Braden Shewmake comes alive as Aggies top UIC, 4-0
Game #7: Texas A&M 4, Illinois-Chicago 0
Records: Texas A&M (7-0, 0-0), Illinois-Chicago (0-5, 0-0)
WP: Asa Lacy (2-0)
LP: Patrick Martin (0-1)
Box Score
After entering the game just hitting .150 in the Aggies’ first six games, junior Braden Shewmake found his groove on Saturday afternoon, hitting two triples and notching a RBI. The preseason First Team All-SEC selection had garnered just three hits in the Aggies’ first six games.
“There are some ups and downs, but the great thing about this team is that we are so tight-knit that everyone keeps you up even when you are struggling,” Shewmake said. “The coaches are doing a great job of instilling in everyone’s head just to swing hard and great things will happen.”
The Aggies’ starting pitcher on Saturday, Asa Lacy, put together another stellar outing, allowing just two hits in six innings pitched and notching a career-high 10 strikeouts. Despite the strong performance, Lacy had some command issues in the first inning, giving up a hit, a walk and hitting a batter. Though the errant sequence loaded the bases with one out, Lacy was able to get out of the jam after a play at the plate and a strike out.
“It was huge to get out of that first inning, that was huge — it kept the momentum on our side. I think I was just a little bit amped up,” Lacy said. “I would say that I didn’t have my best stuff today, but we played great defense today which helped us a lot.”
Newcomers Joseph Menefee and Bryce Miller headlined an outstanding relief effort after Lacy left the game; the duo didn’t allow a hit in 2.2 innings pitched, and Miller struck out three.
“There were moments for us to crumble on the mound but we didn’t — we made pitches when we had to — the bullpen was outstanding,” A&M head coach Rob Childress said. “When you can pitch and play defense you have a chance no matter who you are playing against.”
Perhaps the most outstanding defensive play of the day came in the top of the seventh as Ty Condel dove head first to catch a short fly ball in center field, which likely saved a run. Condel, who made his first career start for the Aggies on Saturday afternoon, made his presence felt in the field and with the bat in his hands. Condel singled to right field in the sixth inning to drive Chandler Morris home.
“I would have to go with the catch. I always love playing defense behind my guys no matter what,” Condel said of whether he was more proud of his catch or hit. “It felt really nice to get a start out there, I trusted the coaches and their plan and everything worked out, I’m happy.”
The Aggies will look to sweep Illinois-Chicago and keep their unblemished record intact on Sunday afternoon as Jonathan Childress takes the mound. The game will be televised on SEC Network+ with the first pitch coming at 1:02 p.m.