Texas vs. Texas A&M in NCAA super regional softball: A preview and prediction

Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman

Top-seeded Texas will host 16th-seeded Texas A&M in a best-of-three series this weekend at McCombs Field, with the winner advancing to next week’s Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Texas leads the all-time series 24-22, including wins in both meetings at last season’s Austin Regional.

More: LISTEN: Texas softball's Teagan Kavan on Texas A&M; Texas baseball, end of LHN

About the Longhorns: No. 1 overall seed on a roll

Texas (50-7) earned the No. 1 overall seed for the first time in school history after closing out the regular season with 16 consecutive wins, and the Longhorns have won 21 of their past 22 games. … Pitcher Mac Morganthrew a no-hitter in a 5-0 win over Siena in the NCAA opener, and pitcher Teagan Kavangave up just one hit while striking out a career-high 12 in a 7-0 win over Northwestern on Sunday. … Catcher Reese Atwood paces the offense with single-season school records in home runs (22) and RBIs (88) but has lots of help in a lineup that’s hitting .383 and ranks second in the nation with 8.16 runs a game. Third baseman Mia Scott has 49 RBIs and a team-high 63 runs while freshmen Katie Stewart and Kayden Henry are each hitting at least .380 and have more than 100 total bases.

More: Texas softball will host Texas A&M in NCAA Tournament. When and where do they play?

Senior pitcher Emiley Kennedy licks her fingers before throwing a pitch against Alabama during their April 15 game in Tuscaloosa. Kennedy is the workhorse of Texas A&M's pitching staff.
Senior pitcher Emiley Kennedy licks her fingers before throwing a pitch against Alabama during their April 15 game in Tuscaloosa. Kennedy is the workhorse of Texas A&M's pitching staff.

About the Aggies: Pitcher Emiley Kennedy powers team

Texas A&M (43-13) leans heavily on Kennedy, a senior from The Woodlands who has thrown 187 innings this season. That's 79 more than Kavan, who leads Texas in innings pitched. Kennedy has carried the load with a 1.57 ERA and two shutout wins over Texas State at last week’s College Station Regional. … The Aggies like to run, especially when Koko Wooley gets on. The junior leads the team in hitting with a .389 average and has 19 steals in 21 attempts. … Texas A&M hosted a regional for the first time since 2018, and the Aggies are trying to qualify for the WCWS for the first time since 2017.

More: Why Texas softball is title ready with historic balance | Golden

Prediction

In what could be a tight series, Texas coach Mike White has a lot more options in the bullpen than A&M's Trisha Ford does. If Kennedy runs into some bumps, the Aggies will be in trouble. Texas wins the series 2-0.

Emiley Kennedy has a 1.57 ERA and pitched two shutouts to beat Texas State at last week’s College Station Regional.
Emiley Kennedy has a 1.57 ERA and pitched two shutouts to beat Texas State at last week’s College Station Regional.

Austin Super Regional schedule

No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 Texas A&M, McCombs Field in Austin

Game 1: Friday, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game 2: Saturday, 4 p.m.

Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, TBA

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Longhorns vs. Aggies: Who has edge in NCAA super regional softball?

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