Trevor Werner's Three-Run Homer Gives Aggies 9-5 Win Over Auburn
One swing of the bat was all it took to change the outcome of a game. For Auburn, it nearly happened in the bottom of the fourth inning.
For Texas A&M, it happened in real life.
Trevor Werner's three-run home run in the seventh inning broke a 5-5 tie and put the Aggies in front permanently en route to a 9-5 comeback win over the Tigers at Plainsman Park. A&M is currently riding a three-game win streak and will need to win one of its next two games to clinch a second SEC series.
“The go-ahead run from Trevor, no question, big swing, big moment,” Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said postgame.
Werner cranked a no-doubter over the center field wall on a 1-2 count of Tigers' Taylor Bauman. Earlier in the game, Werner saw the exact pitch, but instead of ending in a hit, it ended with an out.
“[Bauman] got me at the AB before. I knew he had a good changeup, so just backed the ball a little bit,” Werner said. “Got the two strikes and just got a heater in my sweet spot and put a good swing on it.”
Consider Thursday's start for Nathan Dettmer one of his better season moments. He retired the first six batters to begin the game, four of which came on fastball strikeouts. He also recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts, surpassing his early season total of nine against Seattle on Opening Day.
But the flaws are still there. A five-run third put the Aggies nearly out of the game before the end of the first half. Three consecutive RBI singles in the third inning put a target on Dettmer's back. Two pitches later, Cooper McMurray ended the roundabout with a two-run double.
Schlossnagle said he nearly considered pulling Dettmer in favor of the pen but decided to see how he'd respond. The result? Five strikeouts, two walks and a hit in 2.2 more innings of work.
“I think the best games that I’ve seen him throw were the Notre Dame game in Omaha and last year at Georgia,” Werner said of Dettmer. “You just got to keep telling him, ‘Hey man, you’re the same guy. Whether your stuff is on or not, if you go out there and compete, you’ll give us the best chance to win, and that’s all we can ask for.’”
Jace LaViolette’s solo home run made it 5-3 at the top of the fourth. Ryan Targac blasted another solo shot in the sixth inning over the left-field wall to make it 5-4. A wild pitch in the top of the seventh allowed Hunter Hass to sprint from third and make it home, tying the game at five. It also put captain Austin Bost on first base.
Brett Minnich, who moved from the No. 6 hole to the cleanup spot, smacked a single into left field to put two on for Werner. And the rest?
You know the story.
Werner finished 3-for-5 at the plate with four RBIs. Evan Aschenbeck, A&M's hero in the weekend series against Ole Miss, picked up his fourth win after 3.1 innings of scoreless work, allowing just two singles.
"I was a little hesitant to bring Aschenbeck in with us down a run, but I felt like we would scratch enough to score and it worked out well.”
With inclement weather expected to be on hand for the weekend, Friday will now be a doubleheader matchup. The Aggies will take the field at 1 p.m. for Game 1, and begin Game 2 45 minutes following the final pitch.
Freshman Justin Lamkin is expected to take the mound for his fourth start of the season for A&M, while Auburn has yet to name a pitcher. As for Game 3, it's vice versa with left-hander Tommy Vail taking the mound for the Tigers while the Aggies wait to find their third man.
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