Bandits select Emiley Kennedy with seventh pick in AUSL College Draft

Lefty is a pro.

On Saturday, Texas A&M left-handed pitcher Emiley Kennedy was selected seventh overall to the Bandits of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

Owning a career 2.42 ERA in 601 innings of work, the All-American has been a foundational piece in the resurgence of Aggie softball. Boasting a 68-31 record with 49 complete games, 80 starts, and 13 saves in her career, Kennedy is one of the best hurlers to ever wear a Texas A&M uniform.

This season, Kennedy became the 10th Aggie ever to record 500 strikeouts and has played a huge part in the success of Trisha Ford's fourth-ranked squad as the ace.

This past weekend, Kennedy shut out a potent Tennessee offense on Thursday, allowing just one hit to a team that averages 7.7 a game. In A&M’s run-rule win to secure the series, Lefty allowed just three hits in five innings of work.

The Woodlands, Texas native becomes the second Aggie player to join the league, along with Olympian and Aggie legend Tori Vidales, on the Talons.

The AUSL launched in 2025, creating an opportunity for the world's best softball players to compete in the United States. The four teams — the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts — are not city-based this season but will be a touring property beginning in June.

"Lefty" was one of 12 collegiate players selected during the AUSL College Draft Show as they were revealed over the last few weeks, with each receiving a golden ticket to be drafted to play in the inaugural season.

Kennedy was presented a golden ticket by fellow Aggie great Amanda Scarborough following A&M's 11-2 run-rule of Louisiana. Kennedy also surpassed Scarborough in strikeouts this past Thursday.

"It was a memory I won't forget," Kennedy said in a Texas Aggies United interview. "Me and Amanda have a really good relationship, so I'm glad she was able to do it. As soon as I saw her walk on the field, I was like, 'It's happening today.' My entire family was there. It was a surreal moment to be at Davis, given a ticket to go pro."

"I don't think the pro avenue hit me until the beginning of this year when I was getting reached out by teams and coaches. They would ask if I had aspirations to go beyond, and I never thought I would be able to. Now that I know I'm going, at least, to the AU league, during the first season of AU, is huge."

But first, Lefty has some unfinished business to take care of in Aggieland.

Falling one game short of a Women's College World Series berth a year ago, Kennedy and Texas A&M are determined to book a ticket to Oklahoma City.

After a series win over the Lady Vols secured the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, the Aggies will begin postseason on Thursday, and the pro will be heavily needed in A&M’s pursuit of a national championship.