Texas A&M splits Friday doubleheader at Auburn, secures series win

Game #31: Auburn 10, Texas A&M 9
Records: Texas A&M (19-12, 4-7), Auburn (19-11-1, 4-7)
WP:  John Armstrong (6-1)
LP: Ty Sexton (1-1)
Save: Carlson Parker (1)
Box Score

Game #32: Texas A&M 12, Auburn 6
Records: Texas A&M (20-12, 5-7), Auburn (19-12-1, 4-8)
WP: Brad Rudis (4-0)
LP: Tommy Sheehan (0-1)
Box Score

Chances of heavy showers for Saturday forced a doubleheader between Texas A&M and Auburn on Friday.

Though the Aggies couldn’t escape the flood of Tiger runs in game one, falling 10-9, they drowned them in the nightcap with a pivotal 12-6 win to clinch their second straight Southeastern Conference series.

“This whole weekend has been huge for the whole team,” A&M freshman Jace LaViolette said, “I think everybody was really committed to the fastball. Our approach was there. Obviously, the first game didn’t go how we wanted it to. Put up a good fight in the ninth and fell short, but got the second game of the day out and got the dub.”

In many respects, game one was a mirror of Thursday’s opener — the Aggies nearly snared the Tigers with an early lead, but they retaliated with another mauling at the plate.

Similar reflection, except A&M couldn’t swing out a win this time.

Brett Minnich provided the best start possible with an emphatic three-run homer that jumped off his bat at 106 mph. LaViolette mangled his team-leading seventh and eighth dingers of the season — each for two runs — to keep the Aggies within striking distance throughout game one.

The pair finished a combined 8-for-15 on the day with 11 RBIs. Jack Moss ended 4-for-8 individually.

“We know how capable those guys are,” A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “They gave us a lot of free baserunners, and we got the hits where we needed to get them.”

Making his third start of the year, freshman Justin Lamkin found the strike zone on more than 60 percent of his pitches, but Auburn made plenty of contact.

Six consecutive hits in the first frame of Friday’s 18 foreshadowed A&M’s dismal fate. Cooper McMurray cracked a three-run bomb of his own to level the score before a pair of RBI singles pinned a lead the Tigers never relinquished — all occurring with two outs on the board.

Lamkin was pulled in the third inning, having conceded seven hits and seven runs in his third SEC start.

After LaViolette’s second homer on an 87 mph breaking ball, an RBI double by the Tigers in the sixth extended their lead to 10-7 ahead of a controversial ninth inning.

The Aggies immediately loaded the bases with Trevor Werner scoring on a fielder’s choice. One away, two straight walks refilled the bases before Hunter Haas singled through the right side.

LaViolette crossed the plate safely, but Kasen Wells — representing the tying run — was called out as he slid home as his feet narrowly missed home before his hand. Slow motion replay notioned that Wells may have actually been safe on account of Tiger catcher Carter Wright’s tag appearing inches away.

But the ruling stood, and Austin Bost lined out to left field to end game one.

The debatable call didn’t necessarily decide what could have been. Instead, squandered opportunities along the way covertly sunk A&M. The Aggies were the beneficiaries of 13 walks but stranded 12 runners.

That’s why they made sure the nightcap wouldn’t come down to the mercy of a game-changing call or wasted chances.

A&M held at least a two-run lead from the third inning beyond in game two.

CJ Smith, TexAgs

LHP Brandyn Garcia struck out six batters through 2.1 innings of work in game two. 

Once again, the Aggies claimed a quick 3-0 lead and never trailed despite Chris Cortez surviving just 2.0 innings. A quartet of relievers fronted by Brad Rudis and Brandyn Garcia held the Tigers to four hits and one run.

“I thought Garcia was outstanding, he was a big difference in the game,” Schlossnagle said. “Rudis did a nice job throwing strikes, but you know, we’re still an evolving team. We really need the next two days of rest bad.”

Schlossnagle added: “Garcia looked like the dominant pitcher he can be, so that’s a big sign for us.”

Three of A&M’s 12 runs came via bases-loaded walks — with LaViolette drawing two of them. Eight runs were also driven in with two outs, including three in the fifth that kept the Tigers at arm’s length the rest of the way.

“It’s weird to say this, but I’m just not thinking. I’m just going up there and having fun,” LaViolette said of his recent approach. “This game of baseball I’ve been playing since I was like four. Why did I start playing this game? Because it’s fun. I had to sit down and talk to some people, and they just told me it’s all about having fun.”

Although A&M’s starting pitching leaves much to be desired, the bats heating up at a critical juncture in the season is encouraging as the team looks to pull themselves above .500 in the conference standings.

Being able to come away with a crucial series victory under the stress of such a quick and dense turnaround is also likely to pay dividends in the future.

“Not just doubleheaders on the road, but three games in 24 hours, that’s a lot,” Schlossnagle said. “Especially on short rest from Tuesday traveling here. No rest for the weary, we need to get home and get ready for another big week.”