Texas A&M Softball Holds Off Ole Miss Rally to Claim Series

News release from Texas A&M Athletics: 

The No. 13 Texas A&M softball team claimed the series at Ole Miss with a 7-5 win Saturday at Ole Miss Softball Stadium.

Texas A&M (29-12, 10-4 SEC) jumped out to an early lead and held off a late Ole Miss (26-17, 2-12 SEC) rally. Catcher Ariel Kowalewski sealed the win by picking off a runner at second base for the final out.

Kelsey Mathis paced the offense with a career-high five RBI and her fourth home run of the season. Kennedy Powell scored twice, while Tallen Edwards and Kowalewski each drove in a run. Taylor Pannell earned her first win of the season, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. Sydney Lessentine recorded the save, closing out the final 2.0 innings.

Powell sparked the Aggies early with a triple down the right field line and scored on a sacrifice fly by Edwards to give A&M a 1-0 lead.

Ole Miss answered in the second with a solo home run to even the score.

The Aggies responded in the third. Powell led off with an infield single, Micaela Wark drew a walk and Kowalewski delivered a two-out RBI single. Mathis followed with a three-run home run to left center, extending the lead to 5-1. Ole Miss added a leadoff home run in the bottom half, but Sidne Peters limited the damage, stranding three runners with a swinging strikeout to end the inning.

Ole Miss mounted a two-out rally in the fourth, scoring on a double and a two-run home run to tie the game at five.

A&M regained control in the fifth, drawing three consecutive walks to open the frame. Mathis reached on a bouncer that crossed the shortstop and allowed pinch runners Hailey Golden and Annsley Groce to score, putting the Aggies ahead 7-5.

Lessentine entered in the sixth and retired the Rebels in order. In the seventh, Ole Miss brought the tying run to the plate after a single and a walk, but Lessentine induced a groundout before Kowalewski picked off a runner at second to end the game.

UP NEXT
The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. on SEC Network+ with Jake Hromada (play-by-play) and Carly Hummel (analyst) in the booth. Fans can also listen on the 12th Man Mobile app or locally on Willy 1550 AM, with Matt Simon calling the action in his 12th season as the voice of Texas A&M softball.

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