Texas A&M’s Emiley Kennedy made sure she’d have a Senior Day to remember.
Kennedy tossed a four-hitter as the top-ranked Aggies defeated Arkansas 2-0 to salvage the last game of their Southeastern Conference softball series Sunday at Davis Diamond. A&M played poorly in all phases in the first two games, and it started in the circle, said head coach/pitching coach Trisha Ford.
Texas A&M’s Emiley Kennedy threw a four-hit shutout as the Aggies defeated Arkansas 2-0 Sunday at Davis Diamond.
Ford was all smiles after Kennedy shut down Arkansas, which was averaging 7.9 runs per game and scored seven runs in each of the first two games. That included six runs off Kennedy in the opener, though only four were earned. Kennedy never retired Arkansas in order on Sunday and the leadoff batter reached five times, but the Razorbacks were only 1 of 17 with runners on.
“I just wanted to keep it simple, like one runner won’t hurt me as long as I get the next girl out and the next girl out,” Kennedy said. “Just one batter at a time and don’t really worry about who’s on base.”
Arkansas had 10 batters reach because Kennedy (17-4) walked four and hit two along with the four hits.
“I think she didn’t let it bother her,” Ford said. “I think she executed pitches at a higher rate than she had in her last outing. I felt she was very stoic. You could kind of see that killer instinct in her.”
A&M’s defense backed Kennedy with two double plays. It was a vast improvement from the first two games when A&M had five errors that led to five unearned runs.
A&M mustered only five hits for the second straight game but came up with a couple clutch hits. Senior Kramer Eschete walked with two outs in the fourth inning. Arkansas pulled starting pitcher Reis Beuerlein for junior left-hander Robyn Herron, who won Friday’s game and saved Saturday’s victory. Eschete stole second on Herron’s first pitch to freshman Frankie Vrazel, who then lined a single into short left field that the defender unsuccessfully tried to make a diving catch, allowing Eschete to score.
An inning later with two outs, A&M graduate Mac Barbara lined a 258-foot homer over the fence in right-center field for her 10th of the season. Arkansas had successfully pitched around her twice Saturday with walks and did the same Sunday in the third inning as A&M left the bases loaded.
“I was not surprised [they pitched to me],” Barbara said. “I knew when there was nobody on, they wanted me to get myself out and that was not [going to be] the case.”
Barbara also made her first start for A&M at catcher. The San Diego State transfer, who has basically been the designated hitter, did catch an inning against Prairie View on April 2. Having Barbara catch allowed A&M to use sophomore Mya Perez at designated hitter instead of first base. Junior Amari Harper, who typically starts in right field, moved to first. Vrazel, who had two hits, moved to right field. The revamped lineup also had an errorless game.
Kennedy, Barbara and Kramer, along with fellow seniors center fielder Allie Enright, catcher Olivia Johnson, pitcher Emily Leavitt and shortstop Koko Wooley, were honored after the game. Kennedy had a hunch they were going to have a great day with her leading the way.
“My dad told me this morning, he said, ‘You’re gonna throw well, because you always throw well when something’s on the line,’” Kennedy said.
The 6-foot-2 left-hander responded with her first seven-inning shutout since a 3-0 victory at Auburn on March 16 when she allowed only one hit.
“I think I like pressure situations,” Kennedy said. “It’s Senior Day, and I don’t wanna lose on my own field on my own day.”
A&M played poorly the last two games, so Kennedy said she wanted to put the team on her back.
“If I go out and throw well, we’ll win a ballgame,” Kennedy said.
A&M (41-8, 14-6) fell out of the SEC lead over the weekend, but Sunday’s victory puts the Aggies in great position to earn one of the league’s top four seeds for the tournament in two weeks at Georgia. Third-ranked Oklahoma (42-5, 16-5) is in first place after sweeping second-place Texas. Fourth-ranked Tennessee (39-11, 14-7) is fourth in the league and hosts A&M in a Thursday through Saturday series to end the regular season.
Arkansas (36-10, 12-9), which has won five straight SEC series, had a six-game winning streak snapped.
The Razorbacks had a chance to score first when junior Reagan Johnson led the game off with a walk and senior Bri Ellis lined a one-out single into left field. But freshman Ella McDowell, who was 5 for 8 with three RBIs in the first two games, struck out and junior Kailey Wyckoff popped up. Johnson had a bunt single to open the fifth inning and senior Raigan Kramer walked. But Ellis, who was 4 for 7 in the series with two homers, popped up on the first pitch and McDowell grounded into a double play.
“The first two days, we got beat straight-up,” Ford said. “Arkansas is a good team. But we did not play Texas A&M softball and that was concerning to me.”
They had a team meeting before Sunday’s game, with Ford pointing out her shortcomings and challenging the team on the things they needed to do better.
“I felt like today was a tough game and they fought every single pitch,” Ford said. And that’s all I’m asking for.”
