Aggies falter at the plate, suffer first loss of the season against Illinois in Frisco
Game #11: Illinois 1, No. 18 Texas A&M 0
Record: Texas A&M (10-1), Illinois (4-3)
WP: Ryan Kutt (1-0)
LP: Bryce Miller (0-1)
Save: Garrett Acton (3)
Box Score
Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.
That's how many runs No. 18 Texas A&M (10-1) mustered in a 1-0 loss to Illinois (4-3) in their opening contest of the Frisco College Baseball Classic on Friday night. The Aggies wasted a fantastic start from their ace, Asa Lacy, as they failed to find him any run support whatsoever.
"Give Illinois an awful lot credit," said Rob Childress. "I thought they played great. Their starter (Ty Weber) was outstanding."
With A&M's new-look offense, so much of what the Aggies do at the plate relies on getting the leadoff man aboard. A&M was 0-for-9 in getting that leadoff hitter on base in the ballgame, and the results clearly showed.
"Getting that guy on so we can play fast is what we're trying to do," said senior outfield Cam Blake said. "We're going to have to learn different ways to win the game within the offense. I think this is a great testament to where we have a long way to go, but we've got the pieces to do it."
The Aggies managed to get only five runners into scoring position, and not a single one reached third base. In the fifth inning, Ray Alejo was thrown out attempting to swipe third on a ball in the dirt. That was the closest the Aggies would get to plating a run.
"If I had it to do over again, I would still want him to go," said Childress. "We ask our guys to play fast and be aggressive and fearless. It was still a bang-bang play, but it certainly was a big spot for us based on who was up."
It wasn't until the bottom of the eighth inning that the Fighting Illini finally cracked the scoreboard. Following a one-out infield single off the bat of Taylor Jackson that bounced over the head of Bryce Miller and a subsequent stolen base, Branden Comia shot a single on a 1-2 pitch into right field that brought home Jackson for the game's only run. Illinois closer Garrett Acton slammed the door shut in the ninth.
"(Miller) made the right pitch, he just didn't execute it," said Childress.
All in all, it was a briskly played ballgame that was the textbook definition of a pitcher's duel between A&M's Asa Lacy and Illinois ace Ty Weber. Lacy tossed six innings of scoreless ball while allowing just two hits and punching out 11 Illini hitters on 105 pitches. He ran his fastball up to 95 mph, sitting in the 92-95 range.
"I thought we played really well tonight," Lacy said. "I thought they played their best game to beat us."
Weber was much more efficient, needing just 85 pitches to get through 6.2 innings before getting a surprising hook from the ballgame. Weber allowed just three hits.
"I thought we were real competitive all game," said senior outfielder Cam Blake. "That's just baseball for you."
The loss is A&M's first of the year and comes before their biggest test of the season when the Aggies face No. 10 UCLA tomorrow night, and the Ags will be eager to fix their offensive woes. That's about as tall of a task as there possibly could be as the Bruins have allowed just nine runs in nine games.
"We're going to have to respond," said Childress. "That's what this game is all about is responding. That's what I told them after the game."
On Saturday night, Christian Roa (2-0, 2.45 ERA) takes the ball for A&M opposite of UCLA's Nick Nastrini (1-0, 2.08 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas.