COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Aggie freshman Zach DeLoach singled to rightfield with one out in the ninth to push two runs across as the No. 11 Texas A&M Aggies conjured up Olsen Magic to beat the Rhode Island Rams, 4-3, at Blue Bell Park on Saturday afternoon.
DeLoach’s heroics followed a pair of clutch two-strike hits and a sacrifice bunt. Logan Foster started the frame, fighting back from a 1-2 count to foul off two pitches before bouncing a 2-2 offering up the middle for a single. Pinch-hitter Allonte Wingate, was unable to get a sac bunt down, falling behind 1-2. He also worked the count to 2-2 before slipping a single through the right side of the infield. Baine Schoenvogel pushed both runners into scoring position with a bunt and DeLoach ended the game with his fourth hit of the day.
Offensively, Texas A&M (2-0) registered double-digit hits for the second consecutive game. DeLoach went 4-for-5 with one triple, one run and two RBI. Cole Bedford was 2-for-3 with a double. Braden Shewmake had two RBI with a double and a sacrifice fly.
John Doxakis (1-0) was a bulldog out of the bullpen to pick up the win. He scattered two hits and a hit batsmen while striking out eight in 6.0 shutout innings.
SCORING SUMMARY
B1 | DeLoach hit a leadoff triple and scored two batters later when Shewmake flied out to deep rightfield for the seal breaker. A&M 1, URI 0
T2 | Rhode Island (0-2) offered an immediate response with Greg Cavaliere hitting a leadoff triple and Laurence Hill following with an RBI double. Aggie starter Chandler Jozwiak battled back to induce two pop ups and a groundout to end the frame. A&M 1, URI 1.
T3 | The Rams used a two-out rally to wrangle the lead. With two outs, Jordan Powell walked, stole second and moved to third on throwing error. Cavaliere plated Powell with a single, stole second base and scored on Hill’s second double of the game. URI 3, A&M 1.
B8 | The Aggies benefited from a Rhody error with Michael Helman reaching on shortstop Matt Daller’s gaffe. Shewmake followed with a triple to put the tying run 90 feet from home. Rams’ reliever Nick Johnson buckled down to get a pop up and two strikeouts to strand Shewmake at third base. URI 3, A&M 2.
B9 | Texas A&M rallied with Rhode Island’s career saves leader Tyler Barss on the mound. Foster and Wingate singled to start the frame and Schoenvogel pushed both runners into scoring position with a sac bunt. DeLoach ended the game stroking a 1-1 pitch to shallow right-center for a two-run single. A&M 4, URI 3.
NEXT UP
The Aggies look for the sweep Sunday with a noon game at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. Mitchell Kilkenny gets the start for Texas A&M with Vitaly Jangols toeing the rubber for the Rams.
Texas A&M head coach Rob Childress
Aggie LHP John Doxakis
Aggie OF Allonte Wingate
Aggie OF Zach DeLoach
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics