Texas A&M Coach Jo Evans Arizona Post-Game Recap
Feb 21, 2020
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – After run-ruling Bethune-Cookman 11-0 in their first game, the Aggies upset No. 5 Arizona 7-6 Thursday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Texas A&M improves to 10-3 after winning its seventh consecutive game, while Bethune-Cookman falls to 1-11 and the Arizona Wildcats drop to 9-2 after losing just its second game of the season.
In the first game of the day against Bethune-Cookman, the Aggies got on the board quickly, plating three runs in the top of the first. Sophomore Makinzy Herzog led off the inning with her eighth double of the season. Freshman Jourdyn Campbell doubled to score Herzog. Fellow freshman Shaylee Ackerman brought Campbell home with a hard hit ball up the middle.
Texas A&M added to its lead in the top of the second with Herzog doing it all on her own after getting on with a single and stealing all three bases to touch home. The Missouri City, Texas, native highlighted the top of the third inning, driving in two more runs with a triple to left field and then scored after Kelbi Fortenberry reached on an error.
The Aggies extended their lead in the top of the fifth, plating three more runs to hold an 11-0 advantage in the bottom of the fifth, with junior Kayla Poynter finishing it off for the Aggies in the circle. Poynter earned her third win of the season after pitching a three-hit shutout, while striking out six in 5.0 innings.
In the second game of the afternoon, the Aggies had a comeback victory over the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats.
The Wildcats were able to get on the board first with a home run to centerfield after getting runners on first and second with a hit and a fielding error. Arizona extended its lead with an RBI by Sharlize Palacios and Ivy Davis to go ahead 5-0.
Sophomores Haley Lee and Morgan Smith came up big for the Aggies in the top of the fourth. Lee had a leadoff double down the right field line and Morgan Smith blasted her second home run of the season with a shot over the left field fence to cut A&M's deficit to three, 5-2.
The Wildcats tacked on to their lead with a two-out, bases loaded RBI by Alyssa Palomino in the bottom of the fourth, but the Aggies continued to fight.
In the top of the sixth, Texas A&M had a five-run inning to take the lead. Haley Lee and Morgan Smith walked. Taudrea Sinnie pinch ran for Lee and Star Ferguson pinch ran for Morgan Smith. McBride came through for the Aggies, blasting the ball to the left field fence, plating both Sinnie and Ferguson. The freshman Ferguson used her wheels and had an outstanding slide at the plate to avoid the tag. The bottom of the Aggies' order continued to persevere with Kayla Garcia singling through the left side and Kelly Martinez taking a walk to load the bases for Ashlynn Walls. Walls had an RBI walk and the bases would remain full with the sophomore Herzog up to bat. Herzog singled to the right side plating Garcia. Martinez would give A&M the lead after touching home on the Arizona wild throw.
With a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth, senior Kendall Potts returned to the circle, but was replaced by Herzog after a leadoff walk. Potts pitched 5.0 innings of work, allowing three earned runs and fanning four. Herzog pitched the final 2.0 innings of the game to earn the save. The sophomore ended the game with her second strikeout of the day with runners on first and second to secure the comeback victory.
