Texas A&M Softball: Aggies edge Mississippi State

Texas A&M softball picked up a big series win on the road this weekend, downing the Mississippi State Bulldogs two games to one in a hard fought series.

Fresh off taking two out of three games from a red hot South Carolina team, the Aggies (34-9, 7-5 SEC) went on the road again. Last time the Aggies went on the road, they got swept. And while road games are always more challenging, the Aggies continued their winning ways against a Top 25 Mississippi State team in a hard-fought series win. The series also ended up getting played over only two days due to the first two games getting condensed into a doubleheader, thanks to weather.

Day 1: A split doubleheader

In the first game, Trinity Harrington started in the circle and immediately dominated the Bulldogs. In the first inning, the Aggies got things started with an RBI single from Ashley Walters that scored Keeli Milligan. There wouldn’t be any scoring for another three innings when the Aggies doubled the lead when Kristen Cuyos reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Blake Ann Fritsch.

More from Gig Em Gazette

However, State wouldn’t go quietly, as the Bulldogs got on the board next with an RBI groundout to make it 2-1. The Aggies then responded in the top of the fifth with a Sarah Hudek RBI double to make it 3-1, and although State made it interesting at the end by loading the bases, that was ballgame. Payton McBride got the last out, and the Aggies took Game 1.

The second game was a little more testy. Samantha Show got the start and while she was dominant at first, she ran into trouble in the third inning, allowing three runs, causing her to be replaced by Kayla Pointer out of the bullpen.

The Aggies then tied the game in the fourth and fifth innings with an RBI single, a bases-loaded walk and an RBI double. However, that was all the scoring that the Aggies got, as the game ended up going to 10 innings. Kayla Pointer performed extremely well, but she unfortunately loaded the bases and walked the final batter she faced. State won on a walk-off bases-loaded walk to even the series.

Day 2: Fighting tooth and nail for the series

After losing in extra innings, the Aggies again turned to Trinity Harrington for the third game. The Aggies got on the board via a Sarah Hudek RBI double that scored Keeli Milligan, and the game then ended up looking like it would turn into a pitchers’ duel.

For the next few innings, the Aggies were cruising until State tied the game on an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. Both teams had chances, but as with the previous game, this one ended up going to extra innings.

Fortunately, the Aggies didn’t want to give that much free softball to those watching the game, so during the eighth inning, they broke what had been a neck-and-neck game wide open. First, Sarah Hudek reached on a throwing error that also scored Keeli Milligan to make it 2-1.

Next: Johnny Manziel shines at Spring League

Given how the game had been going, that would have been enough to put it away, but Tori Vidales decided to add extra insurance by immediately hitting a 2-run home run to make it 4-1. Lexi Smith, who replaced Harrington after four innings, went back to the circle and ended the game for good, giving the Aggies their third SEC series win.

The Aggies are back in action next against the Kentucky Wildcats from Friday-Sunday this week.

***stats and info from 12thman.com***