AGGIE SOFTBALL FALLS TO RED RAIDERS AT 2026 AGGIE CLASSIC SERIES
Photo Credits: Anastasia Acosta
KANM Sports
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas Aggie Softball team took on the Texas Tech Red Raiders this past Saturday, February 7th, at Davis Diamond before a record-setting crowd of 2,880 in Aggieland. After 7 innings, the final score was 3-2 with Texas Tech prevailing.
The #11 Aggies entered the game on a 3-0 record with wins against ACU, Utah State, and Providence. The season opener series in College Station produced several standout moments for the Aggies, including multiple mercy wins and only allowing two runs so far this season.
#1/2 Texas Tech entered with a 3-0 record as well, with wins against McNeese State, UNT, and ULM. Tech’s showing on defense was not as strong to start the season, allowing six runs among the first three games.
The first inning set a fierce back-and-forth battle between the Aggies and Raiders within minutes. In the second pitch of the game, Texas Tech’s #42, Mihyia Davis, slammed a home run to right field, putting the first run on the board. Shortly after, #1 for Tech, Mia Williams, would hit a home run. Those back to back plays set the Raiders with a 2-0 score and zero outs. #32, Hailey Toney would close the top of the first inning for the Red Raiders.
The Aggies answered the call under heightened circumstances. A slow start would leave the Aggies with two outs and two strikes, and relying on #14 for the Aggies, Micaela Wark, to save them. #1 for the Ags, Kennedy Powell, was also on base waiting for an answer. Wark delivered with a home run past left field and tied the score for the Aggies 2-2.
Starting in the third inning, a defensive battle between the two teams emerged, maintaining a score of 2-2 till the fifth inning. The Aggies began a struggle at the plate, leaving many hits to end up short of the backstop and into the gloves of the Raiders. Despite the slowing of the offense, the Texas A&M pitching team would deliver strikeout after strikeout.
In the fifth, Tech would score when #1 Mia Williams hit a double and sent #42 Mihyia Davis to home plate. While Williams would make it to second base, the Aggies would catch a pop-up to hold the Raiders to a one-run lead.
In the seventh and final inning, the Aggies were left to rely on #39, DeeDee Baldwin, to save the game. With two outs, a full count, and a pitch from the million-dollar arm, Baldwin would swing and miss and strikeout solidifying the score of 3-2.
The press conference was surprisingly optimistic from Head Coach Trisha Ford, where she focused the attention to the strength of the team during the game and the potential they have for the rest of the season. Coach Ford also expressed admiration of the 12th Man when informed of the attendance record, saying, “Thank you. I said jokingly on the radio, I'm gonna have a meeting with Trev in the office on Monday, talking about getting some seating out in the outfield. This place is special. I love it. I love The 12th Man. I love everything that it represents. It's the reason why I'm here and raising my family here. And I want to be here for a long time. I want to continue to put a really good product out there. That's what they deserve.”
After the Aggie Classic concludes, the team will head to Florida for the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational and to California for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic before returning home to David Diamond on February 26th for the Texas A&M Invitational.
