Trinity Cannon hits 2 HRs, Texas A&M beats Texas 6-5 in Game 1 at Austin Super Regional

AUSTIN, Texas — Trinity Cannon hit two home runs, including a three-run shot in the top of the first inning, and Texas A&M never trailed in its 6-5 win over top-overall seed Texas on Friday in Game 1 of the best-of-three Austin Super Regional.

No. 16 national seed Texas A&M (44-13) can clinch its first berth in the Women’s College World Series since 2017 with a win in Game 2 on Saturday.

Emiley Kennedy (24-10) allowed five runs on six hits and five walks with five strikeouts over seven innings for Texas A&M.

Kennedy Powell led off the game with a single and Koko Wooley followed with a double before Cannon capped a nine-pitch at-bat with a home run to left center that made it 3-0.

Powell singled and Wooley fouled out before Cannon hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning before Mya Perez drew a two-out walk and then scored on a double by Kramer Eschete to give Texas A&M a 6-0 lead in the top of the sixth.

Viviana Martinez led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, Reese Atwood walked, Katie Stewart reached on a fielder’s choice and Joley Mitchell drew a walk to load the bases. Victoria Hunter pinch hit for Kayden Henry and drove the first pitch over the wall in right center to cut the Texas (50-7) deficit to 6-4.

Atwood hit a two-out solo shot in the bottom of the seventh but Kennedy struck out Stewart to end the game.

Texas associate head coach Steve Singleton and Aggies assistant Russ Heffley were both ejected after a confrontation that began when Powell stepped on the foot of Stewart at first base on the final out in the top of the sixth.

Texas ended the Aggies’ 2023 season with 2-1 and 11-5 victories over Texas A&M in the Austin Regional.