News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Caden Sorrell delivered “Olsen Magic” in the 10th as the Texas A&M baseball team walked off South Carolina, 8-7, in Thursday’s series opener at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
The walk-off victory marked the first of the year for the Aggies (18-15, 4-9), who extended their winning streak to four games.
After Weston Moss struck out the side in the top of the 10th, Sorrell wasted no time in the bottom half as the sophomore turned on the first pitch and deposited it 398 feet into Aggie Alley in left. The homer, which left the bat at 105 mph, marked the fifth in eight games for Sorrell.
Moss (4-2) earned the win in relief after working 3.1 innings of one-run baseball. The sophomore also racked up a career-high eight strikeouts. Starter Ryan Prager received a no-decision after allowing six runs, five earned, over 6.2 innings. The redshirt junior also tallied eight punchouts on the night.
The Maroon & White struck first in the opening frame as Terrence Kiel II came around to score on a wild pitch. In the second, the Gamecocks (20-15, 2-11) responded with a solo homer and a safety squeeze to take a 2-1 advantage.
After a second South Carolina solo homer upped its advantage to 3-1 in the third, the Aggies answered with a five-run rally in the bottom half to jump back in front 6-3. Following a pair of walks and two hit-by-pitches, Blake Binderup capped off the five-run frame with a grand slam that traveled 411 feet to left center.
The Gamecocks trimmed the lead to one, 6-5, in the fifth behind a Texas A&M error and a sacrifice fly. In the bottom half, Binderup got a run back for the Aggies as the redshirt sophomore ripped an RBI double to left to push the advantage to 7-5.
South Carolina posted a solo homer in the seventh and an RBI single in the eighth to even the score at 7-7. In the ninth, the Gamecocks looked poised to take the lead as Henry Kaczmar delivered a deep fly ball to left but a leaping catch at the wall by Jamal George kept the game tied.
Inside the Box Score
- Texas A&M totaled six hits and six walks on the night.
- Binderup recorded the lone multi-hit performance for the Aggies, finishing 2-for-5.
- The redshirt sophomore also plated a career-high tying five RBI.
- Six different batters scored a run for the Maroon & White.
- Bear Harrison and Sorrell each crossed the plate twice.
- The duo also drew a game-best two walks each.
- Moss and Prager combined for a season-high 16 strikeouts.
Notes
- Thursday’s series opener marked the 25th meeting all-time between the clubs.
- With the win, the Aggies lead the series 13-12.
- Moss struck out a career-high eight batters.
- Henseler extended his on-base streak to 16 games in the win.
- Harrison has now reached base safely in 14 consecutive games.
- Jace LaViolette pushed his on-base streak to 14 games.
- The extra-inning contest marked the first of the season for Texas A&M.
Up Next
Texas A&M will look to claim the series Friday night as game two is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Blue Bell Park.