CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – After run-ruling Bethune-Cookman 11-0 in their first game, the Aggies upset No. 5 Arizona 7-6 Thursday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Texas A&M improves to 10-3 after winning its seventh consecutive game, while Bethune-Cookman falls to 1-11 and the Arizona Wildcats drop to 9-2 after losing just its second game of the season.
In the first game of the day against Bethune-Cookman, the Aggies got on the board quickly, plating three runs in the top of the first. Sophomore Makinzy Herzog led off the inning with her eighth double of the season. Freshman Jourdyn Campbell doubled to score Herzog. Fellow freshman Shaylee Ackerman brought Campbell home with a hard hit ball up the middle.
Texas A&M added to its lead in the top of the second with Herzog doing it all on her own after getting on with a single and stealing all three bases to touch home. The Missouri City, Texas, native highlighted the top of the third inning, driving in two more runs with a triple to left field and then scored after Kelbi Fortenberry reached on an error.
The Aggies extended their lead in the top of the fifth, plating three more runs to hold an 11-0 advantage in the bottom of the fifth, with junior Kayla Poynter finishing it off for the Aggies in the circle. Poynter earned her third win of the season after pitching a three-hit shutout, while striking out six in 5.0 innings.
In the second game of the afternoon, the Aggies had a comeback victory over the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats.
The Wildcats were able to get on the board first with a home run to centerfield after getting runners on first and second with a hit and a fielding error. Arizona extended its lead with an RBI by Sharlize Palacios and Ivy Davis to go ahead 5-0.
Sophomores Haley Lee and Morgan Smith came up big for the Aggies in the top of the fourth. Lee had a leadoff double down the right field line and Morgan Smith blasted her second home run of the season with a shot over the left field fence to cut A&M’s deficit to three, 5-2.
The Wildcats tacked on to their lead with a two-out, bases loaded RBI by Alyssa Palomino in the bottom of the fourth, but the Aggies continued to fight.
In the top of the sixth, Texas A&M had a five-run inning to take the lead. Haley Lee and Morgan Smith walked. Taudrea Sinnie pinch ran for Lee and Star Ferguson pinch ran for Morgan Smith. McBride came through for the Aggies, blasting the ball to the left field fence, plating both Sinnie and Ferguson. The freshman Ferguson used her wheels and had an outstanding slide at the plate to avoid the tag. The bottom of the Aggies’ order continued to persevere with Kayla Garcia singling through the left side and Kelly Martinez taking a walk to load the bases for Ashlynn Walls. Walls had an RBI walk and the bases would remain full with the sophomore Herzog up to bat. Herzog singled to the right side plating Garcia. Martinez would give A&M the lead after touching home on the Arizona wild throw.
With a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth, senior Kendall Potts returned to the circle, but was replaced by Herzog after a leadoff walk. Potts pitched 5.0 innings of work, allowing three earned runs and fanning four. Herzog pitched the final 2.0 innings of the game to earn the save. The sophomore ended the game with her second strikeout of the day with runners on first and second to secure the comeback victory.
KEY INNINGS
vs. Bethune-Cookman
T1| Herzog led the game off with a double to left and advanced to third on a Haley Lee single. Campbell roped a double down the left field line, plating Herzog. Morgan Smith’s sacrifice fly scored Lee, and Shaylee Ackerman laced one up the middle to bring Campbell home. A&M 3, BC 0
T2| With one out, Herzog hit a single through the right side and stole two bases. Lee walked
and Herzog scored on a double steal. A&M 4, BC 0
T3| McBride began a two-out rally, singling up the middle and advancing to second on Kayla Garcia’s single. McBride scored on Ashlynn Wall’s single. Herzog’s triple to right knocked in two runs. Fortenberry reached on a fielding error, scoring Herzog. A&M 8, BC 0
T5| Garcia reached base on a fielder’s choice and was replaced by pinch runner Madi Jatzlau. Jatzlau touched home after a stolen base, wild pitch and a Wall’s single. Herzog walked and advanced to third on Fortenberry’s RBI single. Lee grounded out plating Herzog. A&M 11, BC 0
vs. Arizona
B1 | Alyssa Palomno singled up the middle and Jessie Harper reached on a fielding error to put runners on first and second. Malia Martinez homered to centerfield. Arizona 3, A&M 0
B3 | Jessie Harper singled to left field and Malia Martinez walked. Sharlize Palocios ripped one up the middle to score Harper. Ivy Davis had an RBI after singling in second to score Martinez. Arizona 5, A&M 0
T4 | Haley Lee had a leadoff double down the right field line. Morgan Smith belted her second home run of the season to get the Aggies on the board. Arizona 5, A&M 2
B4 | Back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Wildcats. With two outs, Palomino singled to the left side to get the RBI. Arizona 6, A&M 2
T6 | Taudrea Sinnie pinch ran for Lee after a leadoff walk. Star Ferguson also pinch ran after Morgan Smith walked. McBride had a shot to the left field fence and drove in both Sinnie and Ferguson. Dani Elder ran for McBride and reached third on a Kayla Garcia single through the left side. Kelly Martinez walked and Ashlynn Walls had a bases loaded walk to plate Elder. With the bases loaded, Herzog hit a single to right and scored Garcia. Martinez would also score on the wild throw from right field, giving the Aggies the lead. A&M 7, Arizona 6
Top Offensive Players:
vs. Bethune-Cookman
Makinzy Herzog| 3-for-3, 3 H, 1 RBI
Payton McBride | 2-for-2, 1 R
Ashlynn Walls | 2-for-3, 2 H, 2BI
vs. Arizona
Makinzy Herzog | 1-for-4, 1 H, 1 RBI
Morgan Smith | 2-for-2, HR, 2 RBI
Payton McBride | 1-for-2, 1 H, 2 RBI
Kayla Garcia | 2-for-3, 2 H
Pitching Breakdown:
vs. Bethune-Cookman
Kayla Poynter (3-1) – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 6 SO, 1 BB
vs. Arizona
Kendall Potts (3-1) – 5.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3 SO, 4 BB
Makinzy Herzog (SAVE) – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 SO, 1 BB
WHAT THEY SAID
Head Coach Jo Evans
On picking up two wins today…
“I’m proud of our ball club because we really came out and competed hard. I thought Kendall Potts was terrific in the circle. I’m just really proud of Kendall and I thought she showed great composure out there. She kept their [Arizona’s] hitters off balance.
On the team’s fight…
“It’s a big win because when we came here, we talked about competing. We competed today and we got the outcome we wanted. It’s really really important for our ball club. Everyone knows that we’re really young and for us to show the resiliency to bend and not break was huge. I thought Morgan Smith really gave us a chance after hitting the two-run home run and let us settle in and make it a ballgame. I also thought Haley Lee had a really nice day at the plate. Honestly, even when we were down 5-0, I thought we had quality at bats. I thought we challenged their pitching and even we got out, for the most part, we were getting the ball in the air, which is good with their drop ball pitcher. I was pleased with that, but the home run by Smith really gave us a chance to go ‘you know what, we can do this.'”
ON DECK
Texas A&M plays two top-five opponents in back-to-back games on Friday. The Aggies face No. 3 Oklahoma at 3 p.m. (CT), followed by No. 1 UCLA at 7:30 p.m. (CT).
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