Texas A&M
Texas Christian
Texas A&M Baseball
Aggies season comes to a close with captivating 16 inning, 5-4 defeat
GAME #64: Texas Christian 5, Texas A&M
RECORDS: TCU 49-13 (2-1), Texas A&M 50-14 (1-2)
WP: Mitchell Traver (9-2)
LP: Ryan Hendrix (6-4)
FORT WORTH — Two words have done more to tear at the minds of many, while bringing solace to a select few, than perhaps any other combination in the English language. Yet, there they are, alongside all their false possibilities.
What. If.
In the case of Texas A&M’s 16-inning, 5-4 loss to TCU that stretched out over the course of two days, you cannot help but wonder.
Had certain events not transpired over the course of an inning, a game or a season, perhaps that lasting image never appears. The display of utter heartbreak and ecstasy unfolding on the same field after the final play.
A hard hit ball down the third baseline off the bat of Evan Skoug. A hit that initially found its way into the glove of Ronnie Gideon, only to return to the ground and eventually end up behind home plate.
As it scooted past Michael Barash, the winning run crossed.
It is impossible, after the performance of Tyler Stubblefield, who faced 12 batters through four innings, to not imagine an entire year with him.
A.J. Minter too, while we’re at it.
While the lefty dealt his way through the TCU lineup, A&M had its fair share of chances to strike early. Yet, for the most part, they failed to capitalize.
The Aggies loaded the bases in the first and came away with nothing. They had two men on board in the third before Mitchell Nau was caught at home and Jonathan Moroney struck out. Those chances would not come as often.
“Six and a half hours ago, we had chances to get guys in during the first and third innings and weren't able to do that," Rob Childress said. “Then, you look up and everybody is fighting for a run the last two hours it seemed.”
While runs were few and sometimes very far between, there were moments were the two squads were able to cash in.
First was Michael Barash in the second inning. On a 2-1 pitch, the catcher lifted a solo home run over the wall and gave A&M the first lead of the game at 1-0. That lead help up until the fifth, when it appeared that Stubblefield began to tire.
A leadoff walk, followed by a wild pitch, single and double helped TCU gain a 2-1 advantage. That advantage doubled in the following inning after Stubblefield returned and was quickly pulled after another leadoff walk for Andrew Vinson.The crafty right-hander gave up a two run homer one out later and again you were left with the question.
What if he had began the inning and bypassed the previous walk? Maybe that two run blast is cut down to one and allows what transpired in the ninth inning to not only extend things, but end them.
In that frame, as A&M has preached all season, it was not going down without a fight.
Trailing 4-2 after an eighth inning homer from Nick Banks, the Aggies loaded the bases with a hit batter, and two walks. From there, grounders to the right side from Mitchell Nau and Logan Taylor tied things up.
It was simply a part of the mentality that Barash discussed following the game.
“We never feel like it is never our game," the catcher, who was behind the plate all 16 innings, said of his team’s mindset. “We’re going to play without the fear of consequence and just go out there and play hard.”
That all out performance was evident across the board, especially when the Aggies were in the field.
Three times, in the ninth, 12th and 14th innings, Blake Allemand pulled off inning-ending defensive stops that got the Aggies off the field. Among those heroics was an unassisted double play to send things to extra innings.
One facet that preserved A&M’s hopes of heading to Omaha, on a field they could have easily never been on, was the right arm of Ryan Hendrix.
Coming off no days rest, the reliever threw 99 pitches and had the respect and admiration of his catcher the entire way.
“He’s outstanding.” Barash commented. “The way he competes for our guys is second to none. Without him, I don’t know if we are in the spot we’re in.”
Beyond his five strikeouts, which included inning enders in the 13th and 15th frames, Hendrix was a part of moments that were pure magic. None more so than the 14th.
With the bases loaded, a line drive that may have ended the game instead hit Hendrix in the arm and resulted in a 1-3-2 putout at home. He discussed that very play.
“It was a good hit and I was able to get my arm out there. Melton was able to throw him out and it was just a big play.”
Despite getting hit in the wrist, Hendrix pressed on into the later innings and looked as if he may be in line for a win during the top half of the final inning. During that frame, two walks, one to Nau and one intentionally to Banks, and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. Setting the stage for G.R. Hinsley, who got up 3-0 before watching three consecutive pitches end the threat.
“I’m sure G.R wishes he would have swung the bat there,” said Childress. “Just to see what happens.”
In a season that saw a historic win streak, unrivaled fight, 50 wins and countless comebacks, nobody got to see what could have happened. Instead, we were left with a long summer and two words.
What if.
RECORDS: TCU 49-13 (2-1), Texas A&M 50-14 (1-2)
WP: Mitchell Traver (9-2)
LP: Ryan Hendrix (6-4)
FORT WORTH — Two words have done more to tear at the minds of many, while bringing solace to a select few, than perhaps any other combination in the English language. Yet, there they are, alongside all their false possibilities.
What. If.
In the case of Texas A&M’s 16-inning, 5-4 loss to TCU that stretched out over the course of two days, you cannot help but wonder.
Had certain events not transpired over the course of an inning, a game or a season, perhaps that lasting image never appears. The display of utter heartbreak and ecstasy unfolding on the same field after the final play.
A hard hit ball down the third baseline off the bat of Evan Skoug. A hit that initially found its way into the glove of Ronnie Gideon, only to return to the ground and eventually end up behind home plate.
As it scooted past Michael Barash, the winning run crossed.
It is impossible, after the performance of Tyler Stubblefield, who faced 12 batters through four innings, to not imagine an entire year with him.
A.J. Minter too, while we’re at it.
While the lefty dealt his way through the TCU lineup, A&M had its fair share of chances to strike early. Yet, for the most part, they failed to capitalize.
The Aggies loaded the bases in the first and came away with nothing. They had two men on board in the third before Mitchell Nau was caught at home and Jonathan Moroney struck out. Those chances would not come as often.
“Six and a half hours ago, we had chances to get guys in during the first and third innings and weren't able to do that," Rob Childress said. “Then, you look up and everybody is fighting for a run the last two hours it seemed.”
While runs were few and sometimes very far between, there were moments were the two squads were able to cash in.
First was Michael Barash in the second inning. On a 2-1 pitch, the catcher lifted a solo home run over the wall and gave A&M the first lead of the game at 1-0. That lead help up until the fifth, when it appeared that Stubblefield began to tire.
A leadoff walk, followed by a wild pitch, single and double helped TCU gain a 2-1 advantage. That advantage doubled in the following inning after Stubblefield returned and was quickly pulled after another leadoff walk for Andrew Vinson.The crafty right-hander gave up a two run homer one out later and again you were left with the question.
What if he had began the inning and bypassed the previous walk? Maybe that two run blast is cut down to one and allows what transpired in the ninth inning to not only extend things, but end them.
In that frame, as A&M has preached all season, it was not going down without a fight.
Trailing 4-2 after an eighth inning homer from Nick Banks, the Aggies loaded the bases with a hit batter, and two walks. From there, grounders to the right side from Mitchell Nau and Logan Taylor tied things up.
It was simply a part of the mentality that Barash discussed following the game.
“We never feel like it is never our game," the catcher, who was behind the plate all 16 innings, said of his team’s mindset. “We’re going to play without the fear of consequence and just go out there and play hard.”
That all out performance was evident across the board, especially when the Aggies were in the field.
Three times, in the ninth, 12th and 14th innings, Blake Allemand pulled off inning-ending defensive stops that got the Aggies off the field. Among those heroics was an unassisted double play to send things to extra innings.
One facet that preserved A&M’s hopes of heading to Omaha, on a field they could have easily never been on, was the right arm of Ryan Hendrix.
Coming off no days rest, the reliever threw 99 pitches and had the respect and admiration of his catcher the entire way.
“He’s outstanding.” Barash commented. “The way he competes for our guys is second to none. Without him, I don’t know if we are in the spot we’re in.”
Beyond his five strikeouts, which included inning enders in the 13th and 15th frames, Hendrix was a part of moments that were pure magic. None more so than the 14th.
With the bases loaded, a line drive that may have ended the game instead hit Hendrix in the arm and resulted in a 1-3-2 putout at home. He discussed that very play.
“It was a good hit and I was able to get my arm out there. Melton was able to throw him out and it was just a big play.”
Despite getting hit in the wrist, Hendrix pressed on into the later innings and looked as if he may be in line for a win during the top half of the final inning. During that frame, two walks, one to Nau and one intentionally to Banks, and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. Setting the stage for G.R. Hinsley, who got up 3-0 before watching three consecutive pitches end the threat.
“I’m sure G.R wishes he would have swung the bat there,” said Childress. “Just to see what happens.”
In a season that saw a historic win streak, unrivaled fight, 50 wins and countless comebacks, nobody got to see what could have happened. Instead, we were left with a long summer and two words.
What if.
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