Aggies get back to winning ways, defeat Abilene Christian 8-2

Game #41: Texas A&M 8, Abilene Christian 2
Records: Texas A&M (30-11, 9-9 SEC), Abilene Christian (19-20, 5-16 Southland )
WP: Kaylor Chafin (2-0)
LP: Ryan Knowles (1-2)
Box Score

The No. 22 Aggies got back in the win column with a convincing 8-2 win over Abilene Christian at Olsen Field Tuesday night.

The Aggies showed off their power early. After Hunter Coleman and Cam Blake worked walks, Cole Bedford ripped a three-run shot to dead center field to put A&M in front in the bottom of the second. A&M put another run on the board in the following inning. After Logan Foster worked a walk and stole second, Will Frizzell brought him home with an RBI single through the left side of the infield.

A&M would break the game wide open in the seventh — scoring four runs. After three straight singles, the bases were loaded for Braden Shewmake and he capitalized with an RBI fielder’s choice. A few batters later, Coleman would reach base on an RBI throwing error by the shortstop. And during Coleman’s at-bat, Shewmake would score on a wild pitch. Cam Blake would plate another run with an RBI single to center field to finish off the scoring in the seventh.

“It was huge for us,” Michael Helman said of tonight’s win and the offense. “Huge for the pitching staff — they came out and just shoved all night. Even when they did give up runs, hitters came through and got some of those back.”

It’s worth noting — the Aggies finished the night with only one strikeout at the plate.

The Wildcats were kept off of the board until the top of the seventh inning. After reliever Christian Roa gave up two straight hits, Chandler Jozwiak would balk to advance both runners into scoring a position. The next batter, Derek Scott, would drive in a run with an RBI ground out.

ACU would score again in the top of the eighth. After loading the bases thanks to a double and an error, pinch-hitter Koby Claborn drew a walk to drive in a run.

Left-hander Kaylor Chafin got the spot start on the mound for the Aggies and worked two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts before turning the ball over to the bullpen the rest of the way.

“Just trying to be aggressive from the start — I feel like I’ve been passive lately — just trying to go at hitters and throw as many strikes as I can, force contact and let my defense work,” Chafin said of what was working well for him tonight on the mound.

Freshman lefty Dustin Saenz took over in the third inning and tossed three scoreless innings and got three punch outs, on his way to earning a win before giving way to Roa for a third of an inning. Roa gave up two hits before being pulled and was ultimately charged a run after Jozwiak took over. Following Jozwiak (1.1 IP) was Ruffcorn (0 IP), Lacy (0.1 IP) and Landon Miner would finish things off with a scoreless ninth inning. When it was all said and done, A&M used six relievers to put together nine innings.

Head coach Rob Childress said he liked what he saw on the mound from his arms tonight.

“Well I’m proud of the way we came out and took care of business, it all started on the mound — really proud of the first two lefthanders for working fast, attacking the strike zone and pitching with a lot of poise and confidence,” Childress said. “For me, that was the biggest thing from tonight…”

Two Aggies went down with injuries — Cole Taylor was injured in the outfield, as was Cole Bedford by a foul pitch straight to his mask. Childress said there were no updates about the two following the game.

The Aggies will return to the diamond Friday when they travel to take on Mississippi State in Starkville for a weekend series. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game can be seen on the SEC Network +.