News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
The No. 15 Texas A&M softball team avoided elimination with a 10-3 win over UConn Saturday night at Davis Diamond. The Aggies will face Arizona State in the regional final Sunday at 2 p.m. on ABC, marking the first ever NCAA Regional round softball game on the network.
Texas A&M (38-18) totaled 12 hits, including three home runs, to reach double-digit runs for the second time this regional. Ariel Kowalewski powered the offense, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while KK Dement finished 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI. Paislie Allen added a solo home run, while Kelsey Mathis and Mya Perez each drove in a run.
Sydney Lessentine earned the win, tossing 5.0 innings with six strikeouts while allowing three runs on three hits and one walk. Kate Munnerlyn closed out the game with 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out three while surrendering just two hits.
Playing as the designated away team, the Aggies struck first with three runs on three hits in the opening inning. Perez and Mathis each recorded an RBI, while Perez, Kennedy Powell and Micaela Wark all scored.
UConn (32-18) responded with a leadoff single in the bottom half and cut the deficit to 3-1 after capitalizing on a pair of Aggie miscues.
After scoreless second and third innings, the Maroon & White extended the lead to 5-1 in the fourth. Mathis drew a leadoff walk before Dement launched a two-run home run off the videoboard.
Texas A&M added another run in the fifth after consecutive singles and a fielder’s choice. Dement followed with a single through the left side to plate Hailey Golden, marking her second hit and third RBI of the night.
UConn threatened in the sixth with a four-hit, two-run frame highlighted by a leadoff home run before Munnerlyn entered and ended the inning with a strikeout.
The Aggies answered in the seventh when Wark drew a leadoff walk and Kowalewski blasted a two-run home run to right-center to make it 8-3. After a pair of flyouts, Allen added a solo shot off the videoboard to push the lead to 9-3. Texas A&M plated its final run after Maddie Sauni delivered a pinch-hit single. Frankie Vrazel re-entered to run and later scored on a fielding error to cap the scoring at 10-3.
Munnerlyn struck out the first batter before inducing consecutive flyouts to seal the victory.
