Aggies stumble as Sooners rumble in Men's College World Series opener, 13-8

Game #61: Oklahoma 13, #5 Texas A&M 8
Records: Oklahoma (43-22, 15-9), Texas A&M (42-19, 19-11)
WP: Jake Bennett (10-3)
LP: Nathan Dettmer (5-3)
Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. — Stealing isn’t necessary when everything is given away.

Well, not everything was free on Friday. But Texas A&M pitchers gave away so much Oklahoma, noted for its base-stealing acumen, didn’t need to run.

The Sooners are fourth in the nation in stolen bases. They were anticipated to aggressively challenge A&M catcher Troy Claunch. Only twice they attempted to steal bases. Both times Claunch threw out the runner.

That just raised the obvious question: Why run when you can walk?

A&M pitchers gave up 10 walks, hit three batters and committed a costly error. The Sooners capitalized with a three-run home run and a grand slam to topple the Aggies, 13-8, before 23,886 at Charles Schwab Field in the first game of the Men’s College World Series.

A&M (42-19) next faces either Texas or Notre Dame on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT in an elimination game.

“I think we gave up 19 free bases in the first four innings,” A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “If you would have told me we were going to score eight runs against their Friday starter (Jake Bennett), (David) Sandlin, who has been the Saturday guy, or weekend pitcher, and then the closer (Trevin Michael), I thought we would have had a good chance.

“But obviously we didn't pitch well. We didn't defend. Just gave up a lot of free bases. Then they got the big hit.”

Actually, the biggest hit for Oklahoma (43-22) might have been attributed to A&M.


Leading 1-0, the Sooners had one on and two out in the second inning. Nine-hitter Kendall Pettis faced an 0-2 count. The third pitch from starter Nathan Dettmer (5-3) hit Pettis on the elbow.

That opened the floodgates for a seven-run outburst.

The Sooners followed with an infield hit, a walk, a two-run single and an RBI single to chase Dettmer, who failed to get through five innings for the seventh-straight start.

Usually, reliable receiver Joseph Menefee came in but gave up a three-run home run to catcher Jimmy Crooks.

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Nathan Dettmer gave up seven runs in the first 1.2 innings in Friday’s defeat against the Sooners.

Two innings later, Oklahoma took advantage of a bunt single, a Menefee throwing error and a walk to load the bases.

That prompted a mound visit from Schlossnagle, who tried to settle down Menefee. He didn’t.

Second baseman Jackson Nicklaus belted the next pitch for a grand slam.

“Just trying showing a little confidence in (Menefee),” Schlossnagle said. “Definitely felt like Moo has been great for us all year. We set the table too much. You can't set the table. Moo is our best fielding pitcher, a really good fielding pitcher and made two errors.

“You combine that with hit batters and the walks, and what do you think's going to happen? But I was just trying to pump him up a little bit. Didn't go our way.”

A&M would not go away, however.

The Aggies have made a habit of posting come-from-behind victories this season. Rallying from significant deficits has become almost routine.

However, they faced a more difficult challenge. Oklahoma left-hander Bennett (10-3) is among the nation’s top pitchers. He’s projected to go within the top three rounds of the Major League Baseball draft.

Hitting him figured to be difficult.

It was. Until the bottom of the second inning. Then, Troy Claunch and Brett Minnich laced back-to-back singles with two outs. Jordan Thompson followed with a 372-foot three-run home run. Austin Bost led off the fourth inning with a solo home run.

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Jordan Thompson’s three-run bomb gave the Aggies a glimmer of hope early on.

Bennett exited after the sixth inning with a 12-4 lead. A&M took advantage and picked up run-scoring singles from Kole Kaler, Trevor Werner and Jack Moss and a Dylan Rock RBI to pull within 12-8.


But the Aggies got no closer. Michael pitched scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth to seal the Oklahoma win and send A&M into the loser’s bracket.

Schlossnagle, obviously disgusted with the pitching, is convinced the Aggies can fight through the loser’s bracket and remain in contention to win the national championship.

He acknowledged that will require much better pitching. At the very least, the Aggies cannot give away free bases.

“In order for us to play deep into this tournament, someone is going to have to give us something,” Schlossnagle said. “I think Micah Dallas is capable of doing that. I know (Ryan) Prager is, and (Brad) Rudis is. There are enough guys down there for us to battle in this thing.

“But we can't give away free bases. Doesn't matter if the game is played in this ballpark or at Bellevue East. It doesn't matter. It's bad baseball. You play bad baseball, you're going to get your tail kicked.”