COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Making a one-game exit in the Southeastern Conference softball tournament was far from what the Texas A&M softball team wanted for their trip.
However, a few extra days of practice might have been just what A&M’s offense needed heading into the NCAA Tournament.
On Friday, the No. 15 seed Aggies set a new postseason program record for runs in an inning in a 17-3, five-inning rout of UConn at Davis Diamond.
The Aggies (37-17) were bounced from the conference tournament by Auburn in an 11-8 loss on May 6. For the first time in a long time, the Aggies had time to hone their skills in practice.
“Yeah, it sucked to lose, but I think it gave us opportunity to work on the things we needed to work on,” A&M shortstop KK Dement said. “I sat down with [assistant coach Jeff] Harger and we talked about what my success was when I was focusing hitting middle away and that’s kind of my whole focus this week.”
A&M plated 13 runs in the second inning, setting a new program record for runs in an inning during an NCAA Tournament game. The total also tied for second most in NCAA regional history with Oklahoma (2012, 2009) and Central Arkansas (2023).
Dement played a key part in the big inning, lining a barreled double into the right-center gap that scored two runs. It was payoff for the focus she placed on opposite-field hitting in the days leading up to the regional.
The sophomore entered Friday’s regional 1-for-21 at the plate. Her last extra-base hit was a home run on April 15 at Baylor.
“We’re going well when we are thinking oppo gap,” head coach Trisha Ford said. “When we getting a lot of pull-side hooks, it’s just not the swing path we’re looking for.”
Dement followed the marathon inning up with a two-out solo home run, part of a back-to-back-to-back homer effort with Ariel Kowalewski and Kelsey Mathis.
Kowalewski started the long-ball series with a grand slam to right for her eighth home run of the season.
“My thought process was, make sure I score these runners. We need these. We need this right here. We were already up by a few runs, but it’s like, ‘We can’t stop. Put your foot on the gas,’” Kowalewski said.
Of A&M’s 13 runs in the second, 10 came with two outs, including all three home runs.
A&M added insult to injury with another pair of back-to-back home runs in the fourth between Mya Perez and Micaela Wark.
Sidne Peters (15-5) earned her 15th win of the season after three innings in the circle. She allowed one run on one hit, a solo home run by Savannah Ring in the top of the third. The Aggies were able to roll out Kate Munnerlyn and Sydney Lessentie to close out the final two innings of the run-rule win.
UConn (31-27) needed four arms to get through the game, all four of whom threw in the second inning. Starter Caprice Bohmer (13-10) was saddled with the loss.
A&M will face Ford’s old program, Arizona State, after the Sun Devils (42-16) knocked off McNeese (40-21) 8-0 in five innings. That game will begin at 2 p.m. at Davis Diamond.
Arizona State will likely start Kenzie Brown, who ranks third in the country in strikeouts per seven innings with 11.6. She will continue to be a challenge for an Aggie offense looking to continue Friday’s good vibes.
“I thought we came out, executed our game plan, kept our foot on the gas pedal,” Ford said. “I think that’s what I’m most happy about is just our ability to come out in every inning and put pressure.”
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