Texas A&M Baseball Fights Back In Ninth Inning, Defeats No. 24 Texas Tech in 16
HOUSTON -- A two-for-one special? Fans of Texas A&M baseball could have called it that Sunday night at Minute Maid Park.
As Sunday turned into Monday, the 12th Man faithful became restless to begin the 16th inning. Thankfully, a two-run frame ended the contest against No. 24 Texas Tech in a 4-2 win for the Aggies.
The final game of the Shriner Children's College Classic marked the longest time played at the event in 23 years. Coincidently, A&M manager Jim Schlossnalge was on the winning side of a 15-inning victory in 2017 against his now Aggies.
“It’s so hard to win these games as the visiting team, you know?” Schlossnagle said. “Because you’re always one pitch away from losing, especially with that short porch in left field.”
A fielding error from Texas Tech's Tracer Lopez in the top of the 16th put runners at the corners for Jack Moss to drill a hard grounder and score Hank Bard, breaking the 2-2 tie. A sacrifice fly from Trevor Werner plated Travis Chestnut to give A&M insurance entering the bottom frame.
Neither team known for its explosive offense last season delivered Sunday night. Both programs left 17 runners on base and 34 total. The Red Raiders left 11 runners in scoring position while the Aggies left eight.
Pitching was the main story Sunday night during the near-six-hour spectacle. A&M starter Chris Cortez threw a career-high 101 pitches in 5.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits. He struck out four Red Raiders and walked four more, watching his fastball hover in the mid-90s throughout the night.
Schlossnagle preaches that while baseball is a team game, but a hero could always emerge. On Sunday, that title belonged to left-hander Evan Aschenbeck, who single-handily put the Aggies on his back through 4.2 innings.
Aschenbeck, a Brenham native and Blinn transfer, entered the game in the bottom of the 11th for Brad Rudis on short rest. Earlier in the tournament, Aschenbeck threw 46 pitches against Louisville in a 14-5 loss.
The results were different this time around. Aschenbeck honed in on his fastball-sinker combo to mow down 14 Red Raiders in order. The southpaw did not allow a hit or walk, and struck out eight batters in the process.
"I came in feeling a little sore today, but as soon as I started throwing I loosened up a little bit," Aschenbeck told reporters postgame. "I talked to Coach [Nate] Yeskie before the game and he said to be ready for anything. I just sat in the pen, waiting for my name to be called, and got it called and came out here and threw strikes and competed and gave my team a chance."
A two-run RBI from Tech's Dillon Carter gave the Red Raiders a one-run lead in the sixth inning. Fans began to flood to the exits at the top of the ninth with two outs, but a bases-loaded walk to Werner tied the game at two apiece.
Six A&M pitchers combined their arms to punch out 23 Tech batters and allow 10 hits. Will Johnston replaced Shane Sdao for the final two frames and struck out five batters. Rudis started the bottom of the 10th and struck out two, but also walked the bases loaded in the 11th, leading to Schlossnalge calling on Aschenbeck from the pen.
Justin Lamkin picked up his first save of the season, striking out a pair of Red Raiders to end the game.
The Aggies finished the tournament with a 2-1 record. Only Louisville finished with a better record (3-0) following back-to-back wins over No. 10 TCU and Michigan. The Horned Frogs finished 2-1 in the tournament, while the Wolverines left Houston 0-3. Both Texas Tech and Rice finished 1-2 in the tournament.
A&M returns to Blue Bell Park for four of its next five games. The Aggies will face Incarnate Word on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before heading back to Bayou City for another game against Rice at Reckling Park. A&M will close out its spring break with a three-game series against Northern Kentucky starting Friday at 6 p.m.
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