Aggies Outlast Ladyjacks in 15-inning Duel

COLLEGE STATION – Kelly Martinez blasted a two-out, two-run dinger off the scoreboard to send the Texas A&M Aggies to a walk-off victory over the SFA Ladyjacks, 2-0, in 15 innings, Wednesday evening at Davis Diamond.

The contest marks the longest game in Texas A&M history since March 4, 1994, when the Maroon & White defeated McNeese State, 3-2, in 15 innings.

Kayla Poynter and Kendall Potts combined to throw the Aggies’ (17-11) fifth shutout of the season. Poynter threw the first six innings of the game, allowing just five hits and two walks while fanning one. Potts earned the win after recording a career-high nine strikeouts and only giving up four hits in nine innings.

SFA’s (15-13) Kassidy Wilbur was saddled with the loss giving up seven hits, two runs and four walks, while fanning 10 in 10.1 innings of work. Ashley Kriesel earned the start, throwing the first 4.1 innings of the game while giving up two hits and five walks.


KEY INNINGS

B15| In her first career start, Kayla Garcia singled through the left side before Kelly Martinez blasted a two-run homer over the left field wall, her third of the season. A&M 2, SFA 0


Top Offensive Players: 
Kelly Martinez| 1-for-5, 2 RBI, HR, R, BB
Baylee Klingler| 3-for-7, 2B

Pitching Breakdown:
Kayla Poynter – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 K, 2 BB
Kendall Potts (5-4) – W, 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB


WHAT THEY SAID

Head Coach Jo Evans

On Kelly Martinez and Kayla Garcia… 
“I know that {Kelly Martinez} can hit, she had a lot of success in the Pac-12, a good pitchers’ conference. Confidence has a lot to do with it. I hope that the home run will give her the boost she needs because we need her to have better at-bats. I am proud of her for staying in there, fighting and getting up there to get a hit. Tip your hat to Kayla Garcia. She got her first start tonight. That hit she got with two outs gave us a chance to be up there in that situation with Kelly. I am really proud of both of them.”

Junior 2B Kelly Martinez 
On her home run…
“I’ve been struggling for a while, but I just needed to get my timing. Those foul balls felt good off the bat. I knew I had a good chance to get out there and do something big for our team. I connected on an inside pitch that was down and in that I was waiting for.”

On the 15-inning game… 
“It’s no different than the first seven we play. It’s still the same game. We’re going to go out there and get our three outs to give our dugout another opportunity to get to swing the bats.”

On the win…
“It feels amazing because it showed our drive and fight to be able to go out there even after many tough situations to give us another chance.”


ON DECK 

The Aggies host Alabama in a three-game series at Davis Diamond. Game one is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. start, while Saturday and Sunday’s contests are slated for 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.


STAY CONNECTED

Fans can follow the Aggies wherever they go by following @AggieSoftball on Instagram and Twitter or on Facebook at Facebook.com/TAMUSoftball.

Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics

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