Liberty vs. Texas A&M softball highlights: Flames eliminate No. 1 seed in NCAA regionals
Editor's note: As the NCAA softball tournament moves on to the super regionals, here are the winners and losers of the regional weekend of action.
Texas A&M's time as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA softball tournament was short-lived.
After forcing the "if necessary" winner-take-all Game 7 of the Bryan-College Station Regional on Sunday, the Aggies were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament field late Sunday night by Liberty.
With their 6-5 Bryan-College Station regional clinching win over Texas A&M, Liberty unlocked a few pieces of program history, but perhaps none bigger was becoming the first team to knock off the national No. 1 seed in the history of the NCAA softball tournament.
"I'm just trying to process everything," Liberty right fielder Rachel Roupe said about the Lady Flames' historic win on ESPN2 after the game. " ... Weight lifted off your shoulder. We were battling all day long. It took us, I don't know, many hours? Eight hours? Whatever we needed to do to get it done, we did it."
The win over the Aggies also marked the first time in program history that the Lady Flames advanced to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament.
Roupe and a five-run sixth inning served to be the difference makers for Liberty in Sunday night's Game 7, after the Lady Flames trailed Texas A&M 3-1 going into that inning. In both of Sunday's games, Roupe finished a combined 4-for-9 at the plate with nine RBIs a three home runs, two of which came in Liberty's regional clinching win.
Koko Wooley and Amari Harper finished with six of the Aggies' 12 hits in the second game on Sunday. Coming out of the loser's side of the Bryan-College Station Regional bracket, Texas A&M entered the day needing two wins against Liberty to advance to the Super Regionals. The Aggies were only able to get one of those, a 14-11 extra-inning win to start the day.
The Lady Flames will now await to learn who they will face in the Super Regionals, as No. 16 seed Oregon and Stanford were still competing in the Eugene Regional at the time of this writing.
Paste BN Sports provided live updates and highlights from both of Sunday's NCAA softball tournament games between Texas A&M and Liberty. Follow along here for a recap of both games:
Texas A&M vs Liberty softball Game 2 live score
This section will be updated
| Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | F |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Texas A&M | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
Texas A&M vs Liberty softball Game 2 updates
This section has been updated with new information
Liberty defeats Texas A&M
A 5-run sixth inning helps Liberty defeat Texas A&M 6-5 to claim the Bryan-College Station Regional and pull off the upset over the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA softball.
The Aggies had the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the seventh inning, but couldn't bring them around as Kramer Eschete struck out swinging for the third out of the inning. A historic win for Liberty, as they will now advance to the Super Regionals for the first time in program history.
Emily Leavitt throws scoreless seventh
Emily Leavitt does her job in the circle and tosses a clean 1-2-3 top of the seventh inning. It's on to the bottom half of the inning where Texas A&M looks to either tie the game at 6-6 or walk it off.
Texas A&M sixth inning rally ends
The Aggies leave runners on the corners as their rally in the sixth inning comes to a close on a fly ball to left field from Mya Perez. Texas A&M scores two runs in the inning on RBIs from Allie Enright and Koko Wooley.
It's onto the seventh inning with Liberty leading 6-5.
Texas A&M tacks on run
Koko Wooley slaps one over to the left side of the diamond and Liberty shortstop JaMaya Byrum decides not to throw it. As a result of Byrum's decision not to throw the ball to first, Kramer Eschete is able to come across home plate to make it a 6-5 game.
What a thriller in College Station between Texas A&M and Liberty, as a trip to the Super Regionals is on the line.
Liberty makes pitching change
A single under the glove at third and into left field will do it for Liberty starting pitcher Elena Escobar, as Kaylan Yoder comes out of the bullpen.
Texas A&M has runners on first and second in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out. A big moment coming up here for the Aggies as the lineup turns over to Kennedy Powell.
Texas A&M responds with home run
How about this for a response? Allie Enright hits one over the centerfield fence for a one-out, solo home run to bring Texas A&M within two of Liberty at 6-4.
Liberty takes lead with 3-run home run
Rachel Roupe, have yourself a game!
The Flames' right fielder lifts one to deep left field for a 3-run home run, her second of the game, to put Liberty out in front 6-3 in the top of the sixth inning. All of Liberty's five runs in the sixth inning have come with two outs.
Roupe is now 3-for-4 on the night with four RBIs, two runs scored and two home runs.
Liberty ties game with 2-run home run
Liberty is not going down easily — literally.
Savannah Jessee sends one into the night off Texas A&M pitcher Emiley Kennedy for a two-run home run to tie the game at 3-3. It's the fifth home run Liberty has hit off of Kennedy in the Bryan-College Station Regional.
Texas A&M leads through five innings
The Aggies miss out on a prime opportunity to extend their lead further, as they leave two runners in scoring position stranded as Amari Harper flies out to left field for the final out of the fifth.
It's onto the sixth inning in College Station, where Texas A&M leads Liberty 3-1.
Liberty gets on the board
You can't say enough about the day Rachel Roupe is having. She homers off the scoreboard to left to make it a 3-1 game, just as it looked like Lessentine was settling into cruise control. Emiley Kennedy comes out for TAMU after another Flames single, looking to bounce back from a disastrous start in the first game.
Liberty still scoreless
A brief lull here in the top of the fourth, as Liberty goes down quietly. Texas A&M will come back up looking to extend its lead.
Liberty gets out of the inning
Escobar settles down and gets Dement swinging to end the inning. The Flames head to the fourth inning with some work to do.
Texas A&M capitalizes on won challenge
Texas A&M wastes no time capitalizing on the challenge, and the lead is up to three after a single to right. The broadcast is talking about how frustrated Liberty must be over the obstruction call, but now the Flames need to get this last out of the inning and move forward.
Texas A&M wins challenge for obstruction
Texas A&M wins its second challenge of the night, this time for obstruction at third base as Koko Wooley was sliding into the base on a single up the middle from Mac Barbara. Wooley was called out at home prior to the challenge as she attempted to go home on the play as the ball got away from Liberty third baseman Rachel Craine.
A huge momentum shift in College Station.
KK Dement hits 2-run home run
Send off the bubbles! KK Dement takes the elevated pitch from Elena Escobar 240 feet to straight away center for a 2-run home run.
Texas A&M now leads Liberty 2-0 in the bottom of the second. It's the second home run of the day for Dement, as the Aggies' rookie second baseman also had a home run in Game 1 of the day.
Texas A&M gets out of bases loaded jam
Sydney Lessentine works herself out of a bases loaded jam by getting Liberty shortstop Savanah Whatley to roll one over to second base and KK Dement for the third out of the inning.
A huge two-out by Lessentine to close the top of the second inning for the Aggies, while it is another big moment uncapitalized by the Flames.
Texas A&M loses challenge at first
The Aggies lost a challenge at first base after Liberty centerfield KK Madrey was called safe after avoiding the tag by Texas A&M first baseman Amari Harper on a short dribbler up the baseline.
It looked initially as if Madrey was, in fact, tagged out by Harper, but the first base umpire said otherwise.
Texas A&M-Liberty softball scoreless after one
Texas A&M leaves a runner in scoring position as Mac Barbara grounds over to first for the third out of the bottom of the first inning.
The Aggies were 9-for-22 with runners in scoring position (RISP) in Game 1 of the Bryan-College Station Regional championship.
Sydney Lessentine throws scoreless first
Sydney Lessentine makes an early statement in the circle with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, with two of the three outs coming by the way of the strikeout.
Texas A&M heads to the plate for the first time in Game 7 of the Bryan-College Station Regional coming up.
Sydney Lessentine gets start for Texas A&M
After getting the final four outs of Game 1, Sydney Lessentine gets the nod for Texas A&M vs. Liberty in the final game of the Bryan-College Station Regional.
Here's the lineup for both teams:
Texas A&M-Liberty first pitch
The Aggies announced on their official X (formerly Twitter account) that the "if necessary" game vs. Liberty will start at 8:10 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Texas A&M vs Liberty softball Game 1 score
This section will be updated throughout the game
| Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | F |
| Texas A&M | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| Liberty | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 11 |
Texas A&M vs Liberty softball Game 1 updates
This section has been updated with new information
Texas A&M defeats Liberty, forces Game 7
There will be a Game 7 played in the Bryan-College Station Regional, as Texas A&M uses a three-run top of the eighth to defeat Liberty 14-11.
The Aggies had an 11-7 lead going into the seventh, but the Flames plated four runs in the inning to force extra innings. Koko Wooley and Kennedy Powell were credited with the three eventual game-winning RBIs for Texas A&M in extras.
Texas A&M adds on in extras
Koko Wooley follows up Kennedy Powell's RBI single with an RBI infield single to second herself, as Texas A&M now leads Liberty 14-11 in the top of the eighth.
What a response from the Aggies after they lost a four-run lead in the bottom of the seventh.
Texas A&M responds back in extras
Texas A&M's two-out rally continues, as Kennedy Powell gets one through the infield to score Kramer Eschete and Allie Enright. The Aggies take a 13-11 lead in the top of the eighth.
Texas A&M loads bases in eighth
Kelsey Mathis singles into left field to load the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth for Texas A&M. Three straight Aggies hitters have reached base after Liberty's Paige Bachman got two quick outs to start extras.
Kennedy Powell coming up to the plate for Texas A&M.
Texas A&M-Liberty heading to extras
A four-run bottom of the seventh inning by Liberty sends this regional championship game into extra innings. Sydney Lessentine got KK Madrey to fly out to left for the third out to end Liberty's rally.
The Flames scored all four of their runs in the seventh with one or two outs in the inning.
Liberty ties the game
A wild bottom of the seventh continues for Liberty as Alyssa Henault is hit on a 3-0 pitch, which allows Savanah Whatley to score from third and tie the game at 11-11.
Four unanswered runs in the inning for the Flames. Sydney Lessentine comes into pitch for Texas A&M looking to send this game into extra innings, as she will face the bases loaded with two outs.
Liberty continues rally
Kate Munnerlyn nearly comes away with the play of the game, as Rachel Roupe lines one straight up the middle but the Texas A&M pitcher can't hold onto it. KK Dement's throw to first on the deflection is not in time to get Roupe, allowing Aubrey Norris to score.
Liberty now trails Texas A&M 11-10 in the bottom of the seventh with two outs.
Liberty gets within two
Savanah Whatley singles one up the middle to continue Liberty's rally in the bottom of the seventh for an RBI single, plating Lilly Heidorn from third.
Liberty now has runners on first and second with one out in the seventh. The winning run now comes up to the plate for the Flames.
Liberty plates run in seventh inning
Alexia Carrasquillo drills one into the gap of left center to score Paige Doeer, making it a 11-8 Texas A&M lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Flames aren't going out without a fight. The tying run is coming up to the plate now.
Texas A&M adds insurance run
Mya Perez wins a lengthy battle with Liberty pitcher Paige Bachman by singling one up the middle for a one-out, RBI double. Koko Wooley scores on Perez's RBI single, her third RBI of the afternoon.
Texas A&M gets out of jam
After giving up a two-out RBI double to Brynn McManus, Kate Munnerlyn answers back with a strikeout to get out of a two-out jam with runners on third and second.
Texas A&M heads into the seventh inning leading Liberty 10-7 and three outs away from forcing a Game 7 of the Bryan-College Station Regional.
Liberty responds with run in sixth
Just like that, Liberty is right back in the game, as Brynn McManus hits a two-out, RBI double over the head of Texas A&M left fielder Eschete Kramer to score Savanah Whatley from second.
Tying run is coming up to the plate for Liberty.
Liberty turns double play to get out of inning
Liberty pitcher Paige Bauchman gets herself out of the fifth inning thanks to some defense, as Texas A&M's Mac Barbara lines out into a rare 9-3 double play to end the inning. Mya Perez was doubled up at first on the play, as she didn't get back to the base in time before Rachel Roupe's throw from right field.
Texas A&M extends lead with 3-run fifth inning
Texas A&M's offense isn't slowing down, as the Aggies plate three more runs in the top of the fifth inning to extend their lead over Liberty to 10-6.
The first run of the inning for Texas A&M came on a base-loaded walk, which was immediately followed by an RBI single up the middle from third baseman Kennedy Powell. The third run of the inning came on a bang-bang play at home plate, as the home plate umpire called Mya Perez safe at home on a fielder's choice.
It's now 10 unanswered runs for Texas A&M dating back to the third inning.
Mac Barbara gives Texas A&M lead
Send off the bubbles! With one swing of the bat, Mac Barbara erases an original six-run deficit for Texas A&M with a solo home run to left field. Aggies take a 7-6 lead in the fourth inning.It’s the second straight game Barbara and Mya Perez have gone back-to-back with home runs.
Texas A&M ties game
It's a hitting party in College Station!
Mya Perez unloads a three-run home run to straight away centerfield to tie the game at 6-6 against Liberty in the fourth inning. Perez's home run is her 16th of the season, and the fourth run of the inning for the Aggies.
Rachel Roupe hits grand slam to extend Liberty's lead
Rachel Roupe makes a statement in the second inning with a grand slam, which extended the Flames then lead to 6-0.
Has there ever been a No. 1 seed to not make it out of the NCAA softball tournament regionals?
No, there has not been a No. 1 seed in the history of the NCAA softball tournament that has not made it past the opening weekend. If Texas A&M is eliminated Sunday by Liberty, the Aggies would be on the wrong side of history among teams that have garnered the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
What channel is Texas A&M vs Liberty softball on?
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
ESPN2 is nationally broadcasting Sunday's Bryan-College Station Regional championship game between Texas A&M and Liberty. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login), ESPN+, ESPN's subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.