Liberty Upsets No. 1 Texas A&M in Historic NCAA Regional Final

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Liberty Flames stunned the No. 1 Texas A&M Aggies with a 6-5 victory on Sunday night to clinch the Bryan-College Station Regional. This loss marks a historic first, as Texas A&M became the first No. 1 national seed eliminated in NCAA regionals since the tournament’s seeding began in 2005.

Liberty, with a season record of 50-13, will move on to face No. 16 seed Oregon in the super regionals next weekend. The Flames showcased their resilience in a tightly contested match, with Savannah Jessee hitting a crucial two-run homer to equalize and Rachel Roupe launching her second home run of the game, solidifying Liberty’s lead.

A&M began the game strong, initially jumping to a 3-0 lead after the first three innings. Amari Harper ignited the offense with a single, while KK Dement followed with a powerful home run. The Aggies continued to build their lead thanks to a two-run single from Kennedy Powell in the eighth inning of their earlier match against Liberty, where they won 14-11 in extra innings, forcing a decisive Game 7.

Despite their early success, the Aggies could not fend off the Flames’ sixth-inning surge, where they scored five runs, turning the tide of the game. Head coach Trisha Ford praised Liberty’s unyielding effort. “They’re always scrappy,” Ford noted. “We also earned this loss,” acknowledging the power of Liberty’s performance.

The final moments saw Kaylan Yoder close out the game with a save, solidifying her and Liberty’s remarkable win. “I’m just trying to process everything,” said Roupe, reflecting on the game’s intensity and their historic achievement on ESPN2.

This victory not only advances Liberty but also signifies the end of Texas A&M’s season, leaving their seven senior players to reflect on a challenging yet extraordinary year.