Aggies power past Louisiana Tech with late surge

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Powered by two home runs in the fifth inning, No. 24 Texas A&M surged past Louisiana Tech, 6-3, on Wednesday night. The win was the 100th at Davis Diamond, which opened on April 27, 2018.

Junior Julia Cottrill blasted a two-run home run to left field, while junior Rylen Wiggins followed a few batters later with a two-run home run to center field as the Aggies scored four runs in the fifth inning to take control of the game. 6-3.

Bre Warren, a junior from College Station, provided defensive help making two two-out diving catches to end the third and fifth innings that stranded a total of five Lady Techsters.

Sophomore Emily Leavitt (5-4) earned the win in 4.0 innings of relief allowing no runs and just one hit, while striking out five.

Texas A&M (17-10) found the scoreboard first after Cottrill hit a sac fly to score sophomore Koko Wooley in the opening frame, before Louisiana Tech (18-10) answered back with three runs in the third inning. The Maroon & White chipped in the deficit in the fourth when freshman Gracyn Coleman scored senior Star Ferguson on a sac fly to center field, before the Aggies opened up in the fifth and called the night sitting the Lady Techsters down in order in the seventh.

UP NEXT

The Aggies travel to Lexington for a three-game series against No. 11 Kentucky at John Cropp Stadium beginning Friday at 5:30 p.m. All three games can be streamed on SEC Network+.

TOP AGGIE PERFORMERS

Julia Cottrill – 1-for-2, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Rylen Wiggins – 1-for-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Aiyana Coleman – 3-for-3, 2 2B
Emily Leavitt – 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K

SCORE SUMMARY

B1 | Koko Wooley stole second after a leadoff walk and later scored after a sac fly by Julia Cottrill. LA TECH 0, GUESTS 1

T3 | Bail Wright homered to left center. Alyssa Dean pinch hit for Bail Wright after being hit by a pitch. Dean advanced to third after a walk and a single, followed by a Kate Cooper walk to score Dean. Cooper then scored after a pair of fielder’s choice and a walk by Carol Easom. LA TECH 3, TAMU 1

B4 Star Ferguson pinch hit for Aiyana Coleman after she doubled to left center. Ferguson advanced to third on a sac bunt by Rylen Wiggins, followed by a Gracyn Coleman sac fly to score Ferguson. LA TECH 3, TAMU 2

B5 Keely Williams walked, followed by a two-run home run from Julia Cottrill. Coleman struck out twice on the night and advanced to third on a throwing error before being caught by Allie Enright. Rylen Wiggins blasted a two-run home run to center field. LA TECH 3, TAMU 6

TEXAS A&M

Head Coach Trisha Ford
In Bre Warren’s defense…
“Bre [Warren] has made some big catches for us in the outfield this year. The rule is not to dive on the ball on the line, but at some point, we are talking about training, the time comes in the game and it will be do or die. You know the rules, but at some point, you have to take risks. I thought it was a good risk because the ball didn’t tail at all. Bre got a good read on the ball.”

Junior outfielder Bre Warren
In many diving catches…
“It’s difficult after not playing for more than a year. Because I’m comfortable, I feel more comfortable with my routine. It’s just instinct. If the ball comes more to me, I probably don’t have a pigeon, but I’m confident in my ability to get the ball.”

Junior Catcher Julia Cottrill
In his dinger off the scoreboard…
“It’s a sigh of relief. I think I’ve been making good contact with the ball the last few weeks. I just haven’t been getting the hits we need. That’s how softball is. Just being able to get out there and have a good amount of confidence pay off.”