Aggies clinch College World Series bid with win over Davidson, 12-6

Texas A&M erupted for seven runs in the eighth inning and added three more in the ninth as the Aggies earned a trip to the College World Series with a 12-6 baseball victory over Davidson on Saturday evening at Blue Bell Park.

The rally was highlighted by a dropped pop-up on the infield, which allowed the Aggies to take the lead.

A&M (41-21) trailed, 6-2, after Davidson scored three runs in the fifth inning. But A&M, which previously had managed only solo home runs from George Janca and Logan Foster in the third, stormed back in the eighth. Hunter Coleman hit an RBI-double and Blake Kopetsky ripped a two-run single to bring A&M within 6-5.

Then, with the bases loaded and two out, pinch hitter Jorge Gutierrez hit a pop-up that floated behind pitcher Allen Barry. But instead of ending the threat, Davidson second baseman Alec Acosta and third baseman Eric Jones collided. The ball dropped in for a two-base error that allowed two runs to score.

Nick Choruby followed with a two-run single to complete the seven-run burst for a 9-6 lead. Walker Pennington added a three-run homer in the ninth to complete the scoring.

Kaylor Chafin retired all six batters he faced – striking out three – in the eighth and ninth innings to ensure Davidson (35-26) would not mount a comeback.

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At the plate: Nick Choruby had to singles in the Aggies’ seven-run eighth inning. He started the rally with a lead-off single into center field and eventually scored on a Hunter Coleman double. Later, as the 10th hitter of the inning, he delivered a two-run single to bring in George Janca and Jorge Gutierrez. Blake Kopetsky also had a two-run single in the inning.

On the mound: The bullpen did its job again. John Doxakis came in for starter Corbin Martin in the fifth inning to get the final out and end a Davidson rally. He allowed just one run in 2.1 innings. Kaylor Chafin relieved Doxakis in the eighth and retired Davidson in order in the eighth and ninth.

In the field: A&M could not afford to give up any more runs when trailing by four runs in the seventh inning. Third baseman George Janca certainly did his part to make sure the Aggies stayed within striking distance. With one out and a runner at third, Davidson’s Eric Jones hit a hard bouncer toward the hole. Janca made a diving stab to glove the ball. He was then able to make the throw to second to get the force out.

Turning point: The Aggies had managed just three hits – albeit two were home runs – in the first seven innings. In fact, they had only hit the ball out of the infield five times in the first seven innings. Then, Nick Choruby singles to lead off the eighth, and everything started falling into place for the Aggies. Braden Shewmake reached on a one-out error, and Hunter Coleman followed with a run-scoring double. That set the stage for a seven-run rally.

Good/bad move: When Davidson rallied for three runs in the fifth off A&M starter Corbin Martin, coach Rob Childress brought in John Doxakis from the bullpen with two out and a runner at third. Doxakis promptly struck out catcher Jake Sidwell to end the inning. He gave up a lead-off home run in the seventh, but that’s all he allowed in 2.1 innings of relief.

Did you see that?: Trailing 6-5 with two out and the bases loaded in the eighth inning, A&M pinch hitter Jorge Gutierrez popped up to the infield. But Davidson second baseman Alec Acosta and third baseman Eric Jones collided while trying to make the catch behind the mound. The ball popped out of Acosta’s glove and fell in, allowing two A&M runs to score.

Scoring summary

First inning: A&M: (vs. P Evan Roberts): CF Nick Choruby BB; DH Logan Foster K (looking); 2B Braden Shewmake 4-3, Choruby to second; 1B Hunter Coleman 4-3.
Davidson: (vs. P Corbin Martin): CF Cam Johnson 6-3; RF Will Robertson F-9; 2B Alec Acosta reaches E-5; 1B Brian Fortier K (looking).
A&M 0, Davidson 0

Second inning: A&M: C Cole Bedford 6-3; RF Blake Kopetsky K (swinging); LF Walker Pennington 5-3.
Davidson: 3B Eric Jones 4-3; LF Justin Lebek BB; C Jake Sidwell L-6; DH Brett Contracchio singles to CF, Lebek to second; SS Max Bazin K (swinging).
A&M 0, Davidson 0

Third inning: A&M: 3B George Janca HR to LF off scoreboard; SS Austin Homan 6-3; Choruby grounded 3-unassisted; Foster HR to LF; Shewmake 4-3.
Davidson: Johnson single to LF; Robertson singles to LF, Johnson to second; Acosta K (swinging); Fortier K (swinging); Jones doubles to R/CF, Johnson, Robertson score; Lebek K (swinging).
A&M 2, Davidson 2

Fourth inning: A&M: Coleman L-8; Bedford single to LCF; Kopetsky K (swinging); Pennington 5-3.
Davidson: Sidwell K (looking); Centracchio K (swinging); Bazin 1-3.
A&M 2, Davidson 2

Fifth inning:
A&M: Janca reaches E-5; Homan SAC 1-3, Janca to second; Choruby F-9, Janca to third; Foster 6-3.
Davidson: Johnson doubles off LF wall; Robertson singles to CF, Johnson to third; Acosta singles to RF, Johnson scores, Roberson to second; Fortier F-9, Roberson to third; Jones doubles to LF, Robertson scores, Acosta to third; Lebek SF-9, Acosta scores, Jones to third; (New pitcher: John Doxakis): Sidwell K (looking).
Davidson 5, A&M 2

Sixth inning: A&M: Shewmake HBP; Coleman K (swinging); Bedford fielder’s choice 1-4-6, Kopetsky fielder’s choice 6-4.
Davidson: Centracchio home run to RF; Bazin F-8; Johnson K (swinging); Robertson K (looking).
Davidson 6, A&M 2

Seventh inning: A&M: Pennington 3-1; Janca 4-3; Homan K (swinging).
Davidson: Acosta singles to CF; Fortier L-8; Jones fielder’s choice 5-4; Lebek F-8.
Davidson 6, A&M 2

Eighth inning: A&M: Choruby singles to CF; Foster L-7; Shewmake reaches E-6, Choruby to second; Coleman doubles off LF wall, Choruby scores, Shewmake to third; (NEW PITCHER: Austin Leonard): Bedford HBP, bases loaded; Kopetsky singles to CF, Shewmake, Coleman score, Bedford to second; Pennington K (swinging); Janca BB; bases loaded; (NEW PITCHER: ALLEN BARRY): Pinch hitter Jorge Gutierrez  reaches E-5, Bedford and Kopetsky scores, Janca to third, Gutierrez to second; Choruby singles to RF, Janca, Gutierrez score. (NEW PITCHER: Josh Smutzer); Foster fielder’s choice 6-4.
Davidson: (NEW PITCHER: Kaylor Chafin): Sidwell L-7; Centracchio K (looking); Bazin K (looking).
A&M 9, Davidson 6

Ninth inning: A&M: Shewmake singles to CF; Coleman F-7; Bedford singles to LF, Shewmake to second; Kopetsky F-7; Pennington three-run HR to LF, Shewmake, Bedford score. (NEW PITCHER: CONNOR GORDON): Janca singles to CF; Tommy Gillman fielder’s choice 6-unassisted.
Davidson: Johnson K (looking); Robertson F-9; Tyler Agard 5-3.
Final: A&M 12, Davidson 6