Game Log: Troy Claunch's Clutch Single Gives Texas A&M 5-4 Win Over Louisville
COLLEGE STATION -- Then, there were 16. In four days, they'll be eight. Will Texas A&M be one of the bunch?
One year ago, Texas A&M made the switch at manager from long-time vet Rob Childress to Jim Schlossnagle of TCU. The Aggies were coming off a season in which they finished 9-21 in conference. Schlossnagle, who joined the Horned Frogs in 2004, had 18 years of winning mentality and five appearances in the College World Series.
Schlossnagle wanted to establish a culture during his first season at Blue Bell Park. Instead, skipped a few steps and went to powerhouse program in 2022, winning the SEC West and finishing ranked for the first time since 2019.
The No. 5 Aggies (40-18) took care of business in the College Station Regional, defeating Oral Roberts and Louisiana before going toe-to-toe with TCU in a 15-9 comeback win. Now, they remain two wins away from heading to Omaha, Neb. for the first time since 2017.
Of course, No. 12 Louisville will do its best to put up a fight. This season, the Cardinals (42-19-1) ranked 14th in batting average (.309), eighth in hits (686) and 28th in home runs (94). Will A&M be able to control the high-tempo offense?
Follow along with AllAggies.com for up-to-date information live from Blue Bell Park.
PREGAME
Here is the lineup for Louisville:
1. SS Christian Knapczyk
2. 3B Ben Metzinger
3. C Dalton Rushing
4. DH Jack Payton
5. CF Levi Usher
6. LF Cameron Masterman
7. RF Isaac Humphrey
8. 2B Logan Beard
9. 1B Ben Bianco
PITCHING: Jared Poland
1. 3B Trevor Werner
2. 1B Jack Moss
3. LF Dylan Rock
4. DH Blake Bost
5. 2B Ryan Targac
6. C Troy Claunch
7. RF Brett Minnich
8. CF Jordan Thompson
9. SS Kole Kaler
PITCHING: Nathan Dettmer
FIRST INNING
TOP OF FIRST: Nathan Dettmer Pitching
- Christian Knapczyk flied out to left field (F7)
- Ben Metzinger struck out swinging (K)
- Rushing struck out swinging, Troy Claunch to Jack Moss (K 2-3)
BOTTOM OF FIRST: Jared Poland Pitching
- Trevor Werner struck out swinging (K)
- Jack Moss doubled to left field
- Dylan Rock walked
- Blake Bost walked, Moss to third, Rock to second
- Ryan Targac struck out swinging (K)
- Troy Claunch hit by pitch, Moss scored, Rock to third, Bost to second (HBP)
- Brett Minnich struck out swinging (K)
END OF FIRST INNING: Texas A&M 1, Louisville 0
SECOND INNING
TOP OF SECOND: Dettmer Pitching
- Jack Payton singled to center field
- Levi Usher flied out deep to left field
- Cameron Masterman singled to center field, Payton to third
- Isaac Humphrey walked, Masterman to second
- Logan Beard singled, Payton scored, Masterman scored, Humphrey to third, Beard advanced to second on throw, advanced to third on wild pitch
- Ben Bianco sacrifice fly to center field, Humphrey scored
- Knapczyk grounded out to Targac, throw to Moss
BOTTOM OF SECOND: Poland Pitching
- Thompson struck out looking (K)
- Koler Kaler walked
- Werner struck out swinging (K)
- Moss singled, Kaler to third
- Rock walked, Moss to second
- Bost popout to Metzinger (5)
END OF SECOND INNING: Louisville 3, Texas A&M 1
THIRD INNING
TOP OF THIRD: Dettmer Pitching
- Metzinger singled to right field
- Rushing reaches first on fielder's choice, Kaler throw to Targac, Metzinger out at second (FC)
- Payton flied out to right field (F9)
- Usher struck out swinging (K)
BOTTOM OF THIRD: Poland Pitching
- Targac filed out to right field (F9)
- Claunch flied out to right field (F9)
- Minnich doubled to right field
- Thompson singled to left field, Minnich scored, Thompson stole second
- Kaler flied out to center field (F8)
END OF THIRD INNING: Louisville 3, Texas A&M 2
FOURTH INNING
TOP OF FOURTH: Dettmer Pitching
- Masterman filed out to center field (F8)
- Humphrey struck out swinging, Claunch to Moss (K 2-3)
- Beard grounded out to Kaler, throw to Moss (6-3)
BOTTOM OF FOURTH: Poland Pitching
- Werner flied out to right field (F9)
- Moss singled up the middle
- Rock struck out swinging (K)
- Bost flied out to right field (F9)
END OF FOURTH INNING: Louisville 3, Texas A&M 2
FIFTH INNING
TOP OF FIFTH: Dettmer Pitching
- Bianco flied out to left field (F7)
- Knapczyk reached on error by Targac (E4)
- Metzinger doubled down left field line, Knapczyk scored
PITCHING CHANGE: Joseph Menefee to replace Dettmer
- Rushing struck out looking (K)
- Payton INTENTIONAL WALK
- Usher flied out to center field
BOTTOM OF FIFTH: Poland Pitching
- Targac grounded out to Bianco (3)
- Claunch struck out swinging (K)
PITCHING CHANGE: Tate Kuehner to replace Poland
- Minnich hit by pitch (HBP)
- Thompson grounded out Knapczyk, throw to Beard (6-4)
END OF FIFTH INNING: Louisville 4, Texas A&M 2
SIXTH INNING
TOP OF SIXTH: Menefee Pitching
- Masterman doubled to center field
- Humphrey singled to first base, Masterman to third, Humphrey out trying to steal second
- Beard walked
- Bianco struck out swinging (K)
- Knapczyk grounded out to Kaler, throw to Moss (6-3)
BOTTOM OF SIXTH: Kuehner Pitching
- Kaler walked
- Werner singled over second base, Kaler to second
- Moss grounded out to Bianco, Kaler to third, Werner to second (3)
- Rock hit by pitch
- Bost struck out swinging (K)
- Targac struck out swinging (K)
END OF SIXTH INNING: Louisville 4, Texas A&M 2
SEVENTH INNING
TOP OF SEVENTH: Menefee Pitching
- Metzinger filed out to center field (F8)
- Rushing doubled off center field wall
- Payton struck out swinging (K)
- Usher struck out swinging (K)
BOTTOM OF SEVENTH: Kuehner Pitching
- Claunch singled past short stop
- Minnich struck out looking (K)
- Thompson home run to left field, Claunch scored
- Kaler singled to right-center field, stole second
PITCHING CHANGE: Carson Liggett to replace Kuehner
- Werner walked
PITCHING CHANGE: Garrett Schmeltz to replace Liggett
- Moss grounded to Knapczyk, throw to Beard, Werner out at second, Kaler to third (FC)
PITCHING CHANGE: Alex Galvan to replace Schmeltz
- Rock flied out to center field (F8)
END OF SEVENTH INNING: Louisville 4, Texas A&M 4
EIGHTH INNING
TOP OF EIGHTH: Jacob Palish pitching
- Masterman singled up middle
PINCH RUNNER: Chris Seng to pinch-run for Masterman
- Humphrey grounded to Palish, throw to Kaler, Seng out at second (FC)
- Beard walked, Humphrey to second
- Bianco struck out swinging (K)
- Knapczyk flied out to center field (F8)
BOTTOM OF EIGHTH: Galvan Pitching
POSITION CHANGE: Seng to left field
- Bost grounded out to Knapczyk, throw to Bianco (6-3)
- Targac walked
PITCHING CHANGE: Michael Prosecky to replace Galvan
- Claunch walked, Targac to second
- Minnich struck out looking (K)
- Thompson walked
- Kaler struck out looking (K)
END OF EIGHTH INNING: Louisville 4, Texas A&M 4
NINTH INNING
TOP OF NINTH: Palish pitching
- Metzinger singled to third base
- Rushing popout to Werner (5)
- Payton grounded to Kaler, throw to Targac, throw to Moss (6-4-3)
BOTTOM OF NINTH: Prosecky pitching
- Werner walked
- Moss lined out to Beard (4)
- Rock struck out swinging (K)
- Bost singled to left field
- Targac hit by pitch (HBP)
- Claunch singled, Wener scored
FINAL: Texas A&M 5, Louisville 4