News Summary
Emiley Kennedy, a standout pitcher from Texas A&M, was drafted as the seventh overall pick in the AUSL College Draft, marking a significant milestone in her softball career. With an impressive record and numerous accolades, Kennedy’s selection highlights her exceptional talent. As she prepares for professional play, Kennedy aims to lead her team in a strong postseason run after narrowly missing the Women’s College World Series the previous year.
College Station, Texas – Emiley Kennedy, a standout pitcher for Texas A&M, was selected as the seventh overall pick in the second round of the inaugural AUSL College Draft. The draft is set to kick off a new professional opportunity for Kennedy and represents a significant milestone in her career in softball.
During the 2025 season, Kennedy achieved an impressive record of 19 wins against just 4 losses, while maintaining a 2.57 ERA over 138.2 innings pitched. Out of her 20 starts this season, she recorded 16 complete games and struck out a remarkable 132 batters. This strong performance has contributed to her overall collegiate record of 68 wins, 31 losses, with 601.0 innings pitched and 551 strikeouts. Furthermore, she ranks eighth in Texas A&M history for career strikeouts, highlighting her exceptional talent on the mound.
In addition to her individual achievements, Kennedy’s junior season was particularly noteworthy. She earned the NFCA All-America Second Team honors, making history as the first left-handed pitcher to receive All-American recognition in over 41 years. During that season, she delivered ten shutouts and registered 24 complete games, placing her among the top performers nationwide.
In her junior season, Kennedy ranked in the top 20 nationally for wins (24), strikeouts (200), and innings pitched (202.2). She became the first Aggie pitcher in 13 seasons to achieve double-digit shutouts and the first in 11 years to record at least 200 strikeouts in a single season. In SEC play, she established program records for innings pitched (100.1) and strikeouts (86), and she led the league in innings pitched while ranking second in wins and third in saves.
The AUSL, where Kennedy will begin her professional career, features a four-team summer league format with 15 players on each team. Each of the teams will compete in a total of 24 games throughout the summer. The league is set to commence on June 7, 2025, and Kennedy’s new team, the Bandits, will launch their season on July 9 against the Blaze in Rosemont, Illinois.
Following the start of the season, Kennedy will travel to Texas to play her first professional games from July 17-20, matching up against the Volts at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas. She is only the second Aggie to join the AUSL, following the Olympian Tori Vidales, another former Texas A&M standout.
Capping off her collegiate achievements, Kennedy was recently presented with a “golden ticket” to play professionally, an accolade given by fellow Aggie Amanda Scarborough, whose own career strikeout total Kennedy has now surpassed. The moment of being drafted was described by Kennedy as surreal, particularly as her family was present to celebrate the occasion.
As she embarks on this new chapter in her career, Kennedy remains focused on concluding her collegiate journey with a strong postseason run. Having narrowly missed qualifying for the Women’s College World Series the previous year, she aims to lead her team back towards that prestigious tournament.
Texas A&M head coach Trisha Ford expressed pride in Kennedy’s growth over the years, acknowledging her hard work and dedication that have led to this successful moment in her career. Kennedy’s selection in the AUSL draft marks not only a personal victory but also a proud moment for Texas A&M and its softball program.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- TexAgs
- Wikipedia: Emiley Kennedy
- 12th Man Sports
- Google Search: SEC Tournament Texas A&M Softball
- UT Sports
- Google Scholar: Tennessee vs Texas A&M Softball
- Vols Wire
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas A&M vs Tennessee Softball
- Yardbarker
- Google News: Texas A&M Softball vs Tennessee
Author: STAFF HERE COLLEGE WRITER
The COLLEGE STATION STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECollegeStation.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in College Station, Brazos County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo, Chilifest, and Aggie Muster. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Brazos Valley, plus leading businesses in education, biotechnology, and retail that power the local economy such as Texas A&M University, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and H-E-B. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
