Game #12: No. 22 Texas A&M 11, Incarnate Word 1 (7 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (11-1, 0-0), Incarnate Word (7-6, 2-1)
WP: Juan Vargas (1-0)
LP: Alejandro Vanegas (1-2)
Save: Josh Stewart (1)
Box Score
The pace was as if they were double-parked.
Which is good, considering West Campus parking was double-booked on Tuesday evening.
In a quick 2:24, No. 22 Texas A&M run-ruled Incarnate Word, 11-1, ensuring the 4,528 at Blue Bell Park could make the short walk to Reed Arena for the second half of the much more important basketball game in Aggieland.
“That was the goal,” A&M head coach Michael Earley joked.
Originally, Tuesday’s baseball game was set for 6:02 p.m., but when asked to move up the start to accommodate hoops, UIW obliged.
With the Aggies needing four runs to complete a run-rule, Cardinal pitching again obliged in the bottom of the seventh.
The final rally began with Jorian Wilson’s two-run blast and ended on Boston Kellner’s bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.
“I thought they did a fine job,” Earley said of the offense. “It was just solid, like solid baseball. I don’t think it was our best. I don’t think it was our worst. They got the job done. We filled it up on the mound. We scored the runs when we needed to score the runs.”
The evening’s proceeded started, well, quickly as right-hander Juan Vargas retired all nine Cardinals he faced in a pre-determined three-inning start.
UIW finally cracked the hit column and scoreboard in the fifth with a trio of singles, but with A&M protecting a 4-1 lead and two Cardinals on, Josh Stewart had his No. 12 called.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” he said. “We’ve had some games that have been close like that, but not really a Tuesday like that. It’s a really good feeling to have them trust me in that situation and want me to have the ball.
“Being an older guy, I’ve become comfortable in those chaotic situations and kind of have been through them a lot more than a freshman guy or something like that. It’s become something I’m OK being called to do.”
Earning an unlikely save given the final score, Stewart fanned all four batters he faced. Each Cardinal flailed at the devastating sweeper that has made the right-hander an important piece to the Aggie bullpen.
“We worked on it a lot that Omaha year with (Max) Weiner when he was here, and it really just kind of exploded and kind of became that pitch for me,” he said. “Just kind of been trying to lean back into it and get it to be as good as it has been.”
A&M’s offensive clinic began on Jake Duer’s leadoff home run in the second. He finished 3-for-3 with two singles, three RBI and a pair of walks as his average jumped to .432.
Earley likened his approach and production to Jack Moss, which is certainly high praise in College Station.
A transfer from Florida Atlantic by way of TCU and Flower Mound, Duer is aware that’s among the highest of compliments.
“I just stay to my routine, my standards of what I want to do in the box, and that’s hit the ball as hard as I can, no matter what, no matter the count, no matter the pitch,” Duer said. “I just want to move it onto the next guy, just keep the train rolling.
“I’ve watched (Moss) hit in here a couple of times. Obviously, I’ve watched every Wheels highlight video of all-time of any A&M games, so being able to be compared to someone who’s been kind of an elite hitter throughout his time here, it’s an honor.”
Adding to the offense, Gavin Grahovac drove in two with a third-inning double, and Ben Royo pushed A&M’s lead to 4-0 on a fourth-inning sacrifice fly.
A three-run sixth pushed the advantage to 7-1, leaving the Aggies four runs from getting to Reed.
“If I shower up and get going, I might catch the second half, so I’m excited,” Duer said. “Those guys have been having an excellent season. I hope those guys finish out with a win just like we did today.”
Wherever they’re headed, they’ll be tuned into Bucky McMillan & Co.
“I’m going home, but I’m going to watch,” Earley said. “You’re going home, too.”
