Aggies fanned 13 times in series-opening loss to Ole Miss in Oxford, 4-3

Game #50: Ole Miss 4, No. 3 Texas A&M 3
Records: Texas A&M (41-9, 16-9), Ole Miss (26-23, 10-15)
WP: Wes Mendes (2-1)
LP: Evan Aschenbeck (4-1)
Save: Connor Spencer (7)
Box Score

For the third time in four tries. Texas A&M has faltered on the road.

On Friday night, the third-ranked Aggies dropped the series opener to Ole Miss at Swayze Field, 4-3.

Again, the offense sputtered. Ole Miss pitching fanned 13 Aggies.

Again, the defense made uncharacteristic mistakes. 

Again, A&M had a shot to tie the game in the ninth.

Ultimately, the eighth inning sank the Aggies.

With Ole Miss trailing 3-2, star DH Andrew Fischer began the frame with a single.

After a throwing error by Evan Aschenbeck on a pick-off attempt moved him to third, Fischer scored on Jackson Ross’ RBI double to even the score.

It was Ross’ second RBI of the night as the Rebel left fielder finished 2-for-4 and scored the game-winning run on Ethan Groff’s sacrifice fly two batters later.

That saddled Aschenbeck with his first loss of the year. It also left Ryan Prager with a no-decision after he departed one out short of reaching the threshold for a quality start.

Judd Utermark’s second-inning solo shot and a two-out RBI single by Ross a frame later was the only damage against the Aggie ace.

For the fifth time this year, Prager punched out double digits.

But the duo of starter Riley Maddox and reliever Wes Mendes combined for 11.

Maddox allowed singular markers in the first and second innings on Jackson Appel’s RBI single and Kaeden Kent’s solo homer, respectively.

Beyond that, Maddox was brilliant.

As was Mendes in a pair of hitless innings.

To highlight how well the Rebels pitched, the Aggies’ big three — Gavin Grahovac, Jace LaViolette and Braden Montgomery — combined to go 1-for-13 with six strikeouts.

The only hit was Montgomery’s two-out single off Connor Spencer in the ninth. Ole Miss’ closer had already punched out Grahovac and LaViolette earlier in the inning.

A&M mustered just seven hits. Former Ivy Leaguers Appel (3-for-4) and Hayden Schott (2-for-3) were the lone Aggies to record mult-hit evenings.

Obviously, that offensive production was not enough.

Much like last weekend in Baton Rouge, a previously scuffling pitching staff appears up to the task against a vaunted Aggie lineup.

At least that was the story for the Rebs on Friday.

The series continues on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT.