Kilkenny’s Complete Game Seals Series vs. LSU

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Mitchell Kilkenny pitched the Aggies’ first complete game since May 7, 2016 to lead No. 19 Texas A&M to a 3-1 victory over the No. 20 LSU Tigers in the rubber match of the weekend series.
 
Kilkenny (7-0) faced just two over the minimum through the first seven innings and ended the game allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out four in 9.0 innings in his first career complete game. Kilkenny became the first Aggie since Grayson Long in 2015 to start 7-0. His complete-game was the first for A&M since  Kyle Simonds’ no-hitter in 2016.
 
Offensively, the Aggies got two hits apiece from Michael Helman and Hunter Coleman and George Janca added a two-run triple.
 
Texas A&M improved to 23-9 overall and 5-7 in the SEC. LSU dropped to 20-13 overall and 6-6 in league play.
 
 
NEXT UP
The Aggies host the Texas Longhorns Tuesday at 6:02 p.m.
 
 
SCORING SUMMARY
B4 | Coleman led off the frame by drilling a 3-1 offering through the north wind for his third home run of the season. A&M 1, LSU 0.
 
B6 | Coleman started the inning by threading a single through the left side of the infield. Will Frizzell followed with a four-pitch walk to drive LSU starter Ma’Khail Hilliard from the game. Reliever Matt Beck got a pair of fly outs, but was unable to get out of the inning unscathed as Janca punched a triple to the gap in right-center. A&M 3, LSU 0.
 
T8 | With one out Chris Reid singled to leftfield and he was replaced at first base by Jake Slaughter who ground into a fielder’s choice at third base. Pinch-hitter Nick Webre poked a single to leftfield and Zach Watson followed with a bloop single down the rightfield line to drive in a run. The Tigers’ rally ended prematurely as Watson was caught stealing. A&M 3, LSU 1.
 
 
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Junior 3B George Janca
On how it felt to get the big two-run triple…
“I’ve said it plenty of times before that there’s a lot of peaks and valleys in baseball, especially hitting. But, you’ve got to continue to compete and give ourselves a chance to win and we did that all day long. We had runners on base and I just happened to be the one up in that position to get the big hit for us. We had guys all day long getting on base and getting big hits, hitting balls hard and just having to go right at people.”
 
On if defense has been something the team has been working to improve…
“Yes sir. And Hunter Coleman, I mean what an amazing job he did out there this weekend. [For] a guy who hadn’t played an inning at first base all year to come out and perform like that and scoop us up on the middle infield and at third base, it was huge for us. I look for him to continue to get better over there.”
 
Sophomore 1B Hunter Coleman
On team’s performance…
“I’m really proud of how we stepped up today, especially with these kinds of conditions. We were out here tough and I guess wanted it more, so I’m really proud of our team.”
 
On being able to get off the field with a series win…
“It’s huge for us, definitely. I think it’ll be a turning point in our season when you look back at it. Mitchel [Kilkenny] put us in a great position to win and I mean we didn’t have to do too much offensively on a day that was hard to hit. So, all credit to him.”
 
On how big his hit was for the team today…
“I think it was big, but so was George’s [Janca] hit, [which was] huge for us, won the game for us. I’m really glad that he got that hit. Definitely huge for his confidence and going to turn the season around.”
 
 
Junior RHP Mitchell Kilkenny
On taking their first SEC Series…
“We were going for the series win and everyone is tired of losing on this team. It was nice to see everyone come out real aggressively and just do anything we can to win.”
 
On what was working today…
“As always it could have been better. The changeup was working more than usual today and we’ve been working on that a lot. Aside from that everything was the same.”

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