Roadrunners at just one run with two more strikeouts for a total of 16.
Down 1-0, the Aggies had Wooley up first at the bat with Harper placed at second. A bunt from Wooley put her on second as Harper was also able to score off a throwing error from the Roadrunner’s third baseman to tie the game at 1-1.
A sacrifice bunt from Williams advanced Wooley to third, with Cottrill and Hill being intentionally walked. Two of the Aggie’s biggest hitters this season were to be taken out of the equation if UTSA wanted a chance.
With all bases loaded, Ford decided to pinch hit Cannon, who ended things then and there with a grand slam to left-center field to end the game at 4-1.
“I had a long weekend, but I think that was a pretty good swing,” Cannon said.
Ford said the team wanted to evaluate other players at bat today, but knew Cannon was the one to call on in the big moment.
“Trin’s a senior, a veteran,” Ford said. “She didn’t let the moment get too big.”
The Maroon and White will face off against Sam Houston State at Davis Diamond on Tuesday, Feb. 27 before they go out West on Feb. 29 to compete in the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California.
