Top-ranked A&M double dips Missouri to claim fifth straight SEC series

Game #43: No. 1 Texas A&M 7, Missouri 5
Records: Texas A&M (38-5, 12-3), Missouri (22-25, 3-13)
WP: Emiley Kennedy (15-3)
LP: Marissa McCann (8-10)
Box Score

Game #44: No. 1 Texas A&M 4, Missouri 3 (9 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (39-5, 13-3), Missouri (22-26, 3-14)
WP: Emiley Kennedy (16-3)
LP: Taylor Pannell (5-6)
Box Score

Texas A&M softball, the new No. 1 team in the nation, traveled to Columbia to take on the Missouri Tigers for a doubleheader Thursday, due to inclement weather headed to the area on Saturday.

The Maroon & White tallied their first wins in Columbia since 2013 after dropping its previous nine games there. The Gold & Black already had one win against a No. 1 team this season against Oklahoma, but were unable to capture another monumental win.

Emiley Kennedy, the backbone of the Aggies’ pitching staff, got the ball to kick off Game 1 and started by striking out the side. She also saw action in Game 2 where the intensity and pressure was just as high.

“Lefty is just special,” head coach Trisha Ford said. “Her and I have a great relationship. I drive her crazy. She drives me crazy. I think she is finding her rhythm.”

Kennedy had an early cushion with run support from the A&M offense. A three-run first inning was generated by a Mac Barbara laser in a 25 mph wind to straight away center that barely made it out of the yard. Fortunately for Barbara, batting cleanup came with her teammates Kennedy Powell and Mya Perez earning their way on base, setting up the Mac attack.

Lefty allowed Missouri’s first run to cross the plate after she allowed a walk to Taylor Ebbs and her only hit allowed until the sixth inning off the bat of Stefania Abruscuto, which was an RBI single to Amari Harper.

“They can swing it at any point in time,” Ford said. “They have the ability to hit the ball.”

The momentum kept rolling for the All-American pitcher in the third inning with a pair of great defensive plays. The first play made was a bunt, while the other was a ground ball right in the direction of a locked-in Kennedy. 

“I think she’s back to like, I am going to go out there. I am going to be Emiley Kennedy, own her stuff, and I think she’s done a tremendous job,” Ford said.

A&M added to its lead in the fifth frame when the La Porte, Texas native, Koko Wooley, singled to left field for a three-run lead.

That vanished. Momentarily.

Kennedy found herself in a jam in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded. After a leadoff double by Julia Crenshaw, and two walks by Ebbs and Abruscato, one of the Tigers’ best hitters, Madison Walker, was due. 

Disbelief followed after a grand slam gave Missouri its first lead of the afternoon.

Down to their final three outs, Harper’s leadoff single began the rally. Perez stepped to the plate and chopped a ball to second base, where Madison Uptegrove was ready to turn a double play, but fumbled an easy turn, allowing Perez to reach base. 

Wooley gave the Aggies signs of life after recording her third hit, second RBI of the day, and 10th double of the season, tying the game at five apiece. Senior Allie Enright cracked the game open, galvanizing the dugout with the go-ahead two-run double.

Kennedy closed the game out, allowing a single and a fielder’s choice before a strikeout and a fly out was enough to earn her 15th win of the season and 13th complete game. It was also A&M’s 15th come-from-behind victory of the season and first win after trailing after the sixth inning. 

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Koko Wooley’s three RBis on Thursday improved her career total to 78. 

“There is no such thing as an easy game, and I will tell you my sleep score will tell you I am not taking it easy,” Ford said.

It was a quieter Game 2 for both offenses, with the left-hander Taylor Pannell getting the start in the circle for Missouri while Sydney Lessentine got the nod for A&M.

Barbara mounted the Aggies' first run with an RBI single but was thrown out attempting to advance to second.

Lessentine went to work swiftly with a 1-2-3 inning to begin her outing before allowing her first base runner in the second when Abby Hay drew a walk.

An Enright single followed by a KK Dement double, setting up the bottom of the lineup with an opportunity to cash in, but they were unable to.

In the third inning, Wooley added to her successful day at the plate, registering her third RBI of the afternoon, 2-0.

“We got a lot of fight,” Ford said. “We got a lot of confidence and we know that any part of our lineup can get us going,”

Lessentine allowed a double in the third inning and a single in the fourth, but Missouri did not score until the sixth inning. Lessentine was pulled after she tossed 5.1 innings and put two Tigers in scoring position.

"I think she is doing a good job of mixing her zones and then changing speeds," Ford said.

Emily Leavitt made her way to the circle in relief and allowed a Missouri RBI double by Hay.

A unique play occurred shortly after, when Enright caught a fly ball, but obstruction was called when Wooley ran into the runner at second, preventing the double play. Luckily, Leavitt withstood the threat and ended the inning on a good note with a flyout.

“I think you see someone that’s more relaxed and not stressing out about her performance and enjoying her process,” Ford said in a press conference. 

A relaxed seventh inning was not the case as Lefty entered the game, looking to close the night off strong. A two-run single by Madison Walker nodded things at 3-3, but a punchout sent the game to extras.

Extravaganza in the eighth saw fielding and base running issues as Wooley doubled and reached third after a throwing error. There was great awareness and smart execution on defense from Missouri on a fielder’s choice where Wooley tried to sneak home safely but was thrown out at the plate.

Harper earned a golden opportunity and demolished a solo shot over the fence in right field for the go-ahead run to slam the door shut.

“Once I made contact, I was like ‘Oh, well, this isn’t going to be just a single, so I just trusted myself and had fun with it,’” Harper said. “They came back with fire in the last few innings, and we just had to come back with more.”

Earlier this week, Ford said, “I find ways to get us where I feel like we need to get to.”

Today was the perfect example.

The No. 1 Aggies will go for the sweep tomorrow, beginning at 12 p.m. CT.