COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies completed the three-game series sweep of the Penn State Nittany Lions with a 5-2 win Sunday on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. The victory gave A&M its first 7-0 start since the 2006 campaign.
For the sixth time in seven games, the Aggies drew first blood. This time, A&M broke the scoring seal in the bottom of the second. Ronnie Gideon drew a six-pitch walk to start the frame and moved to second on a grounder to the right side of the infield by Blake Allemand. Logan Taylor staked the Maroon and White to a 2-0 lead, lofting an 0-1 offering down the leftfield line for a two-run home run, his third dinger of the year.
Penn State (0-6) responded with a run in the top of the third inning. With one out, Aaron Novak poked a single to rightfield and moved to second on a grounder to third base by Nick Graham. Jim Haley knocked Novak in with a single to third base to cut the A&M lead to 2-1.
The Maroon and White moved the advantage back to two runs in the home half of the third. Logan Nottebrok worked a five-pitch walk to start the frame and Nick Banks clubbed the 11th pitch he was offered to centerfield for a single. Gideon pushed both runners into scoring position with a grounder back to the pitcher and Allemand plated Nottebrok with a sacrifice fly to make the margin 3-1.
The Aggies tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Allemand drew a walk and a bloop single by Taylor and an infield single by Michael Barash loaded the bases. JB Moss knocked in Allemand with a sac fly to centerfield for the 4-1 lead.
The Nittany Lions offered an immediate answer in the top of the seventh. With one out, Riotto roped a single down the leftfield line and Novak reached on an infield single to short to put two on. Graham punched a single into the gap in right centerfield, knocking in Riotto who slide under the tag at the plate by Barash. The Aggies were able to record the second out of the inning on the play as Barash regrouped and gunned the ball to Gideon at third to tag Novak trying to advance.
With Graham on second, Andrew Vinson came in from the bullpen to spell starter Matt Kent and induced a grounder to first to end the frame with A&M holding a 5-2 advantage at the seventh inning stretch.
A&M got out of another jam in the top of the eighth. With one out, Christian Helsel was hit by a Vinson pitch and Ty Schlottman walked Greg Guers to put two runners on. Schlottmann regrouped and recorded fly outs by Taylor Skerpon and Tyler Kendall to end the inning.
JB Moss drew his second walk of the game to start the third inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Patrick McLendon. Mitchell Nau drew a walk and GR Hinsley was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Moss came home when the Nittany Lions were unable to turn the double play on a grounder to short by Banks.
Texas A&M got the leadoff batter aboard in six of their eight at-bats with two hits and four walks. The Aggies were unable to reach their full potential offensively, stranding 13 runners and grounding into two double plays. The Maroon and White batted .154 (2-for-13) with runners in scoring position.
On the mound, Texas A&M pitchers only allowed one leadoff hitter to reach base and held Penn State to 2-of-11 hitting with two outs.
Taylor led the Aggies at the plate, batting 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBI. Birk, Nottebrok and Barash each added two hits.
Nick Riotto and Aaron Novak each logged three hits for Penn State.
Kent (2-0) earned the win for the Aggies. He allowed two runs on eight hits while striking out six over 6.2 innings. Through 13.2 innings, Kent has not issued a walk on the season. Mark Ecker earned his first career save, striking out one of the three batters he faced in the ninth inning.
The loss was hung on Taylor Lehman (0-2). He allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two over 3.0 innings.
The Aggies return to Blue Bell Park for a 6:35 pm game Tuesday against Houston Baptist. Texas A&M also has a Wednesday home game slated for 6:35 pm against Incarnate Word.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head coach Rob Childress
On the game…
I thought we had a strong performance pitching and on defense. The offense had chances, we just weren’t able to blow the game open like we have in other games this year. That will happen. You’re not always going to get the big hits, but as long as you keep getting the leadoff guys on and moving them in to scoring position, good things will happen. Give their pitchers credit. They were able to get out of some trouble.
On Matt Kent…
He’s going to make other teams work for everything they get. He doesn’t give out any free bases and he makes them scratch and claw for every base. He was in control for most of the game.
Junior pitcher Matt Kent
On his outing…
It was good to help keep this thing rolling. I never like having to come out of a game in the middle of an inning, but Vinnie (Andrew Vinson) got us out of seventh and the bullpen didn’t let any runs score. It was good for us to have to battle for a win down the stretch. There really haven’t been many tense late-inning moments before today.
Junior outfielder Logan Taylor
On his home run…
I just try to keep with our team approach at the plate and the pitcher gave me a good pitch to hit. Today was going to be a tough day to knock one out of here with the wind blowing in. It was still early. The wind picked up a lot a couple innings later.