Aggies? Win Streak Hits 17, Top UTPA 4-1

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies improved to 17-0 on the season churning out a 4-1 victory over the Texas-Pan American Broncs (8-4) on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.

The Aggies were outhit for the second game in a row, but thanks to timely situational hitting and an assortment of walks and hit-batters they were able to put up four runs. The runs would be more than enough, as the five A&M pitchers would hold the Broncs to only one run.

Texas A&M didn't waste any time as they put up a two-spot on the Broncs in the bottom of the first. Ryne Birk singled with one out to bring up Mitchell Nau who was able to knock Birk to third with a single of his own. Hunter Melton's RBI groundout put the Aggies on board and Nick Banks added a run when he laced a single through the right side of the infield, extending his on-base streak to 16.

Turner Larkins, getting his fourth start of the season, got into a little trouble in the first allowing two of the first three batters to reach base via singles, but was on his game after that retiring the next eight batters. With a pitch limit in place by the A&M coaching staff, Larkins was lifted from the game in the fourth inning with a couple runners on base. His night finished with 3.1 innings, striking out three, and allowing one run which scored on a sacrifice fly after Kyle Simonds was brought in to relieve him.  The run tightened the A&M lead to 2-1.

The Aggies immediately responded to the Broncs with a run of their own in the bottom half of the fourth. Logan Taylor walked to begin the frame and found his way to second on a balk. An error by Alexis Hernandez helped Taylor get out of a rundown between second and third. Michael Barash plated Taylor on a sac fly and gave the Aggies their two run lead back.

Simonds came into the game riding an 11.1 scoreless streak. The streak was nearly ended in the fifth but a strong throw from JB Moss nabbed Correy Davis at the plate. Simonds' 2.1 innings of work was enough to earn him his first win of the season and extend his scoreless inning streak to 13.2.

UTPA starter Parker Gallegos' (1-1) outing ended after 4.2 innings. He came into the game with an excellent 0.68 ERA but the Aggies were able to touch him up for three runs two of which were earned. He walked four, gave up three hits, and hit three A&M hitter in his third start of the season.

The Ags added an insurance run by plating one in the seventh. After two hit batters and a walk loaded the bases, Bank's second hit, this time of the infield variety, brought in Blake Allemand and stretched the Aggie lead to 4-1.  The Broncs would limit the damage by fanning the next two hitters.

Ty Schlottmann worked 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out two and Andrew Vinson worked the entire eighth. He allowed a hit, but the runner was caught stealing to end the inning.

Mark Ecker struck out three Broncs in the ninth and secured the 4-1 A&M victory with his third save of the season. With the appearance, Ecker has only allowed one hit in the six times he's been called on in relief.

The Maroon and White mustered only one hit after the first inning but they managed to find other ways to get on base, working five walks and getting hit by four pitches.

Nau extended his hitting streak to seven with a 1-for-1 night that included a run and three consecutive hit-by-pitches. Banks also had another solid performance, batting 2-for-3 with one walk and two RBI.

UTPA's night was highlighted by their cleanup hitter Logan Landon going 4-for-4 and scoring their only run. Landon raised his season average to .488 (20-for-41).

The Aggies will conclude the two game set with UTPA on Wednesday with an early 3:05 start. Brigham Hill (1-0) will be on the bump to try to bring the A&M win streak to 18.


TEXAS A&M QUOTES

Head coach Rob Childress
On what turned out to be a key first inning…
Turner (Larkins) wasn't very sharp early. But we make a heads up play, striking a guy out and getting the pickoff at first and just like that we are in the dugout. Birk singles and Nau comes up behind him in singles to left field and the two were hustling. Birk needed to go full-tilt to get to third on that hit and Nau was really motoring to get to second when the throw went to third. They could've settled for first-and-second but they made things happen. That set up the scoring. It allowed Melton to knock in a run with a ground ball and it allowed Banks to drive in Nau with a base hit. If they don't take the extra bases, who knows if we score that inning.

On JB Moss throwing a runner out at home to end the fifth inning...
“That was a huge momentum play and that's one thing that kind of kept the momentum in our dugout. Just a huge momentum play for our team and energy play.”

On AJ Minter's status…
“We don't know. He's still being evaluated. He certainly won't pitch this weekend.”

Senior designated hitter Mitchell Nau
On getting hit by three pitches…
“I probably overreacted on one of them a little, but it was the flow of the game. It did get a little intense. I am glad to have a win, we keep finding a way to win and that is all that really matters to us.”

On the good swings not falling for hits…
“Kind of the same story at Minute Maid, we are striking the ball well. Logan Taylor's ball finds that gap and was one of the hardest hit balls we have hit all year, the wind played it and brought it back into the yard. You don't get some of those breaks and some of the hits you probably should have, and the thing happens with the pickle and the baseball gods kind of pay you back. Anyway we come away with a win is a good night for us.”