Texas A&M rolls over Prairie View A&M in 11-0 shutout victory

GAME #5: Texas A&M 11, Prairie View A&M 0
RECORDS: Texas A&M 5-0, Prairie View A&M 2-2
WP: Kaylor Chafin (1-0)
LP: Edward Robledo (1-1)
BOX SCORE

---

When you win by 20 runs like Aggie baseball did on Tuesday night, it can be tempting to take the next day off.

However, that isn't what great teams do, and that isn't what Texas A&M did against Prairie View A&M in their 11-0 shutout victory.

Behind a big fifth inning and a pitching staff that stood tall on the mound, A&M continued to build momentum with its 35th consecutive non-conference win and 20th straight midweek victory.

While the ending was just what A&M wanted, the beginning was a bit shaky.

After two quick outs to start the second inning, George Janca mishandled a grounder at short that should have ended the frame. Soon thereafter, a single to right and a full count walk loaded the bases and A&M’s freshman pitcher, Stephen Kolek, had his first collegiate jam.

One high cheese fastball on a full count later and Kolek had successfully escaped his first collegiate jam. Had the Panthers gotten a hit at that moment, who knows how the game might have turned out.

As it was, things didn't turn out well for the visiting Panthers.

On two occasions later in the game, a Prairie View baserunner reached third base. That’s as far as they would make it as a combination of six A&M pitchers kept Prairie View off the scoreboard.

That performance started with Kolek (4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K’s) and head coach Rob Childress couldn't have been more pleased with him and the rest of the pitching staff.

“I thought (Kolek) got off to a great start,” Childress said of the young right hander. “He had some trouble in the second, but was able to get off the field without giving up a run. He’s got power stuff and is only going to get better. The guys behind him were really good as well”

The Aggie offense was just as good, although it took them a while to get fully warmed up on a chilly night.

A&M scored once in the second inning, thanks to an RBI double by Ronnie Gideon. They scored again in the fourth when a double steal brought Nick Choruby home, giving A&M a 2-0 lead.

A&M let a golden chance at a big inning slip through their fingers in the third, eventually leaving the bases loaded. However, they rebounded quickly in the fifth inning, when the outcome finally became crystal clear.

With five hits, and a timely Prairie View error, A&M scored seven runs in the frame and set itself up for yet another victory.

First, singles from Hunter Melton and Michael Barash, sandwiched around a Joel Davis walk, loaded the bases. They were quickly cleared when Ronnie Gideon punished a 2-2 offering down the left field line for a three RBI double. He advanced to third on the throw home, and came across to score two pitches later when J.B. Moss singled to left field.

At that point, it was 6-0 in favor of the Aggies.

After a sac bunt and wild pitch moved Moss around to third, A&M poured more salt in the wound.

Boomer White walked to put runners on the corners for Ryne Birk. Birk answered the call with a sharp line drive that landed just in front of a charging Cody Dan Beste in center. Moss scored on the hit and White advanced to third.

Thinking quickly, Birk forced a throw by taking second. The throw from third ended up in right field, and both White and Birk crossed home plate before all was said and done. That sequence gave A&M a 9-0 lead and is exactly the type of production Ronnie Gideon said this pitching staff deserved.

“We’ve got one of the top pitching staffs in the country,” Said Gideon. “It is so easy to play behind a staff that you know isn't going to give up many runs. Then, we come out and put as many runs on the board as we can for our guys,

“That’s them taking care of us and us taking care of them.”

A&M added another run in the sixth and one more in the seventh, bringing the final tally to 11-0.

At this point, the Aggies couldn't be playing much better. But, they’ll need that play to continue this weekend as they head for a three game series with Pepperdine and their first true test of the season.