Texas A&M softball opens SEC play with a weekend series >what day< against the Florida Gators at Davis Diamond.
The Aggies (20-2) had a strong start to the season passing early tests against Baylor, Florida State and Texas Tech. The walk-off loss to Oklahoma State was the difference of one swing and the first loss to Tech was probably the Aggies’ worst showing so far because of four fielding errors.
A&M stays aggressive at the plate, getting a lot of production from the middle of the order from freshman hitters Frankie Vrazel (21 hits and slugging .458) and KK Dement (22 hits and slugging .726). First baseman Mya Perez leads the Aggies so far this season with 31 RBIs.
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Pitcher Emiley Kennedy had a difficult start against Texas Tech, but bounced back getting the save against Idaho State. Kennedy is not worried about the rough start.
“Just a bit of growing pains. It’s the beginning of the season. We don’t win championships in February… just trying to get out the bumps now,” Kennedy told reporters Tuesday.
SEC softball is deep this year, thanks to the addition of Big 12 softball powerhouse programs Oklahoma and Texas. It is also the first time a top-five matchup to take place at Davis Diamond.
More: Texas A&M softball: Aggies split games vs Texas Tech, dominate others before SEC play
Growing pains in the circle
Kennedy got the save for the Aggies against Idaho State, a clear sign of focus and resilience after her second loss of the season against Tech. The senior knows what she has to do to improve in the circle for the Aggies.
But A&M’s pitching staff may rely on a young arm in upcoming big games.
“(Sydney) Lessentine is no longer going to get some of those games, she is going to be welcomed into the SEC pretty soon,” head coach Trisha Ford said Tuesday.
The freshman pitcher is 4-0 for the Aggies with 42 strikeouts on the season and had an impressive no-hitter against George Washington. Ford knows Lessentine will have her ups-and-downs in the league, but she also believes the young pitcher has the skills to adjust.
She may be put to the test against Florida.
Be quick but don’t hurry
From overthrows to first base to dropping grounders that should’ve been easy outs, A&M’s fielding did not look sharp last weekend.
“You have to play with pace. You have to be quick, but it can’t be fast and there is a distinct difference to me,” Ford explained.
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Rushing to make the play cost A&M three runs in the first game against Texas Tech, which might have kept the game closer. To work on the fundamentals so mistakes are not exploited by a talented Florida team, practice this week “will be very, very intense.”
“Challenging ourselves to pay attention to the little things is gonna help us,” Ford said.
How do you prepare against Florida?
The No. 3 Gators (23-1) are one of the more dominant teams in the SEC, averaging nine runs per game and 16 games were cut short because of the mercy rule. Their biggest margin of victory was a 24-3 victory over Iowa State.
“You are gonna have to make quality pitches, a lot. You are gonna have to change speeds and make pitches in all four quadrants, which I think we haven’t done yet,” Ford said.
On the flip side, Texas A&M has an on-base percentage of .411 and does not typically swing at bad pitches. If the Aggies can keep the game close or simply get runners on base with selfless at bats, they have a chance to win.
Texas A&M and Florida first play at 7 p.m. Friday at Davis Diamond.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas A&M softball prepares for weekend series against Florida
