Aggies Punch Ticket to Women’s College World Series with 5-3 Victory at Tennessee

Sunday, May 28

Knoxville, Tenn.

2:00 PM

Texas A&M

Tennessee

Photo by: Matt Osborne

May 28, 2017 | Softball

Box Score Box: A&M 5, Tennessee 3 Photos

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Texas A&M softball team punched its ticket to the Women's College World Series with a 5-3 victory at Tennessee Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The Aggies will make their eighth appearance at the WCWS and their first since going back-to-back in 2007 and 2008.

Tennessee (48-12) grabbed an early 3-0 after the first two innings. In the first, the Volunteers scored on a Brooke Vines single to left and plated two more on an Aubrey Leach sacrifice fly and a throwing error in the second.

The Aggies (47-11) responded with four runs in the third, highlighted by a Riley Sartain three-run homer. Kaitlyn Alderink reached on a fielding error and moved to second on a Tori Vidales single to right. After Kristen Cuyos was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Ashley Walters plated Alderink with a sacrifice fly. Sartain then blasted her 12^th dinger of the season with a no-doubter that hit off the light pole in left.

Texas A&M doubled its lead in the fifth as Tori Vidales led off the frame with a solo shot to left, her 17^th of the season.

Trinity Harrington earned the win throwing a six-hit complete game, giving up three runs, two earned and a strikeout. Matty Moss suffered the loss, giving up five runs, one earned with three walks in 4.0 innings of work.

Ticket information for the Women's College World Series is pending at this time and will be announced as soon as details are confirmed.

To learn more about Texas A&M softball, log on to 12thMan.com or follow @AggieSoftball on Twitter.

"You guys are the luckiest players in the world to play for Texas A&M University...don't ever forget this moment!" -@Coach_Jo_Evans #12thMan pic.twitter.com/tfe2Y0mFTL
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) May 28, 2017

??????@NCAAsoftball #12thMan #RoadToOKC pic.twitter.com/L6KbnxX7oC
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) May 28, 2017

"This has been my dream since I was a little girl." -Trinity Harrington on going to the #WCWS #12thMan pic.twitter.com/E5Cg8puVpN
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) May 28, 2017

Texas A&M Head Coach Jo Evans
(On Harrington's performance)
"I thought Trinity Harrington was terrific. She pitched yesterday, and I thought she did very well. We didn't get outs all the time when we could have for her. She seemed like our best matchup coming into today. She hasn't thrown two games in a row in a long time. She showed really great stamina, especially after going home to Colorado for a while. I thought she showed great composure and poise on the mound and gave us a chance to get outs. Early on when we couldn't get outs, she could have easily gotten frustrated and felt like she would have to strike people out because we weren't making plays. Instead, she stayed patient with us. She kept doing what she does. I'm proud of her because she showed a lot of heart, and I thought her team really stepped up."

(On being able to fight back in tight situations)
"This team plays really hard for each other. There is something about this team's chemistry. There is something special about the ball club. They go to war for each other. We've had a good year. We didn't take care of business in the Kentucky or Tennessee series. We could have let that define us, but we didn't. We have been really resilient. My message to the team after losing to Alabama in the first round of the SEC Tournament was all about confidence and swagger. I thought we were feeling bad about ourselves instead of recognizing what we had done the entire year to get the No. 9 seed. I'm very proud of this team. None of these kids have been in this situation. They hadn't even been to a Super Regional. For our team to calm themselves down and come out and win this, I am really proud of them."

Texas A&M Junior Infielder Tori Vidales
(On bringing in the go-ahead run)
"Mentally, I was just thinking about putting the barrel on the ball. A lot of times, you can go up being timid or thinking about past at-bats. I went in thinking about hitting the first strike and hitting it hard to where they couldn't get it. It worked out pretty well."

(On what advancing to the College World Series means for the program)
"This program was built by the ones who came before us. I don't think it was all us. There were players before us who paved the way to make this happen. The new stadium isn't because we did great one year; it's because this program has constantly had success. Players love to be here, and our culture is family. That's what we are all about. Everyone before us has left their legacy, and we are going to continue to do that ourselves. "

Texas A&M Sophomore Infielder Riley Sartain
(On fighting back from an early deficit)
"We knew this game would be a battle and grind. We knew they would score runs, so we were going to have to score more than them. This whole season, we've learned how to win in so many ways. I'm just happy we were able to come from behind to win."

(On hitting the go-ahead home run)
"It was great. In the first inning when I had the bases loaded with two outs, I wanted to be the player who would come through for my team. Unfortunately, I didn't, so I went into the dugout and told myself I would come through for my team if I got another opportunity like that. I'm happy I was put in that situation again with runners on base. I tried to get a good pitch to hit and drive it hard. I got that opportunity."