Aggies erupt early, cruise past Baylor in 10-3 midweek win

Game #43: No. 11 Texas A&M 10, Baylor 3
Records: Texas A&M (31-12, 11-4), Baylor (24-19, 7-8)
WP: Grace Sparks (4-0)
LP: Cambree Creager (8-9)
Save: Sydney Lessentine (3)
Box Score

No. 11 Texas A&M came into Waco a little too hot, a little too ready, and their performance was just right to bring home their victory over the Baylor Bears.

The Aggies left Waco with a 10-3 win against the Bears on Wednesday night in a midweek matchup of old rivals, but it didn’t come without a fight.

In the top of the first, A&M wasted no time getting on the board. The Maroon & White had all nine batters on base, bringing in six runs, including a two-run homer by sophomore KK Dement.

As for the other side of the game, Kate Munnerlyn got things started in the circle, pitching an inning for the Aggies, but the Bears weren’t so cuddly after all.

Baylor quickly answered with one run in the bottom of the second, followed by their first home run of the night, tightening the Aggies' lead to four runs going into the top of the second.

As the Aggies struggled to keep the Bears on a tight leash, Grace Sparks made her way to the rubber to close out the second inning after Munnerlyn allowed a leadoff double. Sparks retired all three hitters she faced to put out the fire that had lit for the Bears’ bats.

Cooper Daniels, TexAgs

Grace Sparks improved to 4-0 on the season as she allowed one run on three hits in her three innings in relief.

In a quick top of the third, the Bears caught up faster than the Aggies could keep climbing — but the Maroon & White is never out of the fight.

Baylor put up another run on the board, bringing the game to a 6-3 score going into the fourth.

Senior Tallen Edwards worked a two-out walk in the top of the fourth before Mya Perez sent a hot single up the center, advancing Edwards to second.

Ariel Kowalewski grounded out with the bases loaded, ending the threat as Baylor kept A&M’s lead at 6-3.

In a quick bottom of the fourth, the Maroon & White sent the Bears crawling back to the dugout after forcing an inning-ending double play.

Maddie Sauni has made her mark in Aggieland, and she’s just getting started.

The true freshman has been the secret weapon for the Aggies at the back half of the season, and with another clutch at-bat, Sauni hit her third home run to center, pushing the Aggies back to a four-run lead.

As they battled their way into the bottom of the fifth, sophomore Sydney Lessentine stepped into the circle for two innings, making a statement for the Aggies and earning the save. Lessentine has led the pitching staff so far this season and has been a key leader on the field.

With a quiet sixth, the Aggies brought across three more runs as Annsley Groce, Dement and Kelsey Mathis scored in the top of the seventh to push them to a 10-3. Baylor tried to fight back in their last at-bat, but fell short to A&M’s seven-run lead.

There may not have been a fairytale ending for the Bears on Wednesday night, but the Aggies closed the book on another midweek win.

A&M will face off against No. 14 Mississippi State for a three-game series beginning on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. CT back at Davis Diamond.