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Texas A&M Softball advances to the Women’s College World Series

By Matthew Bartlett

Aug 3, 2016; Huntington Beach, CA, USA; OC Batbusters player Mallory McCrane dives back into third on an attempted pick off against the Birmingham Thunderbolts at Huntington Beach Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 3, 2016; Huntington Beach, CA, USA; OC Batbusters player Mallory McCrane dives back into third on an attempted pick off against the Birmingham Thunderbolts at Huntington Beach Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas A&M softball defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 6-4 in rubber game of the Knoxville Super Regional to advance to the Women’s College World Series.

“You have to want it more than anything you’ve ever wanted.” That was the call to arms issued by Aggie head coach Jo Evans on Saturday evening. The ladies had just forced a winner-take-all third game. The entire season had come down to the next game. The prize? A trip to the College World Series. **Spoiler alert: they did it.**

Tennessee blasted Texas A&M in game one 8-1. The Aggies responded with a hard-fought 6-5 victory to force the decisive third game. The comeback marked the first time all season that the Volunteers had lost a game after leading through four innings. They had been 39-0.

“You have to want it more than anything you’ve ever wanted.”

With a trip to the Women’s College World Series on the line the two teams returned to the diamond on Sunday. The Ags have not been to the WCWS since 2008. The Vols last trip came in 2015.

Aggies rally once again

The Aggies missed a golden opportunity in the opening frame. The maroon and white loaded the bases but were unable to coax in a run. Tennessee took advantage of the fifth Texas A&M error of the Super Regional in the bottom half of the inning. Brooke Vines singled in Meghan Gregg to give the Volunteers an early 1-0 lead.

Texas A&M wasn’t done fighting. After a few more defensive miscues put them in a 3-0 hole they roared back with a four run third inning. Riley Sartain capped it off with a three run bomb to left field, giving Texas A&M a 4-3 lead.

A rainstorm caused a brief halt to play during the fourth inning. Tori Vidales added an insurance run on in the top of the fifth, sending a no-doubter over the wall. It was her 17th long ball of the season. Trinity Harrington sat down three straight Volunteers in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.

It’s been an incredible season for the Texas A&M softball team. And it’s not over yet. For the first time as a member of the SEC, the Aggies are headed to the Women’s College World Series.

Women’s College World Series Participants

Including the Aggies, six tickets have already been punched to the Women’s College World Series:

  • Florida advances, defeating Alabama (2-1)
  • Oregon advances, defeating Kentucky (2-0)
  • UCLA advances, defeating Ole Miss (2-0)
  • Oklahoma advances, defeating Auburn (2-0)
  • LSU advances, defeating Florida State (2-1)
  • Texas A&M advances, defeating Tennessee (2-1)

Two more Super Regionals are still awaiting results. Arizona and Baylor split the first two games as did Washington and Utah. Once those games are finished the full roster of teams head to Oklahoma City will be complete.

The Women’s College World Series gets underway on Thursday, June 1.

***Stats from UTSports.com***