Ags secure series by sweeping Saturday doubleheader at No. 16 Georgia

Game #38: No. 4 Texas A&M 8, No. 16 Georgia 0 (6 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (33-5, 7-3), Georgia (25-12, 4-9)
WP: Emiley Kennedy (12-3)
LP: Randi Roelling (8-6)
Box Score

Game #39: No. 4 Texas A&M 12, No. 16 Georgia 5
Records: Texas A&M (35-5, 10-3), Georgia (25-12, 4-9)
WP: Emily Leavitt (3-0)
LP: Lilli Backes (10-5)
Box Score

With an unexpected Saturday doubleheader due to Sunday’s expected inclement weather, No. 4 Texas A&M softball relied on an explosive offense to run-rule No. 16 Georgia, 8-0, in six innings before coming back from behind to win the second contest, 12-5.

Donning pink uniforms for the first game in support of Florida State head softball coach Lonni Alameda after her recent breast cancer diagnosis, the Aggies opened the floodgates early in Athens.

After Kennedy Powell reached on a throwing error, Mac Barbara slammed a double to score the leadoff hitter in the top of the first. With the wind at A&M’s back, Allie Enright walked to load the bases for KK Dement.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

KK Dement hit her second grand slam of the season out as the Aggies pulled away with an 8-0 run-rule win.

With two outs and three on, Dement launched her second grand slam of the season to left center field. The freshman knew it was gone immediately, pumping her fists and celebrating with the Howdy Hat.

As the Aggies’ bats left scorched earth beneath them, senior pitcher Emiley Kennedy stood as an immovable object in front of the Bulldogs.

The Woodlands native recorded her 500th career strikeout on her way to a shutout victory, making her the 10th Aggie to do so. Kennedy racked up seven strikeouts and a season-best 72 first-pitch strike percentage as she went the distance.

With the 5-0 score remaining unchanged until the fourth inning, Mya Perez continued her dominant season at the plate with a solo homer to left field. The Aggies finally moved into run-rule territory with back-to-back RBI singles courtesy of Enright and Dement.

Looking for a little extra downtime between the two games, Kennedy retired three of the four batters she faced in the sixth to cement the 8-0 run-rule win.

Following a couple of hours between games and a wardrobe change for both teams, the second game began with a bang for the Bulldogs.

Georgia took advantage of the less-experienced, right-handed pitcher Grace Sparks and an error-riddled defensive inning by jumping out to a 4-0 lead. Lyndi Rae Davis’ sacrifice fly brought Tyler Ellison home to break the deadlock.

Taryn Wright, TexAgs

Mya Perez hit two home runs across Saturday’s doubleheader against the Bulldogs, now with 13 on the season.

Jaydyn Goodwin kept the good vibes rolling for the Bulldogs with a two-run home run. On the subsequent pitch, Sarah Gordon sent a solo homer to left center, forcing coach Trisha Ford to pull the plug on the Sparks experience and send senior RHP Emily Leavitt to the circle.

After a scoreless second inning, the Aggies kept doing what they do best: Overcome deficits and claw their way back into contests.

Amari Harper slipped a single through the right side, scoring Kramer Eschete. On the next at-bat, Perez tied the game with a three-run homer, her 13th of the year.

With bats getting hot, Leavitt shut the door on the Bulldogs with three straight scoreless innings, including a 1-2-3 outing in the third. The Chino, California native finished with five strikeouts and only three hits allowed off 19 batters.

The fifth inning became a Maroon & White party once Barbara singled down the right field line to send Harper and Powell home, making the score 6-4. The Aggies kept dancing as Enright launched her seventh home run of the season, adding three additional runs. On the very next pitch, Dement’s Athens vacation continued with a solo homer to left field, putting the Aggies up 10-4.

Despite surrendering a run off an RBI single in the fifth inning, A&M punctuated the series-sealing Saturday with a Dement single that scored two runners in the seventh, growing the lead to a final score of 12-5.

The series will conclude on Monday at 5 p.m. CT.