HOOVER, Alabama – The Texas A&M Aggies run in the SEC Tournament came to an end in the semifinal round with a 2-1 loss to the No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday at the Hoover Met.
Aggie starter Mitchell Kilkenny (8-4) battled through 6.0 innings, yielding two runs on eight hits and one hit batsman while striking out seven. Cason Sherrod threw two scoreless frames on relief work in his 74th career appearance, moving him into the top-10 in Texas A&M history. Nolan Hoffman worked the ninth, sending the Rebels down in order.
Texas A&M was stellar on defense, turning four double plays, including a 3-6 and two 5-3s.
The Aggie bats had opportunities throughout the ballgame, putting the barrel on the ball throughout and striking out just four times, but the ball didn’t elude Rebels’ gloves in key situations. Texas A&M put up eight hits and two walks, but only managed one hit with runners in scoring position, leaving nine men on base. Michael Helman, Braden Shewmake and Logan Foster each finished 2-for-4 on the day, with Foster logging the lone extra-base hit, a triple in the second.
NEXT UP
Texas A&M now awaits word on an NCAA Championship bid. The field of 64 will be announced on Monday, May 28 at 11:00 a.m. broadcast live on ESPU.
SCORING SUMMARY
T4 | Ole Miss drew first blood in the top of the fourth. The first two batters in the frame got in scoring position with a single by Nick Fortes and a double by Thomas Dillard. Cole Zaboski knocked in Fortes with a groundout to short and Dillard came home on a single to leftfield by Will Golsan. OM 2, A&M 0.
B8 | The Aggies finally broke the scoring seal with a two-out rally in the eighth. Shewmake started the rally by bouncing a single through the right side of the infield and Chris Andritsos reached on a fielding error by the Ole Miss third baseman. Foster pushed Shewmake across with a single to right field. Texas A&M loaded the bases on a four-pitch walk to Chandler Morris, but Allonte Wingate swung and missed at a full-count offering to end the frame. OM 2, A&M 1.
TEXAS A&M NOTES
- For the second consecutive game, Aggie pitching did not to yield a walk. Since their last walk, in the ninth inning against Georgia, the Aggie staff has recorded 25 strikeouts.
- The two teams combined to hit 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
- Helman led the Aggies in hits for the SEC Tournament with a 6-for-14 week.
- Texas A&M yielded just four earned runs on the week, fanning 43 and walking five. They held opponents to a .197 batting average against.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics