Aggies Sweep Doubleheader, Claim Series Against No. 21 Mississippi State

STARKVILLE – The Fightin’ Texas Aggies swept No. 21 Mississippi State in a doubleheader by run-rule, 9-0, in five innings to open the series, followed by winning game two, 8-5, Saturday at Nusz Park. It marked the first time since 2017 the Aggies won the first two series to open league play.

Texas A&M begins SEC play 5-0 for the first time in program history and matches the best start in conference play since 2008. The 25-2 ledger matches the best start to a season since members of the SEC, joining the 2017, 2016 and 2013 teams.

Emiley Kennedy continued her dominance striking out seven, while recording a nation-leading 13th win and seventh shutout in the series opener. The Woodlands, Texas, native, made her second appearance of the day with two on and no outs in the seventh inning of game two. The left-handed pitcher ended the Bulldogs with a foul out, strikeout and ground out. Shaylee Ackerman was credited with her fifth win of the season after 3.0 innings and two strikeouts of relief work. In total, the Aggie pitching staff finished the day with 13 strikeouts.

The Aggie offense generated 17 runs, including eight on two-outs. Most notably Texas A&M recorded a crooked inning of five-plus runs to move in the driver’s seat of each win. Koko Wooley led the Aggies hitting 5-for-7 with two doubles, four runs and one RBI, while swiping three bases. Allie Enright drove in five runs, including a three-run home run in game two that contributed to a five-run fifth inning. Jazmine Hill reached base in each game, extending her on-base streak to 18 games.

Ol’ Sarge’s charges kept each Mississippi State (20-6, 2-3) attack at bay, including an early threat in game two with bases-loaded and one out as Kramer Eschete caught a fly ball and gunned down the runner from 180 feet trying for home to end the inning with an Aggie 2-1 lead.

UP NEXT

Texas A&M goes for the sweep with Sunday’s first pitch at 11 a.m.

TEXAS A&M QUOTES

Head Coach Trisha Ford on…

The Aggie offense:

“The first game I thought we came out with really good focus. We put up some crooked numbers really quickly and I thought we kept our foot on the gas pedal. The thing about it is, it’s hard. This is a really good Mississippi State team. For us to come out in the second game and also score, I thought our lineup did a really good job top to bottom.

Winning in different aspects:

“Kramer’s double play and Rylen’s catch that I couldn’t even see, I think both of those were huge. You can win games in all different aspects, whether it be short game, hit balls off the wall like we did, in the circle, or on defense. There’s so many opportunities in our game to gain momentum. That was huge. Kramer’s arm is one of the reasons why she’s an Aggie. We know she can track down balls, she’s got great speed, and then she’s got that cannon.

Koko Wooley:

“Koko is dynamic. I love that kid. She’s just annoying if you’re another team. I would hate to have to face her, and I’m so happy that I don’t. If you give her an inch, she will take a mile. She reads defenses well and you can almost see her lower to the ground when she runs. I enjoy watching her play the game.”

SCORING SUMMARY

GAME ONE

T2 | Allie Enright led off with a walk, followed by Rylen Wiggins homering to left field for the Texas A&M’s 35th home run of the season. Kennedy Powell singled and scored after Koko Wooley doubled to left center and advanced to third. Jazmine Hill reached on a fielder’s choice, followed by a Trinity Cannon and Julia Cottrill reaching on a fielder’s choice with Wooley out at home. Aiyana Coleman lined a bases-clearing double to right field to score Hill, Cannon and Cottrill. Scout Lovell pinch ran for Coleman and scored after Enright singled up the middle. TAMU 7, MSU 0

T3 | Kramer Eschete reached first on a muffed throw by the first baseman and stole second base, before advancing to third on a passed ball. Hill grounded out scoring Eschete. TAMU 8, MSU 0

T4 | Cottrill singled up the middle and was pinch ran for by Hailey Golden. Coleman walked to advance to Golden to second, before scoring after Enright singled through the right side. TAMU 9, MSU 0

SCORING SUMMARY

GAME TWO

T1 | Koko Wooley was hit-by-pitch to leadoff and advanced to second after Jazmine Hill grounded out. Julia Cottrill flied out to right field advanced Wooley to third before heading home and scoring on a throwing error by the right fielder. TAMU 1, MSU 0

T3 | Wooley singled up the middle to leadoff and advanced to second after Hill singled to right field. Trinity Cannon grounded out to advance the pair of Aggies before Wooley caught a Bulldog napping and scored stealing home. TAMU 2, MSU 0

B3 | Blaine was hit-by-pitch to leadoff and scored after Sacco singled to center field. TAMU 2, MSU 1

T5 | Back-to-back singles by Kennedy Powell and Koko led off the inning. Hill flied out to center field to advance Powell to third. Wooley stole second and advanced to third on the throwing error as Powell scored. Cannon singled through the left side to score Wooley. Hailey Golden pinch ran for Cannon and Mya Perez hit a pinch hit single. Allie Enright homered to right center scoring Golden and Perez. TAMU 7, MSU 1

B5 | St. Clair reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored after Barbary singled through the right side. TAMU 7, MSU 2

T6 | Wooley recorded her third hit of the day with a single up the middle and stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Hill singled to the pitcher scoring Wooley. TAMU 8, MSU 2

B6 | Kennedy homered to center field. TAMU 8, MSU 3

B7 | Kennedy singled up the middle for a two-RBI single that scored Edwards and St. Clair. TAMU 8, MSU 5

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