No. 5 Texas A&M splits Saturday twin-bill at Clearwater Invitational

Game #9: No. 10 Oklahoma State 6, No. 5 Texas A&M 5
Records: Texas A&M (8-1, 0-0), Oklahoma State (4-3, 0-0)
WP: Katie Kutz (3-1)
LP: Emiley Kennedy (4-1)
Box Score

Game #10: No. 5 Texas A&M 4, Virginia 3 (8 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (9-1, 0-0), Virginia (4-4, 0-0)
WP: Sidne Peters (3-0)
LP: Savanah Henley (2-1)
Save: Kate Munnerlyn (1)
Box Score

Saturday at the 2025 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational showcased No. 5 Texas A&M softball splitting a doubleheader with a tough walk-off loss against Oklahoma State, 6-5, followed by a close victory against Virginia, 4-3, in extra innings.

All-American Emiley Kennedy controlled Game 1 early on with a mix of changeups and rise balls, holding off the Cowgirl’s bats.

The Aggies started hot with Frankie Vrazel’s two-run double and a single from Allie Enright in the second inning, setting the pace for the morning. Despite the initial lead, Oklahoma State put two on the board in the fourth.

“We have to sustain their punch,” said A&M head coach Trisha Ford, emphasizing the need for resilience in an in-game interview on the ESPN2 broadcast.

The punch was temporarily sustained with “Lefty” feeling the pressure in the circle. She pulled through, ending OSU’s two-run inning with a strikeout.

Mac Barbara brought home Kramer Eschete with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, and the offensive power continued into the sixth, with a single from Eschete bringing home Olivia “Ojo” Johnson, increasing the Aggies’ lead to 5-2.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Mac Barbara increased her RBI total to 17 through the season's first 10 games with her run-scoring sacrifice fly against Oklahoma State

In the seventh, Kennedy struggled to hold off OSU’s offense. A two-run double from Cowgirls’ second baseman Rosie Davis shrunk the lead to 5-4.

Despite attempting to hold on to the lead, Karli Godwin ended the game with a walk-off two-run home run to left field.

In game 2, A&M was feeling the weight of the earlier heartbreaker. 

Virginia recorded an RBI double in the first inning on an uncharacteristic play from A&M’s Eschete in left field. What should have been the second out gave the Cavaliers a 2-0 advantage.

The Aggies continued to struggle offensively, ending the first four innings with only one hit.

“Virginia’s chomping at the bits to be able to play us,” said Ford in an in-game interview on the ESPN+ broadcast. “So we just gotta settle down here and just have better at-bats.”

Virginia left-hander Savanah Henley tested the Ags with her changeup for four scoreless frames.

“We just gotta let the ball travel,” said Ford. “I think we are trying a little too much, pressing a little bit. Take a deep breath and go out there and compete.”

And compete they did.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Sidne Peters finished her outing against the Cavaliers, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out six in 7.2 innings of work. 

With the bases loaded, Eschete’s sac fly brought home Enright and finally got the Aggies on the board. With a single in the sixth inning, Mya Perez brought home Amari Harper, tying the game.

In the seventh, it was a duel between the pitchers. Sophomore Sidne Peters held bats at a standstill, allowing no hits from Virginia.

A tense extra inning brought high energy, and Koko Wooley doubled in the go-ahead run. Perez added some insurance three batters later with an RBI single, and the Aggies went to the bottom of the frame ahead 4-2.

Owning a two-run lead, Peters tried to hold off the Cavalier's bats but to no avail. Virginia scored on an RBI double from Bella Cabral, resulting in freshman Kate Munnerlyn relieving Peters in the circle.

With two down in the inning, Munnerlyn walked one, only to strike out the final batter in a nail-biting finale, resulting in a 4-3 Aggie victory.

The Ags will conclude the 2025 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational on Sunday, with first pitch against Charlotte set for 8 a.m. CT.