Stellar bullpen, defense carry A&M over Abilene Christian, 3-2

GAME #37: Texas A&M 3, Abilene Christian 2
RECORDS: Texas A&M 34-3; ACU 8-26
WP: Ty Schlottmann (3-1)
LP: Kevin Sheets (0-2)
SAVE: Mark Ecker (7)
Box Score

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Coming off two days of rest, A&M expected to show up looking refreshed.

Instead, during Wednesday night’s 3-2 victory over Abilene Christian, it looked rusty out of the gate.

It wasn’t until the final pitch that A&M secured its 34th victory of the year. The Aggies had 33 during the entire regular season a year ago.

The Wildcats, coming off close losses to Texas Tech and TCU, didn’t give A&M starter Turner Larkins much time to settle in during the first inning.

After an opening strikeout, an infield single to Blake Allemand gave the Wildcats their first base runner of the game. He was quickly moved to third as a double off the bottom of the wall in right center put two men in scoring position. Then, things got a little bizarre for a first midweek inning.

Russell Crippen failed to get a bunt down but was clipped on the attempt and despite staying squared up, was awarded first. The next man in the lineup watched two possible third strikes go by before eventually drawing a full count RBI walk. With the bases loaded, A&M got the bullpen started early, but Larkins forced a 4-6-3 double play and limited the damage to just one.

A&M looked to strike back immediately after Blake Allemand led off the bottom of the first with a single through the left side. Those hopes took a hit after Nick Banks one hop grounder to the first baseman was turned into a 3-6-3 double play. With two down, Mitchell Nau stayed patient and kept the inning alive with a four-pitch walk.

The free pass turned into a run one batter later as Logan Taylor took a 2-2 offering to right center field. Both outfielders were undecided before the center fielder awkwardly dived at the last second. The ball fell for a double and Nau scored from first to tie things at one.

ACU threatened again in the third after things started with a lead off single to center. A sacrifice bunt and ground out to second moved their man around to third before a walk put runners on the corners.

The Wildcats regained the lead one batter later after a ball in the dirt turned into a double steal. Throw to second, safe. Throw back to home, safe. A&M forced a ground out to third, but headed to the bottom of the inning trailing once again.

Head coach Rob Childress took the blame for the scoring play following the game.

“That one was on me. First and third with two outs, we shouldn’t be throwing through. We should have changed the play, but our guys picked me up tonight.”

Much of that resilient effort came from the top of the lineup. For the second time in as many tries, Allemand led off with a single to center. This time, A&M would make it count.

While Nick Banks followed with a strike out, Blake moved into scoring position by stealing second. He moved 90 feet closer on a ground out off the bat of Mitchell Nau and came home immediately following a wild pitch. Once again, A&M had tied things up.

The game stalled until the seventh inning, when Logan Taylor stepped to the plate. With runners on the corners, Taylor took an 0-2 pitch through the right side and scored Allemand from third.

“I just tried to let the ball get deep and put a good swing on it.” Taylor said of his game winning RBI. “Honestly, it wasn’t anything I did. The best play of the night was Nick Choruby, that was a game saver.”

The play he was referring to came at the top of the next inning, after Childress made some defensive adjustments that proved very wise.

On a full sprint, Choruby tracked down a line drive just before the wall in center. He held on through crashing into the fence and saved what could have easily been a one out triple.

The Wildcats never threatened again.

Now the Aggies set their sights on a weekend series with Arkansas. Rob Childress knows what could be in store.

“I expect a war. Their offense is very similar to ours and they have a lot experience. They have two front line guys who are outstanding and a difference maker in Zack Jackson out of the bullpen but that offense is going to be a challenge for our pitching staff.”

The first game of the series is set for a 6:35 first pitch on Friday.