Leavitt one-hits Sam Houston in five-running rout on Tuesday night
Game #32: No. 5 Texas A&M 10, Sam Houston 0
Records: Texas A&M (27-5, 6-3), Sam Houston (17-16, 6-3)
WP: Emily Leavitt (2-0)
LP: Kendall Daniel (5-3)
Box Score
It only took five innings for No. 5 Texas A&M to run-rule Sam Houston in a 10-0, fast-paced game full of three-up, three-down at-bats for the Bearkats.
Six Aggies registered two hits, as Kennedy Powell, Amari Harper, Mya Perez, Mac Barbara, Koko Wooley and DeeDee Baldwin led the offense.
The loudest noise came from Perez’s first grand slam as an Aggie. The second-inning bomb went opposite field on a ball that Perez knows she probably shouldn’t have swung at.
“It was a ball, and I knew (Jeff) Harger was going to look at me like I was crazy, but I kind of knew it was going to go over just because I had a feeling,” Perez said. “I was targeting outside. They were throwing all away way to lefties until the last two innings. Like the last two innings, but just drive it opposite. Wait on it. Get my timing down.”
Emily Leavitt started the circle and moved to 2-0 on the season with five quality innings. Leavitt only gave up one hit and punched out five batters.
The only Sam Houston hit came in the first inning on a Brodie Quinlan single. The second, third and fourth occurred when Leavitt was the most dominant with three straight three-up, three-down frames.
“I think I was really good at hitting my spots, even though the umpire wasn’t giving me a little bit here and a little bit there, but I still really liked the spots I was hitting,” Leavitt said. “I have been trying my best to put my all into every single bullpen and just being ready when my number is called.
“That’s all you can do, and I love this team, so I really want to do well for them every time I get the chance to.”
The A&M offense executed early with three runs in the first inning and seven runs in the second inning, which propelled them to another assertive showing. With 14 hits, there was no issue with reaching base, but four runners were left stranded.
“I felt like we came out today and did what we were supposed to do,” head coach Trisha Ford said. “I thought our hitters did a tremendous job tonight. Leavitt came out and pitched her tail off.”
On the first pitch Powell saw, she pounded a single to left field. That got the ball rolling for the Aggies and was followed by a Harper double to set up a two-run double for Perez.
Wooley then stepped to the plate and reached base to generate an RBI single that scored Perez.
But it was not all for the Maroon & White.
Seven more runs crossed the plate in the second inning to seal the deal. Kramer Eschete joined the party, picking up her first hit of the night with a single through the right side. To load the bases, Powell was hit by a pitch before Harper reached on an infield single.
The Perez grand slam made it 7-0.
Barbara picked up where she left off over the weekend with a single accompanied by a Wooley double, resulting in two runners in scoring position for Allie Enright.
Enright then smoked a two-run double to the left-center field gap, leading Dement to drive in another run off a sacrifice fly that put the Ags up, 10-0.
Tuesday’s comfortable night will allow Ford to sleep tonight.
“I think you need some of these throughout the season because the intensity of SEC conference play is so big that you need some of these games to reset,” Ford said. “There’s a reason why we have a full week of games because I did not want them to come out of compete mode. It’s a good refocus.
“Jeff Harger set up this schedule like this week so we didn't have to play as many mid-weeks during conference play, so this was intentional. It keeps them going and keeps them in game mode."
The Aggies will be back in action on Wednesday night against North Texas. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Davis Diamond.
