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Texas A&M Picks Up Second Run-Rule Game With 13-1 Victory Over Rice

The Aggies will have a chance to finish 2-1 in the Shriners Children’s College Classic.

Cole Thompson

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HOUSTON - Run-rule games are becoming a trend with Texas A&M baseball. The location might change, but the results remain the same. 

The No. 15 Aggies needed 14 hits and seven frames to pick up the 13-1 win over Rice in the Shriners Children’s College Classic at Minute Maid Park. A&M will now have a chance to finish with a winning record in the tournament with a victory over No. 24 Texas Tech Sunday evening. 

“There’s a fine line between trying too hard but also playing with an edge and with some intention, and we weren’t anywhere close to that yesterday,” Texas A&M Jim Schlossnagle said. “Today was a little bit better.”

Saturday's run-rule marks the second occurrence in three games for A&M. On Tuesday, the Aggies (6-4) tacked on 27 hits in a 23-0 win over Houston Christian. On Friday night at the Juice Box, the Aggies were almost run-ruled for the first time since 2013 against No. 14 Louisville. 

The Cardinals held a 14-0 lead entering the seventh inning before a five-run frame, tapped off by a three-run home run from Austin Bost, kept the game alive. A&M managed to total six hits against Louisville. 

On Saturday, the Aggies had six-plus runs before the start of the third inning. 

“Obviously a positive response,” Schlossnagle said. “Kind of like Louisville did to us yesterday, scoring some runs in the first inning gave the guys some confidence, and (Troy) Wansing did a nice job pitching with a lead.

“We’ll take it. We need to stack good days on top of good days and play well against a great Texas Tech team tomorrow.” 

The Aggies kickstarted their performance over the Owls (4-6) with a three-run first inning led by an RBI double from Hunter Haas. They'd plate five more runs in the second, three in the third and two in the fourth. 

Haas finished 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a walk, while Jack Moss notched three hits, including an RBI single in the fourth. Tab Tracy made his first start in center field while Kasen Wells replaced Kaeden Kent in left. 

Both players finished 1-for-3 with a walk and a single. Kent, who primarily has seen action in left field due to Brett Minnich's hand injury, replaced third baseman Trevor Werner. 

“There’s depth to this team,” Schlossnagle told reporters. “It doesn’t mean anybody has lost a job. The depth of our club allows us to play different lineups when we face a certain pitcher or a certain team.”

Seven A&M batters finished with a hit, while five notched multi-hit performances. First baseman Ryan Targac finished with a team-high three RBIs while five others drove in at least one run. Bost, the Aggies' top hitter, smacked an RBI double in the fourth inning and finished 2-for-3 on the night.

“It’s always good, as far as an offense, to get out on the board, so it makes it easy on the guys on the mound, trusting their defense, trusting their stuff,” Targac said. “It gives them a little leeway."

On the mound, Wansing looked steady with his fastball through five scoreless innings. The Purdue left-hander allowed four hits, struck out seven Owls and walked two. 

Wansing, a sophomore known for his off-speed pitch, said that Saturday was the first time he ever pitched on a major league rubber. 

"The mound’s great. It’s awesome to be in a big-league stadium," Wansing said. "It’s everyone’s dream as a little kid, and it’s surreal.”

Justin Lampkin pitched a scoreless sixth inning, while Josh Stewart allowed the Owls' only run in the seventh off an RBI double from Jack Riedel. 

The Aggies return to Minute Maid Park for 7:05 p.m. first pitch in the tournament finale. 

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Cole Thompson
COLE THOMPSON

Cole Thompson is a sports writer and columnist covering the NFL and college sports for SI's Fan Nation. A 2016 graduate from The University of Alabama, follow him on Twitter @MrColeThompson

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