No. 23 Texas A&M wins series opener against Mizzou
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Following Friday's game being suspended due to weather, the No. 23 Texas A&M softball team won the series opener against Missouri, 6-2, Saturday afternoon at Davis Diamond.
The long ball proved to be the difference as Texas A&M (31-17, 11-11 SEC) registered home runs in the first three innings, including junior Julia Cottrill with a pair of two-run home runs in the opening frame and third inning. Freshman Aiyana Coleman added a 266-foot solo shot over the video board in the second inning. The multi home run game was the third of Cottrill's career, while Coleman's shot registered as the second longest at home this season by an Aggie following her 267-foot shot on February 12.
Missouri (30-21, 4-15 SEC) blasted a two-run home run in the third inning to trim the Aggie lead to 3-2. Freshman Amari Harper answered in the bottom half with a sac fly to score sophomore Koko Wooley, before Cottrill hit her second two-run shot of the game to increase the lead to 6-2.
Senior Shaylee Ackerman (7-6) earned the win after striking out three, while allowing two walks and five hits after 6.0 innings. Emily Leavitt entered the circle in the top of the seventh striking out two of the four batters she faced.
UP NEXT
Game two of the series begins at 4 p.m. and is set to air nationally on the SEC Network with Eric Frede and Madison Shipman on the broadcast.
TOP AGGIE PERFORMERS
Julia Cottrill - 2-for-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
Aiyana Coleman - 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
Koko Wooley - 2-for-4, 1 3B, 1 R
Shaylee Ackerman (W, 7-6) - 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K
SCORING SUMMARY
B1 | Julia Cottrill hit a two-run home run to center field after Amari Harper reached on a throwing error by the pitcher. TAMU 2, MIZZOU 0
B2 | Aiyana Coleman hit her fourth home run of the season blasting a solo shot to left field. TAMU 3, MIZZOU 0
T3 | Jenna Laird reached on a fielder's choice, followed by Alex Honnold blasting a two-run home run. TAMU 3, MIZZOU 2
B3 | Koko Wooley tripled to right center and scored via sac fly courtesy of Amari Harper. Trinity Cannon walked and scored after Cottrill blasted her second two-run home run of the game. TAMU 6, MIZZOU 2