Texas A&M Softball Falls to Arizona State, 4-3, Faces Elimination Game

News release from Texas A&M Athletics: 

The No. 15 Texas A&M softball team fell to Arizona State, 4-3, in the College Station Regional Saturday afternoon at Davis Diamond. The Aggies will face the winner of the McNeese-UConn elimination game Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

A leadoff double and a pair of hit batters proved costly for Texas A&M (37-18) as Arizona State (43-16) scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to hand the Aggies a loss and force them into an elimination game. Texas A&M drew a two-out walk in the bottom half, but a swinging strikeout ended the comeback attempt.

Micaela Wark led the offense with a home run and two RBI, while Kelsey Mathis drove in a run. Mya Perez and Hailey Golden each plated a run, while Kennedy Powell, Ariel Kowalewski and Frankie Vrazel each added a hit.

Sidne Peters was charged with the loss after tossing 6.1 innings with four strikeouts, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks. Taylor Pannell entered with one out and the winning run on second base before a hit batter loaded the bases and an infield single brought home the go-ahead run.

Peters retired the Sun Devils in order on nine pitches in the first inning before Texas A&M grabbed an early lead. Perez drew a walk, and Wark followed with a two-out, two-run home run to right field.

Arizona State opened the second inning with a single and evened the score with a home run to center field, while the Aggies were retired on strikeouts in the bottom half.

After a scoreless third inning, Arizona State threatened in the fourth with a leadoff double and a walk, but Peters worked out of the jam with a foul out, strikeout and another foul out to strand two runners.

Perez led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and was replaced on the bases by Golden. Following an infield flyout, Kowalewski singled to right field as Golden advanced to third on a throwing error. Mathis then grounded out to bring home Golden and give Texas A&M a 3-2 advantage.

The teams traded scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth before Arizona State reclaimed a 4-3 lead in the seventh, scoring two runs on two hits.

Texas A&M drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh, but Arizona State recorded the final strikeout to seal the 4-3 victory.

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