BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M softball defeated South Carolina No. 23 10-2 on Saturday at Davis Diamond. The Aggies rise to 22-5, a 3-2 mark in the SEC game, while the Gamecocks fall to 17-9, 0-5 in the SEC.
The Aggies posted a frame of six runs at the bottom of the first, highlighting four hits, including a grand slam belted by Kelly Martinez. This marks the highest RBI performance of the season.
South Carolina responded by adding two runs at the bottom of the second through a base laden walk and a sacrificial fly.
Six of Aggie’s nine holders managed a hit, with Makinzy Herzog leading with two. The junior fired the two-run home run to take him to the end of the fifth round.
Kelsey Broadus compiled 1.1 launched innings and made his sixth start of the year. Kayla Poynter threw 3.2 innings with relief, spreading two strokes and hitting two to secure her sixth win of the season. The pair limited South Carolina to three hits and the team’s batting average of 0.176.
This victory marks Maroon & White’s first series victory since 2019 against Arkansas.
MAIN ENTRIES
B1 | Makinzy Herzog and Bre Warren started with consecutive singles, before Haley Lee arrived on a field error to load the bases. Shaylee Ackerman reached the choice of a fielder, banning Herzog in the process and moving Lee to second, while Warren advanced in a defensive error. Morgan Smith’s sacrifice fly marked Warren. Ashlynn Walls walked to load the bases. Kelly Martinez crowned the scoreboard with a grand slam for the left field. A&M 6, SC 0
T2 | Zoe Laneaux walked and consecutive shots for Alyssa Kumiyama and Kenzi Maguire filled the bases. Pinch of Kylee Gleason ran to Kumiyama. Mackenzie Boesel walked to advance all the runners and beat Laneaux, before Gleason scored on a Jordan Fabian sacrifice fly. A&M 6, SC 2
B3 | Martinez walked and Rylen Wiggins chose, advancing a bag for Martinez. Both runners advanced a base into a wild field, while Martinez nailed a misstep. Herzog took a walk and advanced to second position, while Wiggins scored in a throw-in error from the receiver during a fall after an attempted theft. A&M 8, SC 2
B5 | Wiggins walked and Herzog turned to the center of the field to win by race rule. A&M 10, SC 2
Main offensive players:
Makinzy Herzog | 2 to 3, HR, 2 RBI
Kelly Martinez | 1 to 2, HR, 4 RBI
Shaylee Ackerman | 1 to 3, RBI
Detail of the pitch:
Kelsey Broadus – 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 SO, 4 BB
Kayla Poynter (6-1) – 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 SO, 0 BB
WHAT DID THEY SAY
Head coach Jo Evans
At Kelly Martinez …
“Kelly Martinez is a big part of our team, and she gives (Haley) Lee a chance to get her out of that squat position and on her knees and hips. Kelly is stable. You know, it’s not very common for you to see a ball club that has two elite catchers, and we have two elite catchers, and we are very lucky. I just tip my hat to Kelly, and the way she manages her role, her attitude and her body language is very good. She just wants to be a part of what we’re doing, winning games and I’m very impressed with what she did. Offensively, she is really recovering, it was maybe a week or so ago that that child almost hit the cycle, she was a single shy, and for her to go out today and have such a good ABs really talks a lot about Kelly and how to keep herself in him. “
With Senior UT Kelly Martinez
In the process of thinking going to his grand slam on the bat …
“Just from watching her from the previous hitting strokes and being a catcher in the first round as well, I simply knew the referees’ attack zone. I knew what she would have to do to try to get a strike, so I just sat in a field where I was strong. “
ON DECK
The Aggies conclude the series against South Carolina No. 23 on Sunday, March 28, with a first midday shot at Davis Diamond.