COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 22 Texas A&M Aggies got clutch hitting from Allonte Wingate and a spectacular group effort on the mound to outclass the Gonzaga Bulldogs, 3-1, in Sunday’s rubber match on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
The Aggies only had four at-bats with runners in scoring position Sunday, but Wingate made the most of the pair he got, clubbing a pair of two-strike singles to account for A&M’s three runs. Wingate finished 2-for-3 with three RBI on the day. Ty Coleman scored two of the runs, as he also registered 2-for-3 effort.
Christian Roa worked 4.1 innings as the Texas A&M starter, allowing one run on five hits while striking out four. Joseph “Moo” Menefee, Bryce Miller and Kasey Kalich combined for 4.2 innings of shutout relief. Menefee (1-0) earned the win with one hit and one walk in 1.1 innings. Miller scattered one hit and one walk while striking out two in 1.2 innings. Kalich fanned two of the six batters he faced in 1.2 innings for his fifth save of the season.
The Aggies wrapped up their last weekend of non-conference action with 15-3 record. The Maroon & White have 30 SEC games and eight Tuesday tilts remaining on the schedule.
UP NEXT
The Aggies make their first-ever trip to Horner Ballpark to play the Dallas Baptist Patriots Tuesday evening. Game time is 6:30 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
T2| Ryan Sullivan hit a 2-1 offering over the leftfield fence for a leadoff home run. Zags 1, 0 Ags 0.
B2 | With one out, Mikey Hoehner drew a 10-pitch walk and Ty Coleman gapped a single to left-center. With two outs, both runners moved into scoring position with a balk. Wingate plated the pair, dropping a 1-2 offering onto the chalk down the rightfield line. Ags 2, Zags 1.
B7 | Ty Coleman punched a leadoff single to leftfield and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cam Blake. Wingate worked the count full before driving a single to left-center, knocking in Coleman with the insurance run. Ags 3, Zags 1.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Rob Childress
On getting the series win…
“Well this was our opportunity today. We haven’t had that on a Sunday yet, with the chance to win the series and the other team having that same opportunity as well. We’ve found a lot of ways win throughout the first 18 games of the year, and certainly pitching, defense, and timely hitting was a great recipe for today. We did a lot of great things with two strikes as well at times when it mattered most.”
On Christian Roa and if he has finalized his Sunday spot…
“I think Christian Roa has done a great job for us. His first start he got us off unto the fifth inning and did a wonderful job. We made a move early because we had those guys rested and ready to go, but I’m very proud of Roa. I thought he got better as his outing went on. He got more aggressive and started working a little faster. He attacked the strike zone, and I don’t even know if there was a mistake. He threw a 2-1 slider and their guy didn’t miss it. That was the only blemish on the day all the way around on the mound.”
On Allonte Wingate and the versatility, he brings to the lineup…
“He’s like a Swiss Army knife. Obviously, he was important today. We set some innings up, and he had some big two-strike at-bats to drive in the three runs we scored today. He did a wonderful job.”
Freshman INF Ty Coleman
On getting more comfortable in the starting lineup…
“Yeah, it’s interesting being a freshman and getting to play this early. It’s all for my teammates and because of the teammates, with the way they push me. There’s obviously a battle for positions everywhere, and I’m just fortunate to be put in that situation this early.”
On where the team is as a whole heading into SEC play…
“We’re confident with ourselves right now. Our pitchers are unbelievable. They’re attacking the zone with a three pitch mix every time they go out. Our offense, with that kind of pitching, just needs to get four or five runs. We’re confident our pitchers are going to hold that lead and get a win for us.”
Sophomore RHP Christian Roa
On today’s performance…
“I know my job was to go out there and give us a chance to win and just let my defense work behind me. Coach (Childress) did a great job of calling pitches and Mikey (Hoehner) was unbelievable behind the plate. Gonzaga is a really good team. They had a really great approach and they were really disciplined at the plate. Just going out there and giving my team the best chance to win was all I was trying to do.”
On if went out with different mindset knowing there was rested pitchers to back him up…
“I’m just taking it inning-by-inning, pitch-by-pitch. I’m just doing the best I can to let my defense work. Just knowing I have some really good arms behind me, is a great feeling as a pitcher. Those guys behind me did a unbelievable job behind me, to get the hold.
Senior OF/INF Allonte Wingate
On plating all three runs…
“A huge part was my teammates getting on base and setting up runs. Getting the opportunity to cash in, and actually coming through for my team is huge for me.”
On being a utility player…
“Just helping out the team, being as versatile as possible, getting different guys on the field and different lineups in there. I think it’s a big help for us as we move forward because guys might go down and guys get more opportunities when I can move around. It just a big thing for team. ”
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics