Ford & Co. crush UCF on second day of Clearwater Invitational, 9-1

Game #8: No. 5 Texas A&M 9, UCF 1 (5 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (8-0, 0-0), UCF (6-3, 0-0)
WP: Emiley Kennedy (4-0)
LP: Lena Elkins (1-1) 
Box Score

It won’t be long before the 12th Man runs out of fingers to count the amount of wins No. 5 Texas A&M softball has piled up.

Win No. 8 was added to the list of impressive wins that the Maroon & White have collected thus far on Friday. Emiley Kennedy shined as Trisha Ford & Co. posted a 9-1 run rule of UCF in the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational.

“I think what we’ve been a pain for other teams is our ability to have a balanced attack,” Ford said on the ESPN+ broadcast. “The top of our lineup, the bottom of our lineup, the middle of our lineup. In all of our games, we’ve won them in a different way, and it’s been because we had the ability from our lineup to get things started.”

In the five-inning affair, “Lefty” shined once more, tallying her fourth win of the season, displaying why she is one of the nation’s most elite pitchers.

Right off the bat, Kennedy was tested against her first batter when UCF’s Samantha Rey bunted, and she had to hustle to make a toss to first for the out, yet that set the tone for the Aggies.

In the second frame, Kennedy hit a batter and gave up a single to Kendall Yarnell. Kennedy’s only run — an unearned marker — came when Kennedy Powell made an uncharacteristic fielding error.

Later, Kennedy found herself in a bit of trouble in the fourth, after giving up a walk, a single and advanced a runner on a wild pitch. After a short conversation with Ford, the left-hander got herself out of a jam to keep the game in reach for A&M. 

It was a four-inning outing for Kennedy, allowing three hits with five punchouts and a walk.

“Now, we have a staff that we’re able to come in and use Emiley when we’re going to use her, but we also have great arms in the dugout,” Ford said. “Moving forward, I think it’s going to help us in series when we get to conferences and your Saturday and Sunday games in these long tournaments.”

Sidne Peters entered the circle, throwing one inning of work, where she allowed one hit and posted a trio of Ks.

A&M’s offense continued to shine, posting nine runs for the second straight day.

Koko Wooley kicked off the day with a laser down the left field line and was later scored thanks to an RBI groundout from standout transfer Mac Barbara.

Soon after, Ojo Johnson and Mya Perez walked, and clutch two-out hitting from freshman KK Dement scored another run for the Aggies, ending Lena Elkins’ day in the circle after less than an inning of work.

Katelyn Cochran entered the circle in the second inning for UCF and was not able to contain the firepower of A&M, allowing four earned runs off four hits and a walk.

A pair of singles from Allie Enright and Kramer Eschete gave the red-hot Wooley the opportunity to smash a two-run triple to right center field. Wooley later scored on a fielder’s choice, and another RBI groundout from Barbara gave A&M a five-run cushion.

The Aggies quickly built the lead up to eight in the third inning as three more runs crossed the plate.

Wooley capped off her 3-for-3 day with another double, scoring on a two-bagger from Powell. Perez plated two as the Aggies’ lead proved too steep for the Knights.

A&M completed its morning with 12 hits, one error and left eight runners on base. Three Aggies, which included Wooley, Barbara and Perez, had a pair of RBIs to cap off another successful outing.

Next up, the Aggies will play a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 15, against No. 10 Oklahoma State at 9 a.m. CT, followed by Virginia at 12 p.m.