Ode to Joy Invitational: Sunday Recap – Aggie Softball
No. 25 ranked Texas A&M (14-6) split a pair of games Sunday to finish day two of the tournament at 1-1. They won the first game to Sam Houston University (8-12) but dropped the No. 19 ranked Baylor Bears (17-2) in extra innings. At the end of the end tournament, the Aggies went 2-2 beating each team once.
game one recap – Texas a&M vs Sam houston
Game two started similarly to game one but in the reverse. Texas A&M takes first base after Koko Wooley is hit by a pitch, then Morgan Smith hit a single up the middle advancing Wooley to second. Smith at bat would be followed up by consecutive outs putting the Aggies in the familiar territory of leaving runners on base this weekend. Freshman Keely Williams ended that trend with a one-score RBI double to give A&M a 1-0 lead.
The middle of the game turned into a pitching duel between Madison Preston and the Bearkat’s Regan Dunn. With batters on both sides swinging very aggressively. Preston was in the zone after she settled in retiring twelve straight batters with a career-high nine strikeouts and only allowing two hits.
Preston exits the game after a career-high in strikeouts.
4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K@PrestonMadi | #GigEm pic.twitter.com/F7aSh4bkdr
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) March 5, 2023
The Bearkat’s only real threat to score this game came in the 5th inning when Sam Houston was able to get two runners on base. Coach Ford brought Emily Leavitt in to relieve Preston and it almost seemed like a miscue, because Leavitt would allow the runners to get into scoring position due to a wild pitch. But she wasn’t fazed and close out the top of the fifth with two strikeouts. Wooley added another score for A&M to left field scoring Amari Harper from second base.
After starting the top of the sixth with a quick out Grace Uribe got her first hit of the game with a single that snuck through the right side. to round out the scoring Keely Williams hits a bomb into the wind to right-center field for her first career home run putting the Aggies up 4-0.
Leavitt closes out the game in the top of the seventh inning with some dominant pitching striking out all three batters in order leaving the Bearkats scoreless. She earned a save, ending the game with six strikeouts, and only allowed one hit through 2.2 innings.
Both pitchers combined for a season-high fifteen strikeouts.
Final Score: Aggies 4, Bearkats 0 – W: Preston, Madison (3-1); S: Leavitt, Emily (1) L: Dunn, Regan (2-3)
Started the day on the right foot 👍#GigEm pic.twitter.com/LZtWnKlOo9
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) March 5, 2023
game Two recap – Texas a&M vs Baylor
Texas A&M goes down early giving up a run in the first inning. With two outs Trinity Cannon misplayed an infield hit allowing the batter to reach first base. That allowed Baylor to follow up with an RBI double giving the Bears a 1-0 lead.
Top of the third Koko Wooley lays down a solid bunt to reach first base and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Morgan Smith hits an infield RBI single to tie the game at 1-1 going into the bottom of the third.
SEC speed just too fast 💨
.@itsmorgan23 out runs the infield single and @KokoWooley catches a Bear sleeping at first. Aggies tie it at 1. #GigEm pic.twitter.com/sOeJnOOb63
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) March 5, 2023
Trish Ford pulls Kennedy at the bottom of the third for Leavitt who took care of the side after facing four batters.
The top of the fifth starts with back-to-back singles to left field by Allie Enright and Harper. Rylen Wiggins gets a sac bunt to move the runners to second and third, but the Aggies can’t capitalize leaving two on base.
Gracyn Coleman started the top of the seventh with a single down the third baseline. She gets thrown out at second trying to steal eliminating a chance to get in scoring position. The Aggies can get anything going as they ground out to end the inning still tied 1-1.
In the bottom of the seventh Baylor was threatening with a double followed up with a sac bunt to move the winning run to third base. With one out Leavitt forced consecutive pop-ups to end the inning with Baylor left in scoring position.
After a low-scoring game that was tied after the seven innings, they went into extra innings and the rule placed a runner at second base for the remainder of the game. The Aggies at the top of the eighth went scoreless giving Baylor a chance for a walk-off win. Toven of Baylor would end it with a single up the middle for the win 2-1.
Final: Texas A&M 1, Baylor 2 (8 inn.)
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) March 5, 2023
Final Score: Aggies 1, Bears 2 – W: Orme, Dariana (6-1) L: Leavitt, Emily (3-2)
The Aggies will start conference play at 6 p.m. on March 10 when they travel to Fayetteville for a 3-game series against the top ten-ranked Razorbacks.
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