COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 11 Texas A&M Aggies held off a late charge by the UIW Cardinals Wednesday evening on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park and walked away with a 9-7 victory to improve to 9-0 on the year.
UIW (5-4) got a grand slam by Kyle Bergeron with two outs in the ninth inning, but Landon Miner was able to get a game-ending pop up from the next batter, David Anaya.
Logan Foster plated three runs with a two-run dinger and sacrifice fly. Braden Shewmake batted 2-for-3 with one walk, two runs and two RBI. Allonte Wingate was 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
Kaylor Chafin (1-0) picked up the win in relief, scattering three hits while striking out two in 2.0 innings. Christian Roa, Mason Cole and Asa Lacy each worked a scoreless frame out of the bullpen before the four-run ninth.
SCORING SUMMARY
B1 | The Aggies scored in the first inning for the sixth time in nine games. Michael Helman drew a one-out walk, moved to third on a single to shallow right-center by Shewmake and scored on Chris Andritsos‘ sacrifice fly. The Maroon & White have now outscored opponents 18-0 in the first frame. A&M 1, UIW 0.
B3 | Wingate gapped a single to right-center to start the frame and drive UIW starter John Shull from the contest. Zach DeLoach followed with a five-pitch walk and Helman loaded the bases with a bunt single. Shewmake knocked in two with a single through the right side. An error by the first baseman on a pickoff attempt allowed Helman to score and Shewmake raced around to third where he scored from on a sac fly by Logan Foster. A&M 5, UIW 0.
T4 | The first three batters in the frame reached base off Aggie starter Dustin Saenz. Kyle Bergerron was hit by a pitch, David Anaya singled through the left side and Lee Thomas plated a run with a double down the rightfield line. Chafin (1-0) entered the game and fanned a batter and induced a trickler back to the mound. Before the A&M southpaw could wiggle out of the jab, the Cardinals scored two when Eddy Gonzalez singled to the right of second base where shortstop Shewmake muffed it allowing both runners to score. A&M 5, UIW 3.
B4 | Wingate started another rally, knocking a two-run single up the middle and coming around to score on DeLoach’s NCAA DI-leading fourth triple of the season. A&M 6, UIW 3.
B5 | Shewmake drew a four-pitch walk to start the frame and Logan Foster followed with first home run of the season, a two-run job to leftfield. A&M 8, UIW 3.
B8 | Cole Bedford singled through the right side of the infield to start the frame, moved to second on a groundout by George Janca and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wingate capped off his three-hit day by driving an RBI single through the left side. A&M 9, UIW 3.
T9 | Aggie reliever Kyle Richardson was unable to retire a batter, allowing a single by Sean Arnold and a walk by Eddy Gonzalez. Landon Miner entered the game and retired the first two batters he faced with pop ups, but then he yielded a four-pitch walk to Ridge Rodgers and the first-pitch, grand slam from Bergeron. A&M 9, UIW 7.
NEXT UP
The Aggies head to Dr. Pepper Ballpark for the Frisco College Baseball Classic. The Maroon & White open the tournament with a 7 p.m. game against Louisiana Tech on Friday.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Rob Childress
On going 9-0 in February…
“We finished the month of February off the right way. Hard to better than we did. But new month, new challenges. Going on the road, it’s going to be a regional-type atmosphere in Frisco. They do a great job putting on that tournament and all three teams are going to be an incredible test for us.”
Junior INF/OF Allonte Wingate
On how it felt to get a couple rallies started…
“It is just good to stick to my approach and get on base for the guys behind me. The guys at the top of the order come up behind me in big spots, and just do their jobs.”
On playing two positions and getting to be on the field more…
“Just being able to play where the coaches need me, wherever our team needs me to play, whether it be infield or outfield at different times of the game.”
Sophomore OF Logan Foster
On how his home run felt…
“It felt great. I got to see Braden [Shewmake] at home plate. He’s my roommate and just seeing him smiling definitely made it feel good.”
On where he feels this team is at…
“Seeing how we competed at the plate tonight all nine innings and gave them our best shot every time we stepped into the box and seeing our bullpen do what they did tonight, it definitely makes us feel good going into the weekend. This team’s definitely something special.”
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics