In a marquee non-conference match-up Tuesday night at Olsen Field, the No. 11 Texas A&M baseball team notched a 2-0 victory over visiting No. 13 Cal State Fullerton in front of 4,403 fans.
The win springboards the Aggies into Big 12 play with wins in five of their last six games and an overall record of 13-4. Texas A&M opens conference play this weekend when it travels to Norman, Okla., to battle No. 2 Oklahoma at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
Tuesday’s contest turned into a pitcher’s duel between Texas A&M’s Ross Stripling and Jake Floethe of Cal State Fullerton. Both hurlers kept the opposing offense off balance and the game scoreless until the seventh inning when the Aggies made their move.
Freshman outfielder Krey Bratsen singled sharply to center to lead off the frame for his second hit of the night and was followed by sophomore outfielder Tyler Naquin, who also notched his second base knock of the contest with a hot shot that found its way thought the left side.
Junior designated hitter Matt Juengel reached on a two-strike bunt single in the next at bat to give the Aggies the bases loaded with no outs in the inning.
Despite the Aggies’ opportunity to take command of the game, Floethe was able to retire Jacob House on a pop up and record an out at home on a fielder’s choice in the next at bat, leaving the Titan pitcher on the verge of putting another zero on the scoreboard.
However, the next Aggie to come to the plate, senior shortstop Kenny Jackson, was able to put a ball in play that was mishandled by Cal State Fullerton first baseman Nick Ramirez. The miscue allowed Naquin to score from third while Juengel alertly and aggressively also came home to score from second.
Stripling (3-1) was lifted as the game went to the eighth, finishing with just three hits allowed and five strikeouts in seven shutout innings. The win came as a measure of redemption for Stripling, who pitched in a losing effort against Cal State Fullerton as a freshman on March 10, 2009, when the Titans defeated the Aggies 15-5 at Olsen Field.
Senior Nick Fleece kept the Titans off the board in the eighth and right-hander Joaquin Hinojosa was brought in to begin the ninth. Cal State Fullerton (8-7) attempted to rally off Hinojosa, who allowed a walk and a single to put bring the go-ahead run to the plate with just one out in the frame.
Texas A&M head coach Rob Childress decided to bring a familiar face out of the bullpen as John Stilson, who earned All-America honors after racking up 10 saves a year ago, entered the contest. The junior closer-turned-starter notched a strikeout and a ground out to earn his first save of the season and secure the Aggies’ first win over a ranked opponent this season.