Aggie bats heat up, run rule A&M Corpus Christi, 12-2 (7 innings)
Game #14: No. 20 Texas A&M 12, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 2
Records: Texas A&M (12-2, 0-0), AMCC (9-5, 0-0)
WP: Dustin Saenz (1-0)
LP: Tyler Miller (0-1)
Box Score
Over the weekend the Aggies showed that they have one of the best pitching staffs in the country, allowing just four runs in 27 innings. On Tuesday afternoon, the Maroon and White utilized the bats and run ruled the Islanders of A&M-Corpus Christi, 12-2, in seven innings.
Texas A&M was led offensively by shortstop Braden Shewmake (1-3 with 4 RBIs) and left fielder Cam Blake (2-4 with 3 RBIs).
“I was just trying to get my best swing off,” said Blake during his postgame interview. “I made some adjustments midgame and just really tried to drive through the center of the field like our approach is.”
They say hitting is contagious and that was absolutely the case on a chilly Tuesday afternoon as the Aggies amassed 10 hits to the Islanders 4. In addition to the hot bats, A&M hitters also showed a propensity for patience as they drew an astounding 12 walks on the day, juxtaposed to only 1 strike out.
“We’ve been waiting to kind of break out in a game like this,” said Aggie backstop Mikey Hoehner. “It finally happened and hopefully we carry that into tomorrow and this weekend.”
Today the Aggies scored frequently and they found ways to group runs together for an impressive victory. The scoring started in the first inning when Braden Shewmake knocked home Bryce Blaum on a sac fly to center field. Later in the inning, Chandler Morris would single home the second run and give the Ags a lead they would never relinquish.
Texas A&M kept their foot on the gas in the 4th and 5th innings as Hoehner, Shewmake, Morris and Blake all drove home runs, extending the Aggie lead to 7-1. Corpus Christi would get their final run in the 6th on an RBI groundout by DH Joey Werner, but it wasn’t nearly enough to match the Aggie onslaught.
The Aggies would score two more in the 6th when Mason Corbett scored on a wild pitch and Cam Blake slugged a two RBI double down the right field line. Braden Shewmake would walk it off for the Maroon and White with a two RBI single in the 7th.
While the Aggie bats were impressive, so too was the pitching staff. Dustin Saenz got the start for Texas A&M, and while he didn’t record a strike out, he established control of the plate early and often.
“We’ve got guys who have good stuff. Everyone loves the strikeout, but sometimes you’ve got to find a way to get outs and we certainly did that today,” said head coach Rob Childress.
In total, the Aggies played one of the best games of their season, a fact that will surely encourage everyone in the club house.
“It was the most complete game that we have played all year,” said Childress. “Really glad we started the week off the right way.”
While today was almost entirely positive for Texas A&M, sad news did break that the club will be without the services of freshman Johnathan Childress moving forward. The young lefty sustained an elbow injury warming up for the 4th inning against Houston on Sunday.
“He’ll be having surgery next week. [We’re] very disappointed for him as hard as he has worked to put himself in the position that he was in. He’ll bounce back and make a full recovery and we will have him next year,” said the Aggie skipper. Childress affirmed that the injury was indeed UCL related.
Texas A&M improved to 12-2 on the season after today’s win and will lace up the cleats again tomorrow for a Wednesday night match-up with the Abilene Christian Wildcats. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with LHP Chris Weber on the mound for Texas A&M.