Texas’ Comeback Fades, Falls to A&M

You could not have asked for more in the first game of the Austin Super Regional between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies.  That is, unless you are a Texas fan.   Texas A&M topped Texas, 6-to-5. 

The game had it all… questionable pitching, explosive offense, a triple play that wasn’t, arguments and ejections, and a pinch-hit grand slam home run.  All that was to be expected when the Longhorns and the Aggies meet-up. 

The Aggies owned the first five and one-half innings, starting with the first three batters, Kennedy Powell, Koko Wooley and Trinity Cannon, who singled, doubled and homer.  Texas A&M led 3-to-0 before Texas could retire the batter. 

A&M followed nearly the same script in the fifth inning with Powell’s single and Cannon’s home run, giving the Aggies a 5-to-0 lead. 

The Aggies added what turned out to be the winning run in the sixth inning, starting with designate player Mya Perez drawing walk.  Speedster Hailey Golden pinch ran for Perez and scored on Karmer Eschete’s double to left field. 

Texas woke up their half of the sixth with Viviana Martinez’s lead-off single.  Reese Atwood and Joley Mitchell each drew walks to load the bases.  Texas head coach Mike White opted to send Victoria Hunter to the plate in place of Kayden Henry.  Hunter proceeded to tear the cover off the ball as it cleared the right center field wall.  The Longhorns narrowed the margin to 6-to-4. 

Texas came close to forcing extra innings with Reese Atwood four-bagger to left field, but the ended the game with a strike-out. 

“We know we can do it,” said Atwood. “I just think our energy should have been there from the first inning. You can’t just show up in the sixth inning and expect to win the ballgame.”

The team meet again on Saturday for the second game of the three-game series.