A three-run bottom of the eighth broke a scoreless tie and lifted the No. 6 Texas A&M baseball team to a 3-0 win over Arizona Tuesday afternoon at Olsen Field while also clinching the Aggies’ championship at the NCAA College Station Regional.
“What a game, I don’t think you could ask for anything more from either team,” Texas A&M head coach Rob Childress added. “Each team gave each other as good a shot they could give it. I’d like to compliment Coach Lopez and Arizona. I thought they did it the hard way. Coming back after losing on Friday to Seton Hall all the way back to today’s game, they gave us everything we could handle for 18 innings. They have a very good program, but our guys are resilient.”
Freshman outfielder Krey Bratsen snapped the stalemate on the scoreboard with a two-out RBI single up the middle to plate the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Junior first baseman Jacob House tacked on two more runs to A&M’s total later in the inning as he notched a two-run double.
The title is the sixth regional championship for Texas A&M during play in the NCAA Tournament and the third under head coach Rob Childress.
Texas A&M will now advance to the Super Regional round where its destination will be Tallahassee, Fla., to face off against No. 5 national seed Florida State. The FSU-A&M series is set for Saturday-Monday at Dick Howser Stadium, with game times to be announced.
Texas A&M dodged a bullet in the top of the fifth as the Wildcats collected three hits in the inning, the last of which appeared poised to plate the game’s first run. However, when the final hit, a bloop single, landed it center field it was quickly scooped up by Bratsen, who gunned down UA catcher Jett Bandy at the plate with the help of a great tag from senior catcher Kevin Gonzalez.
Wacha was impressive during his second start at the tournament, tossing seven scoreless innings while limiting the Wildcats to just five hits and logging four strikeouts.
Senior Nick Fleece (7-1) tossed a scoreless top of the eighth to send the game to the bottom of the inning still tied at 0-0.
“Michael Wacha gave us an incredible performance and Nick Fleece and Ross Stripling both came in and did a great job,” Childress added. “We don’t get a bunt down in the first, the third and the sixth, who knows what happens. We’re not able to get the lead. Then, we make a big time defensive play in the fifth with Krey (Bratsen) throwing the catcher out at home plate. In the eighth inning, just like that, nothing’s going on and (Tyler) Naquin hits the double. Krey (Bratsen) gets the big hit, then an intentional walk, and another big two-strike, two-out hit. Our team just played great today.”
Arizona starter Kurt Heyer (8-5), who was also making his second start of the regional, was also effective on the mound as he kept the Aggies scoreless while working into the eighth inning.
However, Texas A&M was finally able to get to Heyer in the bottom of the eighth as a two-out double by Naquin kick started the Aggie offense. With the go-ahead run in scoring position at second, it was Bratsen who etched his name in Aggie baseball history with a sharp single up the middle to break the ice on the scoreboard.
Following an intentional walk to designated hitter Matt Juengel, House cashed in with the two-run double off UA reliever Bryce Bandilla.
Junior Ross Stripling, who tossed a complete game in a win over Seton Hall on Saturday, worked a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save of the season.