UK Softball wins first series since March, defeat Texas A&M Aggies 2-1 in extra innings

#17 Kentucky (34-12, 9-11) gets its first series win since March, taking the first two games against Texas A&M (31-16, 8-12) in College Station, winning game two by a final score of 2-1 in extra innings. After a blowout in game one, the second game was much closer, with both teams tied at one run by the end of the 7^th.

Extra innings were needed, with the Wildcats taking the lead at the top of the 8^th. First freshman Erin Coffel got on base, then an RBI was driven in by senior Autumn Humes. Both Coffel and Humes finished the game 1-3 with a double. Tatum Spangler went 1-4 in her plate appearances, helping score the first run of the game with a triple and the RBI, while Mallory Peyton went 1-1, being walked twice.

TATUM!!!

A two-out triple into right center breaks the tie and it's 1-0, Kentucky as Kowalik scores!!!

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— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) May 1, 2021

Autumn Humes was also dominant on the mound, getting her second win in College Station. Coming in relief for starter Grace Baalman, who pitched 6.1 innings, giving up eight hits with a 1.11 ERA, Humes is now 16-6 on the season. She finished the game out pitching 1.2 innings, striking out three batters, while allowing only one hit.

Humes gets back-to-back K's to end the seventh, and we'll play on at Davis Diamond!

End of 7 – Tied at 1

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— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) May 1, 2021

For the Aggies, Haley Lee tied the game at the bottom of the 7^th with a home run, her only hit in four plate appearances. Bre Warren and Makinzy Herzog were the only ones recording two hits, with Warren hitting for a double as well. Second baseman Mariana Torres went 1-2 with a double as well.

HALEY LEE DOING HALEY LEE THINGS!!!@haley45lee with her 22nd 💣 of the season.

We are tied 1-1.

Get tuned in to this one @SECNetwork+.#SurfsUp #GigEm pic.twitter.com/42LWQrSWbY

— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) May 1, 2021

Aggies’ starter Kayla Poynter almost pitched a complete game but was pulled at the top of the 8^th after giving up the RBI and the 2-1 lead to Humes and the Wildcats. She ended the game with three strikeouts and six hits, finishing with a 0.95 ERA in 7.1 innings pitched. Relief pitcher Grace Uribe got two quick groundouts, but Humes handled the three Aggies batters to secure the series victory.

FINAL/8 – Kentucky 2, Texas A&M 1

Gutty win on the road to clinch the series!! We'll go for the sweep Sunday at 1 p.m. ET!!#WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/ULNhEfYUWX

— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) May 1, 2021

Kentucky now looks towards a series sweep, with the third and final game set to air on ESPN+ and the first pitch scheduled for 1 P.M. EST. The Wildcats have one more series left, facing the South Carolina Gamecocks at home before heading to Tuscaloosa for the SEC Tournament.