In front of 7,664 rowdy fans, Texas A&M took advantage of seven walks, three of which occurred during the 6th inning and a couple of miscues defensively to win game one of the series. The Horns made a late run in the Top 9th but came up short as the drop the series opener for the 4th series out of 5 this season.
Texas A&M (26-7, 8-5 SEC): 9
Texas Longhorns (27-6, 9-4 SEC): 8
Box Score
Winning Pitcher: Ethan Darden (3-0
Save: Clayton Freshcorn (7)
Losing Pitcher:Â Haiden Leffew (2-1)
Key Moments:
In the Bottom 8th, with two outs and a runner on 2B, a high chopper was hit to the left side that forced Casey Borba to rush a throw to 1B. Unfortunately, that throw got away from Larson allowing the runner on 2B to spring home and score, putting the Aggies up by three runs, 9-6. That run would prove extremely costly in the end and would be the game winner.
Recap:
After a pair of scoreless innings to start the game, the Horns pushed across the first run in the Top 3rd as Texas was able to load the bases with one out, allowing freshman LF Anthony Pack Jr to hit a sac fly to RF, giving Texas the early 1-0 lead.
In the Bottom 3rd, Texas A&M answered right back to take the lead. Leading things off, the 9 hole hitter for A&M hit what should have been a routine fly ball to RF. Unfortunately, Texas RF Jayden Duplantier lost the ball in the twilight and it dropped in for a lead off triple. The next batter then hit a hard line drive to left CF for an RBI double to level the game at 1-1. A passed ball then advanced the runner from 2B to 3B which proved costly as the next batter hit a chopper to the hole at 2B, allowing the runner at 3B to score giving A&M the 2-1 lead.
In the Top 4th, Texas tied the game up at 2-2 as DH Josh Livingston hit a hard ground ball down the 1B line and into the RF corner for a 2 out RBI double, playing Jayden Duplantier who had reached on a fielder’s choice.
In the Bottom 4th, Texas A&M again answered back as freshman sensation Nico Partida hammered a splitter that was left up by Ruger Riojas into LF and over the wall for a home run, giving A&M the 3-2 lead.
In the Top 5th, it was the Horns turn to answer as Carson Tinney drew a lead off walk and then Aiden Robbins went opposite field big fly for a two run home run into the Texas bullpen to give Texas the 4-3 lead. After Anthony Pack Jr was hit by a pitch, A&M was forced to go to the bullpen. Texas was not able to take advantage of that though and could not push any further runs across.
In the Bottom 5th, A&M answered right back as Gavin Grahovac hit a one out hard liner into LF that should have been a double, but with Pack shifted over defensively, he was able to turn it into a triple. Once again, Grahovac was able to score as the next batter hit a grounder again to 2B to tie the game 4-4.
In the Top 6th, Texas took the lead right back. Jayden Duplantier led off with an infield single to the shortstop and then advanced to 2B on a sac bunt by pinch hitter Presley Courville. After Ethan Mendoza grounded out to 1B, Carson Tinney stepped to the plate having been walked three times and with a full count went oppo for a two run home run that landed in the Texas bullpen, giving the Horns a 6-4 lead.
The Bottom 6th was nightmare fuel for pitching coach Max Wiener and Coach Jim Schlossnagle who prides themselves on good pitching and winning the free base war. Ruger Riojas walked the first batter, leading to a Texas pitching change as they turned LHP Haiden Leffew. A wild pitch advanced the runner to 2B as Leffew walked his a batter, putting the first two men on. A sac bunt then put runners on 2B and 3B with just one out. Unfortunately, Leffew walked the next batter to load the bases and then walked another batter to bring a run home, making it a 6-5 lead Texas. Schlossnagle went to the bullpen again and brought in freshman RHP Brett Crossland. Again, walks hurt as Crossland walked the next batter which brought in a run and then gave up a sac fly which plated the third run of the inning without a base hit, putting A&M ahead 7-6.
In the Top 7th, A&M went to the bullpen and brought in their most reliable arm, RHP Clayton Freshcorn. He gave up a lead off single to Anthony Pack Jr, who then advanced to 2B on a passed ball, but Casey Borba struck out looking, followed by back to back fly outs from Temo Becerra and Ashton Larson as A&M finally put up a zero on the board.
In the Bottom 7th, A&M tacked on another run to take a 8-6 lead as they got a 1 out walk and then a single through the shift, followed by Crossland hitting the next batter in the helmet to load the bases. Texas went back to the bullpen and brought in LHP Ethan Walker to face the left, but unfortunately a sac fly plated the aforementioned run.
In the Top 8th, the Horns were retired 1-2-3 for the first time in the game as Jayden Duplantier fouled out and then Presley Courville and Ethan Mendoza both struck out.
In the Bottom 8th, A&M pushed across the decisive run. RHP Max Grubbs who got the last out of the prior inning got back to back strike outs, but then gave up a single to RF to Caden Sorrell. Sorrell then stole 2B on a bang bang play, just sliding in before the tag. The next batter then hit a hard high chopper with a ton of top spin to the left side. Casey Borba was forced to rush his throw to 1B which got past Larson, allowing Sorrell to score from 2B giving A&M the 9-6 lead. That run would be prove very costly.
In the Top 9th, Carson Tinney struck out swinging to lead things off as the Aggy faithful were in full voice. Back to back solo home runs by Aiden Robbins and Anthony Pack Jr quieted things quickly. Unfortunately Casey Borba popped up and Temo Becerra hit a fly ball to shallow LF that was caught to end the game, allowing A&M to win the first game of the series.
Offensive Performance:
- Carson Tinney: 1-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
- Aiden Robbins: 3-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 1 K, 2 HR
- Anthony Pack Jr: 2-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 HR
Pitching Performance:
- Ruger Riojas: 5 IP, 5 hits, 5 runs, 2 BB, 4 K, 83 pitches (56 strikes)
- Haiden Leffew: 0.1 IP, 2 runs, 3 walks, 20 pitches (6 strikes)
- Brett Crossland: 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 2 BB, 1 K, 27 pitches (14 strikes)
- Ethan Walker: 0.1 IP, 4 pitches (2 strikes)
- Max Grubbs: 1.1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 2 K, 20 pitches (12 strikes)
Final Thoughts:
This was a winnable game and the Horns let it get away from them. Walks are one thing, but there were several costly mistakes that all added up to doom the Horns. Good news is that the Horns didn’t burn much of their bullpen and the Aggies used two of their best arms. The bad news is that once again, the Horns find themselves in a hole and have to win back to back games to take the series.
One thing that I thought really hurt the Horns tonight was the shift. A&M hit against the shift several times and that allowed runners to take an extra base or come through with a big hit in what would have normally been a routine play. The shift giveth, the shift taketh away.
Overall, I thought it was just a very competitive game of baseball which pitted two teams strengths against each other.
Next Up:
Texas will be back at Blue Bell Park tomorrow for game two against the Aggies. First pitch is currently scheduled for 2pm, but weather may still have a say in that, but nothing will be announced tonight on that front.
