Kennedy, No. 6 Texas A&M blank No. 3 Tennessee in series opener
Karlyn Pickens and Emiley Kennedy brought their best in Thursday’s series opener. Although defense was the difference in No. 6 Texas A&M’s 1-0 win over No. 3 Tennessee.
Kennedy Powell hit a dribbler that Tennessee third baseman Taylor Pannell didn’t field cleanly, allowing the A&M leadoff to reach with two outs in the seventh. Koko Wooley cashed in on the mistake. She lined a double into the left-center gap, the speedy Powell came in to score the unearned run.
That’s all Kennedy needed. The All-American tossed her second straight complete game shutout. She allowed one hit and struck out 10, including setting down Pannell and Kinsey Fielder to end the game with the tying run on second base.
Kennedy didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. Saviya Morgan hit a hot shot to third base that Powell couldn’t handle. The issue for Kennedy was the free passes, which followed her for most of the season. She surrendered nine free passes but her defense picked her up.
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The Lady Vols had two on and one out in the fourth. Kennedy got Laura Mealer to ground a ball to Amari Harper, who turned a great inning-ending double play. The Aggie defense did it again in the fifth. Fielder tried laying down a bunt after a leadoff walk, but Texas A&M got the out at first and got Ella Dodge trying to get to third to wipe off the walk.
Pickens allowed a pair of singles early but Mac Barbara simply won the race to first on a slow roller to the right side of the infield and KK Dement dropped a perfect bunt. Mya Perez lifted a ball to center in the fifth inning that Fielder got a glove on but couldn’t catch it. After review, it was still ruled a double despite a question about how the ball bounced back into play. Pickens retired Barbara to end the threat.
The Aggies will seek the series win on Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET. Expect a bullpen game from both teams.
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