Liberty Upsets Texas A&M, First No. 1 Seed Eliminated in Regionals

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Liberty University’s softball team made history Sunday night by eliminating top-seeded Texas A&M, winning 6-5 in a thrilling regional final.

This loss marks the first time since the NCAA tournament’s seeding began in 2005 that a No. 1 national seed has failed to advance beyond the regionals.

Rachel Roupe starred for Liberty, hitting two home runs, while Savannah Jessee contributed with a two-run shot. The Flames improved their record to 50-13 and will advance to face No. 16 seed Oregon in the super regionals next weekend.

The game was intense, featuring a major swing in momentum. Texas A&M initially led 3-0 after three innings, but the Flames found their rhythm. In the sixth inning, Liberty scored five runs, with Jessee’s home run being a turning point that tied the game at 3-3.

After JaMaya Byrum drew a walk and Savannah Woodard hit a single, Roupe launched a homer off the scoreboard, giving Liberty a 6-3 advantage. Despite the Aggies’ attempts to rally back, with a late run from Koko Wooley to close the gap to 6-5, Yoder secured the win with a strikeout.

A&M’s head coach, Trisha Ford, praised Liberty for their resilience. “I think Liberty did a heck of a job. They’re always scrappy. These kids work their tails off all year,” she said. “They earned everything that was given to them, and we also earned this loss.”

The Aggies had previously defeated Liberty 14-11 in a wild game earlier on Sunday, forcing the decisive matchup. In that game, a grand slam from Roupe helped the Flames rally, but A&M responded strongly with home runs to take control.

The loss is particularly stinging for Texas A&M, as they had high hopes for the postseason after a strong season and being the top overall seed. The emotional day saw seven seniors potentially play their last games for the Aggies, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and determination.

Amari Harper, a junior on the team, emphasized the importance of carrying the lessons learned into next season. “We just have to take that momentum going into this next year and keep them fired up,” she said.

The Aggies will have to regroup as they look towards the future and rebuild from this surprising end to their season.