Targac's storybook RBI single closes A&M's run-rule of Arkansas

Game #55: No. 5 Texas A&M 14, No. 3 Arkansas 4 (7 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (44-11, 19-11), Arkansas (43-12, 20-10)
WP: Chris Cortez (8-2)
LP: Cooper Dossett (3-1)
Box Score 

Senior day is inherently special.

But on a sun-splashed Saturday, senior Ryan Targac enjoyed a moment that will long live in Aggie lore.

With No. 5 Texas A&M up nine on No. 3 Arkansas, head coach Jim Schlossnagle called upon the Hallettsville Hammer to pinch-hit in the seventh.

"Every decision and twist I've made has led up to that moment," a reflective Targac said postgame. "The choice to come here. The choice to stay here. The choice to keep working, day in and day out, no matter what the result is.

"It meant a lot. It meant a lot to me. It meant a lot to my family. Just happy to get the job done for the team."

His walk-off single that fell in front of Ty Wilmsmeyer scored Jace LaViolette and clinched a 14-4 run-rule victory.

In sealing the series victory, what remained of the 7,337 at Blue Bell Park went into a misty-eyed frenzy.

And after the Aggie dog pile and celebration in right field, the 12th Man embraced No. 12.

Chants of "Ry-An Tar-Gac! Ry-An Tar-Gac!" rained down as the crowd demanded a curtain call.

As the Aggies lined up to sing the War Hymn, Targac stepped forward to take a figurative bow.

"Chills," Targac said of the ovation. "Chills. I can watch stuff on TV with Hall of Famers and stuff like that, but having it happen to you... You can't explain the feeling."

Targac's moment somehow eclipsed A&M's complete and utter offensive annihilation of the Hogs.

It's also forgotten that A&M was clinging to a 5-4 advantage before exploding for six in the sixth to pull away.

Lost among the happy Aggie tears is the fact that A&M's big three — Gavin Grahovac, LaViolette and Braden Montgomery — each homered earlier in the game

Lost are Chris Cortez's masterful three scoreless innings of relief in which he fanned eight Razorbacks — all on sliders rather than 100 mph fastballs.

Even senior days for Hayden Schott (3-for-3 with three singles), Travis Chestnut (3-for-4 with a double and two singles) and Ted Burton (a three-run double) became footnotes.

And Targac's teammates are even happy to be overshadowed.

"That was probably the coolest moment in my Aggie career," Cortez said. "Bigger than Omaha. It has nothing to do with baseball. It has to do with the fans and how they make you feel. It's the reason why I came here.

"He's one of the best teammates I've ever been around. He's just a good guy to be around."

Even A&M football coach Mike Elko posted a virtual hat-tip on X.

And Targac's moving moment? It almost didn't happen.

With two-outs and Jackson Appel ahead 2-0, Schlossnagle called time.

From his post as the first-base coach (a position he has manned since last Sunday in Oxford), Targac was replaced by assistant coach Michael Earley.

Kelii Horvath, TexAgs

Ryan Targac’s final regular-season at-bat in Maroon & White resulted in his 122nd ​​​career RBI. 

"I screwed it up by not getting him in the dugout earlier. It had been on my mind the entire game to find a way to get him an at-bat," the Aggie skipper said. "Should have thought of it earlier, but (Earley) and I talked about it before the inning; who was going to run and coach first base?

"I hate to give Ryan such short notice, but what an awesome ending for an unbelievable human being."

Appel walked.

A couple of warm-up swings later, No. 12 was in the box against Dylan Carter.

Five pitches later, he delivered.

"I've coached a lot of awesome guys in their senior year," Schlossnagle said. "I remember taking some great players off the field with two outs in the ninth inning to let the crowd appreciate them, but to end the game against a great team, that probably ranks No. 1."

Now, the postseason looms.

A&M will be the No. 4-seed in next week's SEC Tournament and assuredly host a regional in Aggieland the week after that.

Indeed, the Aggies have lofty goals to still achieve.

And somehow, at least for one evening, what comes next is an afterthought.

Aggies often sing of a spirit that can ne'er be told.

On Saturday, Ryan Targac of Hallettsville, Texas, embodied it.