Missed Opportunity: Mississippi State edges Aggies late, 3-2

GAME #35: Mississippi St 3, Texas A&M 2
RECORDS: Mississippi St 22-15 (6-8); Texas A&M 32-3 (10-3)
WP: Preston Brown (4-3)
LP: Kyle Simonds (2-1)
Save: Trevor Fitts (6)

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With hopes of clinching another conference series, A&M came into the final frame with a chance to do just that.

This team has capitalized on nearly every opportunity to succeed they’ve been handed so far this year.

But, in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Mississippi State, all the Aggies could do was watch as their final at bat ended as too many had, with an out.

After gliding through the first two innings, Kyle Simonds gave up a one out solo shot to Bulldog lead off man Cody Brown. Just like that, Mississippi State seized a 1-0 lead. They would double their advantage before the inning was over and the Aggies were fortunate to hold them to just two.

A bunt single just carried the mound and settled in the no man’s land between Simonds and Blake Allemand for an infield single. A sharp ground ball down the third baseline followed and when Ronnie Gideon was unable to field it cleanly, the Bulldogs had runners on 1st and 2nd.

A ground ball pulled Hunter Melton off the bag at first and while they turned it into the second out, the Bulldogs moved two men into scoring position. One run would score a batter later after a line drive to center field. It would have been two if not for a laser throw from J.B. Moss. The bullet reached Michael Barash just before the sliding runner could cross the plate.

Mississippi State would add one more in the fourth after a lead off double was moved over on a sacrifice and finally brought home by a sharp single through the right side.

Down by three, it looked like A&M would go quietly again after two quick outs to open up the fourth. J.B. Moss didn’t like that idea, however, as he demolished a 1-0 offering into right center for a stand up double. The two out rally continued with singles from Melton and Barash, the second one scoring Moss from third.

A&M was on the board but wouldn’t get closer than two until the eighth inning, when it looked like lightning may strike for the Aggies once again.

With the rain starting to fall on Olsen, Logan Taylor stepped to the plate and wasted little time putting A&M’s second run off the scoreboard. His eighth homerun of the year moved the Aggies within one, but three strikeouts killed any chance they had of tying things up before the final frame.

After Ryan Hendrix tossed a perfect top half, the Aggie offense knew it needed to score just one to keep playing.

That goal got off to a great start as Michael Barash swung and missed on a third strike, but the ball got by the catcher and he beat out the throw to first. A&M has had its share of magic this year and head coach Rob Childress thought this was the start of more before pinch runner, Nick Choruby, was caught trying to take second.

“It looked like, “Here we go again.” He was a little late on the dirtball read and their catcher made a great play.

With some of their momentum shot, Blake Allemand flew out to center. With one final chance, Childress opted for the powerful bat of Logan Nottebrok in place of Ryne Birk. Despite making great contact, Nottebrok’s line drive was tracked down in left center and A&M had just its second home loss of the year.

While they struggled to get things going all day offensively, the Aggies had their chances to change the outcome of this one. Nobody knows that better than Michael Barash.

“We had a lot of opportunities to score, just couldn’t piece anything together. Logan Taylor hit a bomb and we had another opportunity to score early in the game, we just left a lot of guys on base.”

A&M’s offense may have sputtered, but if the Aggies are going to take anything from this loss, it will likely be the performance of their pitching staff. Childress talked about their showing after the game.

“They gave us a chance to make it interesting in the ninth inning. I’m very proud of those guys, they did what they have done all year long and gave us a shot.”

Now the Aggies head into Sunday facing just their second rubber match of the year. If their first was any indication, A&M is comfortable in that position.

“Championships are won on Sunday and everybody is playing for something tomorrow,” Said Childress, “We’ve been in that spot before and our guys will be ready to go.”