Texas A&M tames Cougars, 3-2, crowned Shriners Classic champions
Game #13: Texas A&M 3, Houston 2
Records: Texas A&M (11-2, 0-0), Houston (4-6, 0-0)
WP: Chandler Jozwiak (1-0)
LP: Lael Lockhart Jr (0-2)
S: Christian Roa (1)
Box Score
After dropping two of their last three games coming into the weekend, Texas A&M found their winning ways once again and completed a perfect weekend by beating Houston on Sunday afternoon, 3-2. The Aggies relied on timely hitting and another dominant day from their pitching staff to clinch the 2019 Shriners Classic tournament championship.
Texas A&M started the scoring in the 4th inning as Logan Foster smoked a double down the line, just inside of the third base bag, to score Shewmake from second base. Bryce Blaum, who had a sensational weekend in his hometown ballpark, followed that with a no doubt solo homerun over the Crawford Boxes in left to make it 2-0 Aggies. For Blaum, playing well in Minute Maid Park was a dream come true.
“It was the most fun I’ve ever had…[I’ve] sat out there since I was little,” said Blaum when asked if he had any memories in the same Crawford Boxes he hit two homeruns into this weekend. When the Aggies have needed a clutch hit or sensational defensive stop, Bryce Blaum has answered the bell for the Maroon and White. Blaum has been the spark that this A&M team has needed after battling through several close, hard fought games, and his team and coaches are very quick to give him that credit.
“Bryce Blaum is our energy. He brings everything that he has got and leaves it on the field. I would hope my son would grow up to play like he plays,” said Rob Childress when asked about his second baseman.
Despite the early lead, Houston didn’t back down. The Cougars came into the game winless on the weekend and they gave everything they had to try and knock off the Aggies. The Cougars would score their first run in the bottom of the 6th after a fielder’s choice brought third baseman Jared Triolo home. Texas A&M would add an insurance run in the 8th off the bat of Aaron Walters, but Houston roared back in the bottom half of the inning, plating their second run and putting men in scoring position with just one out.
With the momentum seemingly starting to shift in favor of the Cougars, A&M’s bullpen didn’t back down and relievers Bryce Miller and Joseph “Moo” Menefee struck out the last two hitters of the inning to escape the jam and turn it over to Christian Roa, who earned the save in the 9th.
“This was a big test for us, we played in a big venue against three great opponents and we didn’t blink. We aren’t firing on all cylinders yet but great teams find a way to win,” said Childress when asked about his pitching staff’s ability to shut down opposing hitters.
While the success on the field was incredible this weekend, the Aggies know that the Shriners College Classic is about so much more than just baseball.
“To be a part of something like Shriners Hospital and to have our guys go and visit those kids and try to inspire them, I think we leave more inspired than those kids are. We’re just very thankful to be a part of this,” said Childress with a smile.
The Aggies win today didn’t come without some bumps and bruises along the way, however. Starting pitcher Johnathan Childress left the game after feeling “forearm tightness” in his throwing arm during his warm up pitches. In addition, left fielder Cam Blake opened up a cut on his head after slamming into the wall. Childress said that they are evaluating both players and didn’t speculate further than to say that Blake should be fine at this time.
The Aggies will return home to College Station where they will take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Abilene Christian during the week before hosting Gonzaga this weekend.