The season is about halfway over and Texas A&M softball is meeting, if not exceeding, expectations.
Aggies softball (31-5, 6-3) mercy-ruled teams 10 times this season and were the victims of the run rule once in a 4-12 loss to Florida. Three of the Aggies' other four losses were by one or two runs, including against Oklahoma State and Alabama.
But A&M has shown resilience this season, with just one loss leading to a losing streak. Their ability to win in close games against some of the nation's top teams explains why they are nationally ranked at No.4.
Last year, the Aggies won 30 of their first 37 games before losing to Texas in Game 3 of a College World Series Super Regional. Texas A&M is hitting in the depths of SEC play with a road series against Georgia followed by playing top-10 LSU at home.
With a month left of SEC action, here is how the Aggies were graded:
Starting pitchers: B+
The rotation of senior pitcher Emiley Kennedy and freshman Sydney Lessentine is shining for the Aggies. Kennedy (10-3) leads the pitching staff with 75 strikeouts, a 2.70 ERA and the lefty will sometimes bookend a series. Lessentine, a right-hander, has 55 strikeouts and an early-season no-hitter under her belt in a 12-0 win against George Washington.
Head coach Trisha Ford explained in a March 4 conference before the Florida series that Lessentine was going to be welcomed into the SEC. The belief that Ford has in Lessentine has paid off; she's racked up an 8-2 record while allowing 13 walks in 39⅔ innings.
Sophomore pitcher Sidne Peters has started six games, including against Alabama and Auburn. Peters struggled against Baylor in February, allowing seven hits in 1⅔ innings, and spent a few games away from the circle to improve. She returned as a stronger pitcher for the Aggies, lowering her ERA to 1.47.
Grace Sparks (7-1, 2.35 ERA) has also been strong over eight starts with two complete games.
