As the rain started to come down in Sherrie Parker Lee Stadium, things started to unravel for the Tennessee softball team.
Heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Vols had a 4-1 lead and were looking strong in the batter’s box and on the mound.
However, Texas A&M countered with a four-run fifth inning that gave them the lead, and eventually the win as the Vols lost game two of their Super Regional series to the Aggies 6-5.
In the first inning, Meghan Gregg launched a missile over the center field wall that even cleared the bleachers.
The Aggies started to adjust their plans after that at-bat, walking Gregg her last three at-bats.
“It’s respect so that’s cool,” Gregg said. “I have complete faith in Brooke (Vines) and everyone behind me.”
This plan was mainly effective because two of the three times Gregg came up, there were runners in scoring position.
“We have the utmost respect for her,” Aggies head coach JD Evans said. “We just felt like it wasn’t in our best interest.”
In the sixth, the Vols rallied back to get a run, but had an opportunity to get more.
The Aggies walked Meghan Gregg to load the bases with one out, but the Vols failed to add more runs.
“What hurt is that we had a lot of runners up there with 3-4-5 up and we didn’t get anything done,” co-head coach Ralph Weekly said.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Aggies re-took the lead.
On the mound, the Vols pitchers weren’t at their best.
After two runners reached in the second inning for the Aggies, Matty Moss replaced Caylan Arnold and ended the inning.
Moss started off dominant. In the third and fourth innings, she allowed two walks but the Aggies couldn’t hit her until the fifth inning.
The Aggies got five hits off of Moss in a four-run fifth inning, however. Moss had only allowed one run in her previous 22 innings of work.
“It’s surprising when Matty Moss has a breakdown like that because she’s a very good pitcher, but she’s human like everyone else,” Weekly said.
With the series now tied 1-1, Sunday’s game will decide which team plays in the College World Series.
For the Vols to get to Oklahoma, they’ll have to go through Aggies left-handed pitcher Payton McBride.
McBride has given Tennessee fits so far, and they have yet to score a run off of her in 5.2 innings.
“She’s gives you a different look,” outfielder Aubrey Leach said. “We have to adjust a little faster to her.”
Sunday’s rubber match will start at 3 p.m.
