Texas A&M Softball powers past Marist with 17-4 win to stay alive in NCAA Regional
No. 1-ranked Texas A&M (47-10) eliminated Marist (48-9-1) on Saturday night with a dominant run-rule victory on day two of the Bryan-College Station Regional at Davis Diamond, securing their spot in the regional final. After an upset loss to a strong Liberty team, the Aggies rebounded in a must-win game, overpowering the Red Foxes 17-4.
Texas A&M's offense came alive, securing their fifth run-rule victory in six games. The Aggies struck first, scoring five runs to Marist's two for an early 5-2 lead. In the fourth inning, the offensive floodgates opened. Back-to-back solo home runs from Mya Perez and Mac Barbara kicked off the scoring spree, followed by an Amari Harper single. Harper later scored on a KK Dement double, and an Allie Enright double set the stage for consecutive sacrifice flies by Kylie Griffin and Kennedy Powell, extending the lead to 10-2.
The scoring didn't stop there. With two outs and a hit-by-pitch bringing in another run, Harper crushed her first career grand slam, giving Texas A&M a commanding 15-2 lead entering the bottom of the fourth. Marist managed two runs in the fifth, but A&M sealed the win with a Mac Barbara RBI single, plating two more runs for a final score of 17-4.
Pitchers Emily Leavitt, Grace Sparks, and Sydney Lessentine combined efforts to limit Marist's powerful lineup to just five hits and four runs over five innings. Lessentine closed out the game, facing only four batters in the final frame.
Texas A&M will now face Liberty in the regional final at 6 p.m. CT, aiming to force a doubleheader and advance to the super-regional.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
3 minutes ago
- USA Today
Alabama higher in USA TODAY Sports preseason college football rankings than top 25 polls
One national outlet is slightly higher on the Alabama Crimson Tide entering the 2025 college football season than the coaches who make up the US LBM Coaches Poll and the various sportswriters and broadcasters who make up the AP Top 25 poll. Alabama was ranked No. 8 in both the preseason Coaches Poll on Aug. 4, as well as the AP Top 25 poll released on Aug. 11. Among SEC teams, Alabama placed third behind the top-ranked Texas Longhorns and the Georgia Bulldogs. Kirby Smart's team was No. 4 in the Coaches Poll and No. 6 in the AP poll. On Monday, USA TODAY Sports unveiled its own preseason rankings (re-rank) of all 136 FBS programs ahead of 2025. Alabama checked at No. 7 in longtime college football analyst Paul Myerberg's hierarchy of teams, one spot higher than its ranking in the preseason top 25 polls. While Texas and Georgia were both still ahead of the Crimson Tide in USA TODAY Sports' rankings entering coach Kalen DeBoer's second season in Tuscaloosa, Alabama placed ahead of one team that landed ahead of them in the preseason polls: the Oregon Ducks. The LSU Tigers, who Alabama edged by one spot in the preseason polls, were still the next highest-ranked SEC team, though they were a few spots lower in USA TODAY Sports' full rankings of all 136 FBS teams entering 2025. Here's a look at the top 25 college football teams entering the 2025 season, as ranked by USA TODAY Sports. USA TODAY Sports ranks top 25 college football teams entering 2025 SEC football team rankings by USA TODAY Sports entering 2025 season The SEC led the way with 10 teams ranked in USA TODAY Sports' top 25 preseason rankings, followed by the Big Ten with seven. Here's a look at where every SEC program placed in the full 1-136 rankings of every FBS program entering 2025. Alabama football schedule 2025 Alabama opens the 2025 season against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Aug. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ABC. All times Central. Follow us at @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
3 minutes ago
- USA Today
Spartans freshman WR turning heads, in contention for starting spot
There's a true freshman wide receiver that is already making a name for himself in arguably the deepest position room on the Spartans' roster. The Spartans appear to be loaded at wide receiver as we approach the start of the 2025 season, and part of that notable depth is because of Braylon Collier. The true freshman wide receiver is making a name for himself during fall preseason camp, with wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins giving him some notable praise on Monday. Here's what Hawkins had to say about Collier -- quote courtesy of Spartan Shadows' Emmett Matasovsky: "Collier is a really good route runner for as young as he is. He's got a good approach to the game, he's got quickness, he can take the top off the defense. He's made contested catches, had a good fall.' Not only did Hawkins provide some positive remarks about Collier on Monday, but one day prior Matt Sheehan of Locked On Spartans shared he's hearing that Collier is in the thick of a position battle for the No. 3 starting wide receiver spot. He's apparently in the mix with Kent State transfer Chrishon McCray and Valdosta State transfer Rodney Bullard Jr. Collier was a three-star prospect out of Sandusky, Ohio in the 2025 class. He is considered to have breakout speed and many believed he'd be a game changer for the Spartans at some point, but I'm not sure that was anticipated right away. It at least wasn't something I anticipated knowing the number of known veterans in that loaded room. So with all that being said, it seems clear Michigan State has struck gold with this young wide receiver prospect. It's now not a matter of whether or not he'll make an impact in the green-and-white, but matter of how soon -- which sounds like it could be right away this upcoming season. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Former Iowa football star DB signs NFL contract with Dallas Cowboys
As the 2025 NFL season draws closer, there are signings and workouts going on each day as teams work to finalize their rosters for the season. The Iowa Hawkeyes, a known pipeline of talent to the NFL, are seeing a flurry of their former stars working out or earning contracts at new teams. Former quarterback C.J. Beathard and wide receiver Brandon Smith have each made waves for the New York Jets during training camp. The latest Hawkeye making headlines in the NFL comes on the defensive side of the ball. The Dallas Cowboys are signing former Iowa cornerback Michael Ojemudia to a contract. Michael Ojemudia was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft with the 77th pick overall. He spent 2020-2022 with Denver before making a few other stops. Ojemudia played with the Chicago Bears in 2022, the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, and the Arizona Cardinals in 2024 before winning a UFL championship with the DC Defenders in 2025. Ojemudia has appeared in 22 NFL games and tallied 73 tackles to go with four pass deflections. While at Iowa from 2015-2019, Michael Ojemudia appeared in 51 games for the Hawkeyes while registering 125 total tackles, 17 pass deflections, and six interceptions, along with a second-team All-Big Ten nod in 2019. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
