No. 1 Aggies, No. 20 Bulldogs split Saturday’s derby-like doubleheader

Game #43: No. 1 Texas A&M 19, No. 20 Georgia 9 (7 INN)
Records: Texas A&M (38-5, 15-5), Georgia (30-12, 9-11)
WP: Shane Sdao (3-0)
LP: Brian Zeldin (3-2)
Box Score

Game #44: No. 20 Georgia 5, No. 1 Texas A&M 4
Records: Texas A&M (38-6, 15-6), Georgia (31-12, 10-11)
WP: Kolten Smith (6-2)
LP: Chris Cortez (6-2)
Save: Christian Mracna (1)
Box Score

Polar opposite games, but no polar bears in sight for the Aggies.

No. 1 Texas A&M split a Saturday doubleheader with No. 20 Georgia in games that were much different than each other. 

In the first game, the Maroon & White went down nine runs in the top of the first before rattling off 19 unanswered runs to run-rule the Bulldogs. However, in the second game, Georgia got the upper hand, winning 5-4 in an old-fashioned duel.

“Proud of our team. It’s been a long two days, man,” A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “It says a lot about Georgia’s team and what they did in the second game. Look forward to some rest.” 

In Game 1, the Aggies quickly found themselves in a 9-0 hole. Three long balls, including a two-run shot from the nation’s home run leader Charlie Condon and a grand slam.

However, if you haven’t realized it yet, no lead is safe against the Aggie bats.

Before the Bulldogs could record an out in the first, Jace LaViolette smashed a two-run home run to center. Three batters later, Ted Burton hit his third home run of the series — a two-run shot to put the Aggies within five runs.

Following an RBI double from Caden Sorrell, Travis Chestnut sent a three-run bomb off the scoreboard in left, and the 9-0 deficit swiftly became a one-run game. 

17 total runs scored in the first inning on six home runs and 11 hits. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of 17 runs being scored in the first inning of a game, or anything close to that,” Schlossnagle said. “I was proud of our team.” 

After the Aggies fell behind by nine runs, not many would have predicted that the Maroon & White would end up run-ruling the Bulldogs. 

A&M didn’t care, though. 

Braden Montgomery tied the game in the third frame, drawing a bases-loaded walk. 

In the sixth, A&M got its second eight-run inning of the game to pull away from the Bulldogs. 

Sorrell got the offensive explosion started with a two-run base hit through the left side. The big blow in the inning came off the bat of Montgomery, who smoked a grand slam to center field.

“Teddy Two Bombs” capped off the inning with his second home run of the game, following a two-homer performance in Friday night’s game.

Following a Sorrell walk in the seventh inning, Chestnut ended the game with his second homer that carried over the left field wall due to the strong wind conditions. 

On the mound, Tanner Jones was removed in the second inning, and then the bullpen held firm while the offense went to work.

Kelly Cothern, TexAgs

The Maroon & White’s six homers in Saturday’s first game are a new season high.

Shane Sdao highlighted the outings from the bullpen, throwing four scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. Sdao’s performance was crucial in the Aggies pulling off the run rule as he shut down a tough Georgia lineup.

“We knew he was going to play a role in one of the two games. It was just a matter of picking one,” Schlossnagle said. “He had a great day. Tough day to pitch, man. Tough day.” 

In total, the bullpen accounted for 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out six. 

After an emotional game, it’s not hard to imagine how difficult it was for both sides to flip the switch. Game 2 didn’t have nearly as much offensive fireworks, but the entertainment was there nonetheless. 

A&M’s offense picked up where it left off at the start as Jackson Appel drove in LaViolette in the first with a single to right field. Two innings later, LaViolette left the yard for the 22nd time this season. 

However, that would be all the offense had to offer for a little while. 

The Aggies starter Justin Lamkin and the Bulldogs starter Kolten Smith had a highly competitive pitcher’s duel. 

Lamkin, who had a rough outing in the final game last weekend against Alabama, pitched 5.2 scoreless innings of ball, allowing one hit and striking out seven. 

“Justin was awesome,” Schlossnagle said. “Speaks a lot to how hard he works and Max (Weiner) gave him a new pitch, a little bit different wrinkle in his breaking ball.” 

On the flip side, Smith went six innings, allowing just two runs in the first three innings and punching out 11 Aggie batters.  

“Thank goodness he didn’t come in the game up 9-0,” Schlossnagle said, reflecting on the previous game. 

Chris Cortez relieved Lamkin, finishing off the sixth before running into trouble in the seventh. 

The Bulldog shortstop Kolby Branch led off the inning with a solo shot. The next batter, Henry Hunter, singled before Tre Phelps gave UGA the lead with a two-run pinch-hit homer. 

Weston Moss was brought in to face Condon for a right-righty matchup, but the duel was won by the Bulldog, who launched his third home run of the season to left, giving Georgia a 5-2 lead.

In the bottom of the frame, A&M had the first three hitters reach but were only able to come within a run on an RBI single from LaViolette and a sac-fly from Appel. 

An inning later, the Aggies threatened to tie it. Hayden Schott led off with a walk before Ali Camarillo punched a single through the left side. 

However, Bulldog reliever Christian Mracna punched out Sorrell, Chestnut and Gavin Grahovac in order to end the threat. 

Mracna then struck out the side in the ninth to end it, successfully getting the Aggie bats to chase the high fastball. He faced six batters, punching all six of them out on strikes. 

A&M is now 3-4 in the final game of its SEC series, as another finale loss will leave a bitter taste in the teams' mouth. 

However, it’s hard to be upset when they have won six conference series in a row while sitting at 15-6 in SEC play.

“It stinks when it’s the third game, and you lose because of that taste in your mouth when the weekend is over, but given the situation and being down 9-0 to win the game and win the series against a great team, that’s awesome,” Schlossngale said. 

The Aggies will host Tarleton on Tuesday night before traveling to Baton Rouge to play a series with LSU.