COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies were doomed by Incarnate Word’s four-run fifth inning in a 6-5 loss to the Cardinals Wednesday evening on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
After falling behind 6-2, the Texas A&M clawed back with two runs in the home half of the fifth and a run in the sixth, but were unable to push the tying run across.
Offensively, seven Aggies accounted for Texas A&M’s eight hits. Braden Shewmake went 2-for-5 with two RBI, while Ty Colemanwas 1-for-3 with a double, one run, one walk and a RBI.
Aggie starter Chris Weber labored through 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while fanning two. Christian Roa (1-1) suffered the loss in relief for the Maroon & White, throwing 1.2 innings, allowing three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one. Mason Cole recorded a career-high in innings pitched (2.1), scattering three hits while fanning two.
Texas A&M fell to 8-2 on the season, while Incarnate Word improved to 7-2.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M heads to Minute Maid Park for the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. The Aggies open play Friday, March 1 with first pitch at 7:02 p.m. against the Baylor Bears.
SCORING SUMMARY
T1 | Sean Arnold led off the game drawing a six-pitch walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ryan Gonzalez followed with a single to center to put runners on the corners. Kyle Bergeron hit a sacrifice fly to center, plating Arnold. UIW 1, A&M 0.
B2 | Cam Blake reached first base on an infield single to first and scored on a double to leftfield by T. Coleman. Zach DeLoach roped a two-out single to left, plating Coleman from second, to regain the lead.
A&M 2, UIW 1.
T3 | Ryan Gonzalez singled through the left side of the infield and came in to tie the game on a double to right-center by Taylor Smith. A&M 2, UIW 2.
T5 | Smith drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a single to leftfield by Bergeron. Valdez lined a single to right-center plating Smith and putting runners on the corners. Valdez moved over to second on a stolen base and came in to score with Bergeron on a three-run blast to left by Jordan Thompson. UIW 6, A&M 2.
B5 | Bryce Blaum singled to leftfield and advanced to third on a roped double by Logan Foster. Shewmake cut the deficit in half with a single to left-center, scoring Blaum and Foster. UIW 6, A&M 4.
B6 | Hunter Coleman singled to center on a 0-2 offering and moved over to second on a pass ball. DeLoach drew a four-pitch walk, before Mason Corbett dropped in a sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners into scoring position. Blaum knocked in Coleman on a fielder’s choice to shortstop. UIW 6, A&M 5.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Rob Childress
On the lineup…
“Well we felt really good with the lineup we ran out, with nine guys we wanted in the game. Give Incarnate Word credit. They played better than we did, they played harder than we did. They deserve the win more than we did.”
On seeing improvement in the team…
“A little bit better offensively, still sputter a little bit. Felt like Incarnate Word was much more offensive tonight than we were by a long shot. Pitching-wise we weren’t very good for the first four innings. We were fortunate enough to keep it as close as we did. We made some big pitches at times and plays to get off the field to keep it close and give ourselves a chance. Mason Cole was fabulous, as well as Kasey Kalich just giving us a chance. We were fortunate enough to have that chance, just wasn’t taking advantage of it.”
On what needs to be worked on…
“We need to see more guys make more consistent hard contact, up and down the line up. Have the pitcher on our heels a little bit, we just don’t do that consistently right now.”
On Minute Maid Classic…
“It’s going to be a great tournament, we know we are going to play. We aren’t going to have to concern ourselves with the weather. We are playing three outstanding teams and we got a long history with. Certainly an opportunity to find out where we are playing that level of competition. We are going to know a lot more about our team Sunday night than we know today.”
Junior SS Braden Shewmake
On his confidence headed into this tough weekend…
“I don’t know if feeling good is the right word to use. We’re not. We didn’t play as well as we could have tonight, and individual stuff doesn’t matter at this point. We want to win baseball games, and I would rather struggle and win than feel good and us not win. It’s nice to square some balls up yes, but, at the end of the day, we’re looking to win.”
On adjustments made leading into this week…
“More mental adjustments than anything. I’ve done a lot of talking to Coach Childress and the coaches about staying relaxed, and not pressing, not trying to go hit the pull side home run or anything like that, just stick to the big side of the field and hit line drives and stick to who you are.”
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics