No. 21 Texas A&M drops series opener at South Carolina, 6-2

No. 21 Texas A&M’s four-game winning streak came to an end as South Carolina defeated the Aggies in Friday’s series opener in Columbia, 6-2. 

Trinity Cannon started things off with a spark in the first inning as she homered to left center and brought home Julia Cottrill.

Cottrill recorded one of A&M’s four hits. 

Yet, Cannon’s homer was the team’s only offensive production of the night as a trio of South Carolina pitchers hushed the Aggies the rest of the way. 

Gamecock Aniyah Black punched back in the same frame with a bases-clearing double to right center to push South Carolina to a one-run lead, 3-2. Black scored on a wild pitch later in the inning to double the lead.

Adding to A&M’s deficit, a single from Brooke Blakenship down the right-field line scored Haley Simpson. In the next inning, Emma Sellars added insurance with a solo homer to boost her team to six runs. The Aggies had no answer offensively.

Earning the start, Emily Leavitt received the loss after allowing six runs through four innings of work, only striking out three. In the fifth, Grace Uribe relieved Leavitt, holding the Gamecocks scoreless, but the Aggie bats could not heat up to come from behind.

The Aggies look to even the series on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. CT.