Wednesday, March 11
College Station
3:00 PM
Texas A&M
4
vs
3
UT Pan American
Aggies Use Extra Innings to Extend Win Streak to 18
Mar 11, 2015 | Baseball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies needed an eighth-inning rally and subsequent extra innings to keep their season-opening win streak alive. The 4-3 win over the Texas-Pan American Broncs in 11 innings Wednesday afternoon on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park improved the Aggies' record to 18-0 on the season.
The 18-game win streak to start the season marks the second longest in school history behind a 26-0 foundation set for the 1989 campaign.
Tied 3-3, Michael Barash started decisive bottom of the 11th inning by drawing a walk. He was replaced at first base on a fielder's choice as Nick Banks hustled down the first base line to avoid a 1-6-3 double play. Hunter Melton bounced a single through the right side of the infield to put runners on the corners.
After a wild pitch sent Melton to second, Blake Kopetsky was issued an intentional walk to load the bases for Ronnie Gideon. The Aggie designated hitter unloaded on a first pitch offering from Andrew Padron, hitting a fly ball to centerfield. UTPA centerfielder Cole Loncar was camped under the ball but slipped when trying to get in better position for the throw home and the ball hit the ground on the error. Banks came racing home uncontested for the 4-3 win as Gideon was credited with the walk-off sacrifice fly.
After scuffling through the first seven innings and trailing 3-0, the Aggies used a pair of pinch-hit doubles to mount an equalizing rally in the home half of the eighth. Kopetsky started the frame by working an eight-pitch walk. After Gideon struck out looking, pinch-hitter Logan Taylor drove an 0-1 offering into left centerfield for a double, putting two runners into scoring position. Pinch-hitter G.R. Hinsley threaded a 1-0 service down the leftfield line to knock in both baserunners, cutting the UTPA advantage to 3-2. Matt Collins pinch-ran for Hinsley and scored the game-tying run when Blake Allemand scooted a single past the glove of a lunging Broncs' first baseman.
The Broncs broke the scoring seal in the top of the second inning. With one out, Scott Mercer reached on an error by Aggie shortstop Allemand and Correy Davis gapped a single to right centerfield to put runners on the corners. Mercer was retired at home on an ill-fated squeeze bunt attempt by Alexis Hernandez. Cole Loncar appeared to chop into the final out of the inning, but a hop off the lip of the infield shot the ball five feet over the head of Allemand, resulting in an RBI single, staking UTPA to a 1-0 lead.
UTPA tacked on a run in the top of the fifth. With one out, Logan Landon was issued a base on balls, moved to second on a groundout to short by Jacob Huckabay and scored when Aggie centerfielder Banks was unable to make a diving catch on a slicing ball into the right centerfield gap by Victor Garcia Jr., extending the margin to 2-0 on the single.
The Broncs inflated the cushion to 3-0 in the sixth. With one out, Davis reached on a single to short and Hernandez followed with a single to rightfield. Ryan Hendrix relieved Jason Freeman on the mound for the Aggies and induced a grounder to third by Loncar, but an error by Patrick McLendon loaded the bases. Manny Loredo slipped a single through the right side of the infield to knock in Davis for the three-run lead. Hendrix was able to avoid further damage, inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame.
The Aggies had plenty of opportunities to get on the board early, but were stymied in scoring situations. In the first seven innings, A&M batted 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners.
Freshman Corbin Martin (1-0) earned his first career win for the Aggies. He scattered one hit and one intentional walk while striking out two in the 11th inning. Hendrix and Mark Ecker also had brilliant relief efforts. Hendrix worked 2.2 scoreless innings, yielding two hits and one walk while striking out one. Ecker retired six of the seven batters he faced in blank frames in the ninth and 10th, fanning two.
Texas A&M returns to action Friday when the Aggies open SEC with a 6:35 pm game against the Auburn Tigers on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Padron (1-1) was saddled with the loss for the Broncs. The UTPA closer went well past his normal length, working 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four. Brandon San Nicolas had a strong relief effort, scattering three hits while striking out four in 3.2 shutout innings.
Banks led all players at the plate, going 4-for-5 with one run. Nau was 2-for-3 with one walk and one hit-by-pitch. After starting 0-for-4, Allemand got hits in each of his last two at-bats and accounted for the game-tying RBI.
UTPA had five players record multiple hits. Davis, who entered the game hitting 1-for-31 (.032) on the season, went 3-for-5 with two runs. Loncar, Landon, Garcia Jr., and Hernandez each logged two hits.
Texas A&M returns to action Friday as the Aggies open SEC play with a 6:35 pm game against the Auburn Tigers on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Texas A&M head coach Rob Childress
On the comeback…
“Our guys have been so positive and they always feel like you are in the game. There is no panic or fear and our guys just keep coming.”
On if the missed chances early were frustrating…
“Certainly so, I think we left a small village of base runners out there, going 0-7 or 0-8 with runners in scoring position. But when our backs were against the wall we had two really timely hits and we were able to get the game to extra innings.”
On what starting 18-0 does going into conference play…
“It gives us a lot of confidence. I feel like we are pressed a little offensively but still finding ways to win. That is a sign of a great team and we are obviously going to face a great team this weekend. Auburn is off to a really good start, they have a true number one and we will have our hands full on Friday night.”
Senior shortstop Blake Allemand
On A&M rallies dying early in the game…
“We were trying to get things started. We had a lot of people in scoring position and couldn't really knock them down in the beginning of the game. I felt like we took a lot of good swings and hit a lot of balls hard. We just did not find that many holes. Towards the end of the game they ended up falling. I think for the most part we did a good job of staying with what we were trying to do and it ended up working out for us in the end.”
Sophomore center fielder Nick Banks
On the comeback win…
“It's always good to get a series sweep and go 2-0 in midweek games. Midweek games are really important. It's also a good feeling to come back like we did in the bottom of eight and play into extras and get the 'W'.
On Olsen Magic…
“It's a great feeling. There's nothing like it when the fans are on their feet cheering for us. It's a pretty special experience.”
The 18-game win streak to start the season marks the second longest in school history behind a 26-0 foundation set for the 1989 campaign.
Tied 3-3, Michael Barash started decisive bottom of the 11th inning by drawing a walk. He was replaced at first base on a fielder's choice as Nick Banks hustled down the first base line to avoid a 1-6-3 double play. Hunter Melton bounced a single through the right side of the infield to put runners on the corners.
After a wild pitch sent Melton to second, Blake Kopetsky was issued an intentional walk to load the bases for Ronnie Gideon. The Aggie designated hitter unloaded on a first pitch offering from Andrew Padron, hitting a fly ball to centerfield. UTPA centerfielder Cole Loncar was camped under the ball but slipped when trying to get in better position for the throw home and the ball hit the ground on the error. Banks came racing home uncontested for the 4-3 win as Gideon was credited with the walk-off sacrifice fly.
After scuffling through the first seven innings and trailing 3-0, the Aggies used a pair of pinch-hit doubles to mount an equalizing rally in the home half of the eighth. Kopetsky started the frame by working an eight-pitch walk. After Gideon struck out looking, pinch-hitter Logan Taylor drove an 0-1 offering into left centerfield for a double, putting two runners into scoring position. Pinch-hitter G.R. Hinsley threaded a 1-0 service down the leftfield line to knock in both baserunners, cutting the UTPA advantage to 3-2. Matt Collins pinch-ran for Hinsley and scored the game-tying run when Blake Allemand scooted a single past the glove of a lunging Broncs' first baseman.
The Broncs broke the scoring seal in the top of the second inning. With one out, Scott Mercer reached on an error by Aggie shortstop Allemand and Correy Davis gapped a single to right centerfield to put runners on the corners. Mercer was retired at home on an ill-fated squeeze bunt attempt by Alexis Hernandez. Cole Loncar appeared to chop into the final out of the inning, but a hop off the lip of the infield shot the ball five feet over the head of Allemand, resulting in an RBI single, staking UTPA to a 1-0 lead.
UTPA tacked on a run in the top of the fifth. With one out, Logan Landon was issued a base on balls, moved to second on a groundout to short by Jacob Huckabay and scored when Aggie centerfielder Banks was unable to make a diving catch on a slicing ball into the right centerfield gap by Victor Garcia Jr., extending the margin to 2-0 on the single.
The Broncs inflated the cushion to 3-0 in the sixth. With one out, Davis reached on a single to short and Hernandez followed with a single to rightfield. Ryan Hendrix relieved Jason Freeman on the mound for the Aggies and induced a grounder to third by Loncar, but an error by Patrick McLendon loaded the bases. Manny Loredo slipped a single through the right side of the infield to knock in Davis for the three-run lead. Hendrix was able to avoid further damage, inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame.
The Aggies had plenty of opportunities to get on the board early, but were stymied in scoring situations. In the first seven innings, A&M batted 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners.
Freshman Corbin Martin (1-0) earned his first career win for the Aggies. He scattered one hit and one intentional walk while striking out two in the 11th inning. Hendrix and Mark Ecker also had brilliant relief efforts. Hendrix worked 2.2 scoreless innings, yielding two hits and one walk while striking out one. Ecker retired six of the seven batters he faced in blank frames in the ninth and 10th, fanning two.
Texas A&M returns to action Friday when the Aggies open SEC with a 6:35 pm game against the Auburn Tigers on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Padron (1-1) was saddled with the loss for the Broncs. The UTPA closer went well past his normal length, working 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four. Brandon San Nicolas had a strong relief effort, scattering three hits while striking out four in 3.2 shutout innings.
Banks led all players at the plate, going 4-for-5 with one run. Nau was 2-for-3 with one walk and one hit-by-pitch. After starting 0-for-4, Allemand got hits in each of his last two at-bats and accounted for the game-tying RBI.
UTPA had five players record multiple hits. Davis, who entered the game hitting 1-for-31 (.032) on the season, went 3-for-5 with two runs. Loncar, Landon, Garcia Jr., and Hernandez each logged two hits.
Texas A&M returns to action Friday as the Aggies open SEC play with a 6:35 pm game against the Auburn Tigers on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Texas A&M head coach Rob Childress
On the comeback…
“Our guys have been so positive and they always feel like you are in the game. There is no panic or fear and our guys just keep coming.”
On if the missed chances early were frustrating…
“Certainly so, I think we left a small village of base runners out there, going 0-7 or 0-8 with runners in scoring position. But when our backs were against the wall we had two really timely hits and we were able to get the game to extra innings.”
On what starting 18-0 does going into conference play…
“It gives us a lot of confidence. I feel like we are pressed a little offensively but still finding ways to win. That is a sign of a great team and we are obviously going to face a great team this weekend. Auburn is off to a really good start, they have a true number one and we will have our hands full on Friday night.”
Senior shortstop Blake Allemand
On A&M rallies dying early in the game…
“We were trying to get things started. We had a lot of people in scoring position and couldn't really knock them down in the beginning of the game. I felt like we took a lot of good swings and hit a lot of balls hard. We just did not find that many holes. Towards the end of the game they ended up falling. I think for the most part we did a good job of staying with what we were trying to do and it ended up working out for us in the end.”
Sophomore center fielder Nick Banks
On the comeback win…
“It's always good to get a series sweep and go 2-0 in midweek games. Midweek games are really important. It's also a good feeling to come back like we did in the bottom of eight and play into extras and get the 'W'.
On Olsen Magic…
“It's a great feeling. There's nothing like it when the fans are on their feet cheering for us. It's a pretty special experience.”