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Replay: No. 1 Texas softball falls to Texas A&M in first game of NCAA Tournament Super Regional

Texas infielder Alyssa Washington and the top-seeded Longhorns face off against No. 16 Texas A&M in the first game of a best-of-three series Friday at McCombs Field.
Texas infielder Alyssa Washington and the top-seeded Longhorns face off against No. 16 Texas A&M in the first game of a best-of-three series Friday at McCombs Field.

Texas A&M survived a wild opening to a Super Regional series against Texas, winning 6-5 in the first game of a best-of-three series. Aggie starter Emiley Kennedy earned the complete-game win. Texas A&M (44-13) will try and eliminate the top-seeded Longhorns (50-8) tomorrow at 4 p.m. at McCombs Field.

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

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Final: Texas A&M 6, Texas 5

Texas A&M starter Emiley Kennedy earns the compete-game win despite a solo homer from Reese Atwood. The teams meet again tomorrow at 4 p.m., with Texas needing a win to fend off elimination.

Middle 7: Texas A&M 6, Texas 4

How valuable is Joley Mitchell for Texas? She comes in at third base with Mia Scott now in center and helps turn a needed double-play. The Ags had runners on first and second with no outs but can't add to their lead. Now, it's up the Texas offense against Texas A&M starter Emiley Kennedy.

End 6: Texas A&M 6, Texas 4

We just knew this game had some drama inside, right? The Longhorns get back into the game after a grand slam from freshman pinch hitter Vic Hunter, and this seventh inning should be something. Can Texas pitcher Mac Morgan get through the Aggie lineup without any damage, and can Texas A&M starter Emiley Kennedy survive the heart of the Texas lineup - Mia Scott, Vivi Martinez and Reese Atwood - in the bottom of the seventh?

Bottom 6: Texas A&M 6, Texas 4

Holy cow! Freshman Vic Hunter comes on to pinch-hit for Kayden Henry and sends the first pitch she sees over the centerfield wall for a grand slam! A little dust-up between Texas assistant Steve Singleton and his Aggie counterpart, Russ Heffley, between innings led to an ejection for Singleton and it got the Texas crowd fired up, especially after Vivi Martinez and Reese Atwood drew back-to-back walks to lead off the inning. The crowd is in a frenzy now.

Middle 6: Texas A&M 6, Texas 0

The Aggies add some insurance against Texas pitcher Mac Morgan with an RBI double from Kramer Eschete, the No. 9 hitter. But this game now depends on the Longhorn bats to find any kind of groove against Aggie starter Emiley Kennedy. And there's a good chance Texas will face Kennedy in game two tomorrow, so some confident at-bats now could pay dividends later even if Texas drops this first game of the best-of-three series.

End 5: Texas A&M 5, Texas 0

Texas just cannot figure out Aggie ace Emiley Kennedy, who pitches another scoreless inning. The Longhorns, who rank second in the nation with 8.16 runs a game, have only been shut out twice this season, both against Oklahoma State star Lexi Kilfoyl. They have two hits so far today.

Middle 5: Texas A&M 5, Texas 0

Oh, my, Texas A&M banger Trinity Cannon is having a day. The big first baseman sends a towering shot over the centerfield wall and the Aggies are celebrating in the dugout. It's the second homer of the day for Cannon, who had a three-run shot of Citlaly Gutierrez in the first inning and has now tagged Mac Morgan.

End 4: Texas A&M 3, Texas 0

Texas slugger Reese Atwood drew a one-out walk, but Aggie starter Emiley Kennedy shrugs it off and gets two outs to escape the inning. Kennedy has allowed two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Middle 4: Texas A&M 3, Texas 0

We've got a pitcher's duel developing between Texas' Mac Morgan and Texas A&M's Emiley Kennedy, who have given up a combined three hits. The problem for Texas is that the Aggies had five hits and three runs against Horns starter Citlaly Gutierrez in the opening frame. Can Texas start to chip away at that deficit? There's a dozen outs to do just that.

End 3: Texas A&M 3, Texas 0

No runs, no hits, no one left on base. That's a refrain the Longhorn fans don't want to hear against Texas A&M starter Emiley Kennedy, but that's what happened. Kennedy is getting lots of support from shortstop Koko Wooley and second baseman Rylen Wiggins, too. Each has made a brilliant play to keep a Longhorn off the bag.

Middle 3: Texas A&M 3, Texas 0

Mac Morgan has given up just one hit in the six batters she's faced since coming in for Texas starter Citlaly Gutierrez and looks very comfortable in the circle. Now, can Texas again make Aggie starter Emiley Kennedy uncomfortable? The Horns had some hard-hit balls in the second but couldn't cross home plate. .

End 2: Texas A&M 3, Texas 0

Texas hammered two hits and loaded the bags with one out, but Texas A&M starter Emiley Kennedy survived the frame unscathed. Kennedy gets Bella Dayton swinging to end the inning.

Middle 2: Texas A&M 3, Texas 0

Mac Morgan, who relieved Texas starter Citlaly Gutierrez one out into the second, makes quick work of the Aggies with a pair of groundouts. The Longhorns will now try and get their first hit off Aggie starter Emiley Kennedy.

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

Top 2: Texas A&M 3, Texas 0

The struggles continue for Texas starter Citlaly Gutierrez, who can't cool off these Aggie bats and is leaving the game with the top of the Aggie order coming up with one out. Mac Morgan is warming up, and she's coming off a no-hitter against Siena in Texas' NCAA Tournament opener last week. The book on Gutierrez is a short read; 1 1/3 innings, five hits, three runs and no walks or strikeouts.

End 1: Texas A&M 3, Texas 0

No problem for Texas A&M starter Emiley Kennedy, who retires the first three Longhorn batters with two softball infield outs and a strikeout. Citlaly Gutierrez trots back out onto the field for Texas after allowing four hits and three runs in the first frame.

More: Texas softball will get a taste of its SEC future against Texas A&M in NCAA super regional

Middle 1: Texas A&M 3, Texas 0

Texas A&M strikes first against Texas starter Citlaly Gutierrez with three hits and four runs. The rowdy Aggie faithful that are filling the stands down the right-field line are feeling pretty comfortable, considering Texas A&M starter Emiley Kennedy has a 23-10 record and a 1.57 ERA. She has allowed more than three runs five times this season, though.

Top 1: Texas A&M 3, Texas 0

A rough start for Texas pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez. Kennedy Powell and Koko Wooley lead off the game with back-to-back hits, and Trinity Cannon clears the bags with a 3-run homer over the left-field wall. All of this after an inning-ending tripe play is (correctly) overturned by replay. Mac MOrgan is warming up in the bullpen, but Gutierrez stays in the circle.

Citlaly Gutierrez will get the start vs. Emiley Kennedy

No surprise for the Aggies, who will start ace Emiley Kennedy against the potent Texas lineup. Longhorns coach Mike White will counter with sophomore Citlaly Gutierrez, who has an 11-1 record and a 1.58 record. The 6-foot Gutierrez also has 59 strikeouts with 16 walks in 88.2 innings. In her last start, Gutierrez gave up four hits and two runs across four innings in Texas' 14-2 win over Northwestern in last week's Austin Regionals.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Replay: No. 1 Texas softball falls to Texas A&M in Game 1 of Super Regionals