No. 4 Aggies dominate No. 2 Tennessee in regular-season finale, 13-2

Game #52: No. 4 Texas A&M 13, No. 2 Tennessee 2 (5 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (43-9, 16-7), Tennessee (40-13, 15-9)
WP: Emiley Kennedy (19-4)
LP: Erin Nuwer (5-4)
Box Score

Despite weather delays forcing the regular-season finale and rubber match to be played over two days, No. 4 Texas A&M softball spoiled No. 2 Tennessee's senior day with a 13-2 run-rule victory in five innings in Knoxville.

After netting only one run in a piece in the first two games of the series, A&M’s bats finally woke up in the first inning, which was contested on Friday afternoon.

Senior shortstop Koko Wooley continued her strong series by reaching on a four-pitch walk and quickly advanced to second on Mya Perez’s single.

Designated player Mac Barbara married barrel to ball in the next at-bat, ripping an RBI double through the left side of the Lady Volunteers’ defense as Wooley rocketed around the bags for a 1-0 lead.

The Aggies took advantage of freshman right-handed pitcher Erin Nuwer’s last pitch of the game as junior first baseman Amari Harper ripped a two-run double to left-center field for a 3-0 lead.

Coming off back-to-back complete game shutouts, senior left-handed pitcher Emiley Kennedy once again stared down at the Lady Vols from the circle. After nabbing two quick punchouts in the bottom of the first, “Lefty” kept Tennessee looking for answers and finished the two-day contest with six strikeouts, three hits and lowered her ERA to 2.58.

As ominous clouds swirled overhead on Friday evening, an unlikely face got to wear the Howdy Hat: freshman right fielder Kelsey Mathis.

Kay Naegeli, TexAgs

Emiley Kennedy will be drafted on Saturday in the AUSL College Draft.

The rookie, who has primarily been used as a pinch runner this season, hit her first career home run with a solo bomb over the left field wall in just her second start of the season.

Keeping up the pressure, Perez threaded a single through the left side of the Lady Vols’ defense to score Wooley for the Aggies’ fifth run of the day.

Then, just as Tennessee felt thunder coming from the A&M batter’s box, lightning delayed the game for the rest of Friday before resuming on Saturday morning.

The Lady Vols quickly took advantage of the delay, and senior Sophia Nugent went yard on Kennedy’s first pitch on Saturday, getting Tennessee on the board, 5-1.

However, more freshman fireworks ensured for the Maroon & White with KK Dement blasting a two-run homer to left field as the lead grew to 7-1. A&M proceeded to load the bases with three straight walks as right-hander Charlie Orsini walked in another run.

Barbara capped off the inning with a single to bring junior third baseman Kennedy Powell home for the 7-1 lead. Tennessee managed one run on a muffed throw before the third inning was over.

Following a scoreless fourth inning, it was a Maroon & White party in the fifth.

The outfield combined for a run with Mathis plating senior left fielder Kramer Eschete following a lead-off double to start the inning. The Aggies loaded the bases and scored three more from a combination of a fielding error and a pair of RBI groundouts.

With the series victory, A&M clinched the second-best record in the league ahead of next weekend’s SEC Tournament.

Trisha Ford & Co. will play their first game in Athens on Thursday afternoon as the postseason is officially on deck.