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Texas A&M stumped by TCU in game one, 13-4
GAME #62: Texas Christian 13, Texas A&M 4
RECORDS: TCU 48-12 (1-0), Texas A&M 49-13 (0-1)
WP: Trey Teakell (2-1)
LP: Grayson Long (9-1)
FORT WORTH — Coming into this weekend, fans anticipated a historic series with both sides battling to the finish. With the level of play on either side before this stage, it wasn't a stretch to expect a memorable performance.
With that in mind, Texas A&M's 13-4 loss at the hands of TCU on Saturday was certainly memorable for those wearing maroon.
Sadly, it was for all the wrong reasons.
Through three innings, the Aggies took body blows but were able to keep their feet.
Three consecutive times A&M put its leadoff runner on base to open the game. Two Blake Allemand singles were sandwiched around one from Nick Banks.
In each case, neither made it across the plate.
Kirby Clarke, TexAgs
Blake Allemand went 3-for-5 in one of the Aggies' few highlights, but issues driving runners home plagued A&M.
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While the Aggies manufactured six hits and consistently put runners in scoring position, they scored just a single run through three frames.
The second inning score came after a devastating double play off the bat of Logan Nottebrok that took the lead runner off the path. Moments later, Jonathan Moroney, who would go 4-4 on the day, lined an RBI single to right that scored Hunter Melton from second.
Meanwhile, TCU jumped all over Grayson Long for seven hits through his three innings. His outing was referenced as a “bad day” from TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle after the game — and it was easy to see why.
In the opening frame, a hard grounder got through the right side and was overrun by Moroney. The error transformed a double into a three-bagger and would result in a run one batter later.
From that point, A&M did not do the fundamental things necessary for a team to succeed at this stage.
With runners on the corners, Moroney watched a line drive sail over his head and off the right field wall. The catchable ball-turned-double scored two runs for TCU and extended its lead to 4-1 through two innings.
It’s never easy to build confidence when the play behind you doesn’t inspire it, but A&M head coach Rob Childress would not put all the blame on the fielders.
“I think at the end of the day, Grayson would tell you, ‘That was on me. I could have made better pitches and put our guys in a better position to make plays,'" Childress said.
Regardless of the reasoning, TCU continued to score in the next inning, making the total 5-1 before A&M appeared ready to make this one to remember.
After another double play by Nottebrok early in the inning, A&M rallied in the fourth. Moroney got it rolling with a double to left field and quickly scored as Michael Barash lined one into left field. Within three runs at 5-2, A&M continued its march with a triple to deep right center from Blake Allemand. When he scored on a passed ball, it seemed like the Aggies were just beginning to rev the engine, down 5-4.
Instead, they stalled out as TCU blew by them.
“They just kept coming. Kept getting hits when they needed to and we didn’t,” Blake Allemand said when asked about the separation over the final five frames. “They made the plays today and we didn’t. You have to tip your cap.”
Five hits and five runs over the course of the inning spelled the end for A&M in the opening game. After switching to Andrew Vinson in the fourth inning and getting two good innings from him, Childress didn’t have a choice but to pull him during the sixth.
“He is one of the reasons we’re here, but TCU hitters did a really good job against him,” Childress said. "He gave us a bit of a hold, but when you look up at the board and see that there are eight innings pitched for us and only two zeroes, you’re chasing runs all day long. Our pitching has to be better tomorrow to give us a chance.”
A&M could never answer back after the Frogs made things 11-4, but TCU tacked on two more in the eighth to drive the nail in further.
The Aggies were not dwelling on the loss, however, and quickly focused on what is ahead.
“We haven’t done anything easy all year, so why start now?” Allemand said of the team's mentality. “This game counts the same, whether we lost 13-4 or 4-3, so that’s why you play three and have to have a short memory. You have to be able to forget about it and come back and play a good game tomorrow.”
Texas A&M will turn to the lefty Matt Kent in the quest to tie things up Sunday at 1:15.
RECORDS: TCU 48-12 (1-0), Texas A&M 49-13 (0-1)
WP: Trey Teakell (2-1)
LP: Grayson Long (9-1)
FORT WORTH — Coming into this weekend, fans anticipated a historic series with both sides battling to the finish. With the level of play on either side before this stage, it wasn't a stretch to expect a memorable performance.
With that in mind, Texas A&M's 13-4 loss at the hands of TCU on Saturday was certainly memorable for those wearing maroon.
Sadly, it was for all the wrong reasons.
Through three innings, the Aggies took body blows but were able to keep their feet.
Three consecutive times A&M put its leadoff runner on base to open the game. Two Blake Allemand singles were sandwiched around one from Nick Banks.
In each case, neither made it across the plate.
Kirby Clarke, TexAgs
Blake Allemand went 3-for-5 in one of the Aggies' few highlights, but issues driving runners home plagued A&M.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Blake Allemand went 3-for-5 in one of the Aggies\u0027 few highlights, but issues driving runners home plagued A\u0026M.","MediaItemID":57267}
The second inning score came after a devastating double play off the bat of Logan Nottebrok that took the lead runner off the path. Moments later, Jonathan Moroney, who would go 4-4 on the day, lined an RBI single to right that scored Hunter Melton from second.
Meanwhile, TCU jumped all over Grayson Long for seven hits through his three innings. His outing was referenced as a “bad day” from TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle after the game — and it was easy to see why.
In the opening frame, a hard grounder got through the right side and was overrun by Moroney. The error transformed a double into a three-bagger and would result in a run one batter later.
From that point, A&M did not do the fundamental things necessary for a team to succeed at this stage.
With runners on the corners, Moroney watched a line drive sail over his head and off the right field wall. The catchable ball-turned-double scored two runs for TCU and extended its lead to 4-1 through two innings.
It’s never easy to build confidence when the play behind you doesn’t inspire it, but A&M head coach Rob Childress would not put all the blame on the fielders.
“I think at the end of the day, Grayson would tell you, ‘That was on me. I could have made better pitches and put our guys in a better position to make plays,'" Childress said.
Regardless of the reasoning, TCU continued to score in the next inning, making the total 5-1 before A&M appeared ready to make this one to remember.
After another double play by Nottebrok early in the inning, A&M rallied in the fourth. Moroney got it rolling with a double to left field and quickly scored as Michael Barash lined one into left field. Within three runs at 5-2, A&M continued its march with a triple to deep right center from Blake Allemand. When he scored on a passed ball, it seemed like the Aggies were just beginning to rev the engine, down 5-4.
Instead, they stalled out as TCU blew by them.
“They just kept coming. Kept getting hits when they needed to and we didn’t,” Blake Allemand said when asked about the separation over the final five frames. “They made the plays today and we didn’t. You have to tip your cap.”
"This game counts the same, whether we lost 13-4 or 4-3, so that’s why you play three and have to have a short memory."
{"Module":"quote","Alignment":"right","Quote":"\"This game counts the same, whether we lost 13-4 or 4-3, so that’s why you play three and have to have a short memory.\"","Author":"Blake Allemand"}
The hits he was referring to added up quickly in the sixth inning. After widening the lead to 6-4 with a run in the fifth, the TCU lineup pulled away completely in its next chance.Five hits and five runs over the course of the inning spelled the end for A&M in the opening game. After switching to Andrew Vinson in the fourth inning and getting two good innings from him, Childress didn’t have a choice but to pull him during the sixth.
“He is one of the reasons we’re here, but TCU hitters did a really good job against him,” Childress said. "He gave us a bit of a hold, but when you look up at the board and see that there are eight innings pitched for us and only two zeroes, you’re chasing runs all day long. Our pitching has to be better tomorrow to give us a chance.”
A&M could never answer back after the Frogs made things 11-4, but TCU tacked on two more in the eighth to drive the nail in further.
The Aggies were not dwelling on the loss, however, and quickly focused on what is ahead.
“We haven’t done anything easy all year, so why start now?” Allemand said of the team's mentality. “This game counts the same, whether we lost 13-4 or 4-3, so that’s why you play three and have to have a short memory. You have to be able to forget about it and come back and play a good game tomorrow.”
Texas A&M will turn to the lefty Matt Kent in the quest to tie things up Sunday at 1:15.
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