Offensive explosion puts an exclamation point on A&M's series win over UGA, 23-9

Game #35: Texas A&M 23, No. 13 Georgia 9
Records: Texas A&M (22-13, 8-7), Georgia (26-10, 9-6)
WP: Brad Rudis (2-0)
LP: Michael Polk (0-2)
Box Score

Bonkers ballgame. Big-time blowout.

A Saturday slugfest led to an emphatic upset as Texas A&M knocked off No. 13 Georiga, 23-9, securing an incredible SEC series victory for the Maroon & White. The Aggies scored 17-unanswered runs across the final four innings in Athens.

"This is a big one," Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "Georgia has a great club. I know they're obviously without their No. 1 pitcher, but we're without some guys too."

A complete performance, every Aggie that made a plate appearance in the Saturday finale registered at least one hit, including Austin Stracener, who notched a pinch-hit ground-rule double with two outs in the ninth. Austin Bost's four knocks led a group of six Aggies who enjoyed multi-hit outings.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Austin Bost had four hits and scored four runs in a game that had no shortage of offensive firepower.

"It was a good day, obviously," Bost said. "Hits are contagious, so when my teammates are getting hits around me, it just helps me even more."

Nine A&M hitters drove in a run, and seven had multiple RBIs. Ryan Targac and Jordan Thompson each recorded four RBIs.

"You can't ask for more," Bost said. "It's just hit after hit."

A&M began the afternoon in a two-run hole as the Bulldogs tagged Micah Dallas for three consecutive hits in the bottom of the first.

The Ags responded with a six-run outburst in the second that featured a Targac two-run no-doubter and a Dylan Rock three-run blast to give the Ags a 6-2 lead.

Unfortunately, the usually-dependable Dallas failed to settle in and hold the lead. The Bulldogs scored once in the second before putting up six of their own in the fourth, chasing Dallas.

After a leadoff walk followed by an RBI single, Dallas gave way to Joseph Menefee, who fared no better against the hot-hitting Bulldogs. Leading 6-4 with nobody out in the fourth, Menefee served up four hits and two walks in the nightmarish inning.

When the fourth mercifully came to close, Georgia had assumed a 9-6 advantage.

Behind Menefee, Brad Rudis provided much-needed stability, taking over in the fifth and navigating four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and punching out five Bulldogs. The Madisonville native earned his second career victory for his efforts.

"Brad Rudis, obviously, was a big part of the game," Schlossnagle said. "Coming in and settling the storm a little bit, giving us a chance to get back in the ballgame."

With Rudis calming the Bulldog bats, the resilient Aggies stormed back.

Logan Britt tied the game with a three-run blast, and Troy Claunch drove in a pair to put A&M up 12-9 after the Aggies' second six-run inning of the day in the sixth. Claunch later tacked on another with an RBI groundout in the eighth.

A&M proceeded to blow it open in the ninth, scoring ten runs. With a two-touchdown cushion, pitcher Jack Hamilton made his collegiate debut in the bottom of the ninth.

The Aggies' 23 runs are a high-water mark this season and the most in a game since a 30-2 drubbing of Prairie View in 2020.

"It seemed like everything we swung at late in the game was on a barrel or fell in," Schlossngale said. "The second half of the game was just our day."

Perhaps lost in the offensive explosion is the fact that this is Texas A&M's second road series victory over a top-15 foe, and the Aggies will receive a considerable resume boost by taking two of three from the No. 4 RPI Bulldogs.

"It's huge," Bost said. "That's a great ballclub over there, and we're just ready for the next one."