COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M baseball team concluded play in its annual Fall World Series on a beautiful Friday evening on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park as the Plowboys stunned the Farmers to take the series finale.
The Plowboys’ Nick Choruby drove in Jonathan Moroney with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to knot the score at one in the seventh inning. Freshman Ronnie Gideon sprayed a hit to right-center field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, giving the Plowboys a 2-1 walk-off victory to clinch the series.
Freshman Kaylor Chafin gave up one hit while striking out two and walking one in 1.1 innings of relief to earn the win. Jason Jester was saddled with the loss after blowing the save in the bottom of the seventh. The senior from Hallsville, Texas, gave up two runs on four hits and three walks over 2.2 innings for the Farmers.
The Farmers broke the scoring seal in the top of the third inning. Senior outfielder Krey Bratsen led off the frame with a single into left and was advanced to second on a groundout by Patrick McLendon before stealing third. After a walk, Bratsen scored on an errant throw to second base by catcher Ronnie Gideon when Kaleb Goodell swiped second base. Bratsen’s single and run scored were the only blemishes on a spectacular outing by sophomore starting pitcher, Matt Kent. The Waco native fanned six and walked one in four innings of work.
Kent’s counterpart, sophomore Hayden Howard, worked four innings of shutout ball while working out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the second inning. The transfer from Seward County Community College gave up three hits and two walks while striking out two.
The Farmers pitching staff was dominant for the remainder of the evening, yielding just three hits and two walks over the final three innings.
Sophomore Jonathan Moroney got the magic started for the Plowboys in the bottom of the seventh with a single into leftfield off Jester. Nick Banks advanced Moroney to second on a sacrifice bunt before Gideon popped out to first base. With two outs, freshman Nick Chorby drove in Moroney to send the game into extras.
The Farmers had an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the eighth, but freshman pitcher Kaylor Chafin quelled the rally with a strikeout and pop out to the shortstop.
In the bottom of the eighth, G.R. Hinsley singled to open the frame and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mitchell Nau. After an intentional walk to Moroney, Banks grounded out sharply to first base to put both runners in scoring position with two outs. Gideon atoned for his throwing error earlier in the game by driving Jester’s 1-1 pitch into the right-center gap to clinch the game and the series for the Plowboys.
Bratsen and Moroney paced the offense for their respective teams, going 2-for-3 and both scoring a run.
The Texas A&M baseball team opens the spring season on Feb. 14 against Northeastern on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. To learn more about the team, visit AggieAthletics.com and follow @Aggie_Baseball on Twitter.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics