Hoffman shuts the door as Texas A&M holds off rival Longhorns, 6-5
Game #33: Texas A&M 6, Texas 5
Records: Texas A&M (24-9, 5-7 SEC), Texas (22-13, 9-3 Big 12)
WP: Cason Sherrod (2-1)
LP: Nico O'Donnell (2-2)
SV: Nolan Hoffman (5)
Box Score
Blue Bell Park provided a raucous atmosphere for Tuesday’s rivalry game between Texas A&M and Texas, but it got deathly quiet with each pitch Nolan Hoffman delivered with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth inning.
With the Aggies clinging to a one-run lead, Hoffman stared down Longhorns third baseman Ryan Reynolds in what turned out to be the most important at-bat of the game. Hoffman, appearing to talk to himself even more dramatically than usual, got behind in the count and then threw a disappearing sinker at the bottom of the zone that Reynold swung over to get the count to 2-2.
“I just wanted him to be down,” head coach Rob Childress said after the game, “and hopefully Reynolds would hit it at somebody.”
He did just that as Hoffman unleashed another nasty sinker and fielded a chopper back to him, throwing Reynolds out at first to escape the inning and preserve the lead.
Hoffman returned in the ninth to retire the side in order, registering his fifth save of the season as the Aggies defeated unranked Texas 6-5 in front of 7,537 fans, the largest Olsen Field crowd since 2012.
“I was a little more hyped up than usual,” said Hoffman, who was still shaking with adrenaline minutes after the last out was recorded. “Maybe because of the crowd or maybe because it was Texas I don’t know, but I was definitely a little more hyped up today and thankfully it worked out.”
The last two meetings between the two teams had been nailbiters with the home team winning, and Tuesday continued that trend. The hotly contested affair featured 11 pitching changes and several momentum swings that gave the game an SEC feel.
“Just a super environment,” Childress said. “Thankful and appreciative of the 12th Man showing up in full force tonight. Great energy from the word ‘Go.’”
Said Coleman: “Historically this has been a huge rivalry. You’d be lying if you told yourself it was just another game for us. We came out and competed, battled and did what it took to win.
The Aggies looked like they might cruise to an easier-than-usual victory in the first inning as they plated four runs and knocked Texas starter Nico O’Donnell out of the game after getting only one out. After Michael Helman grounded out to start the frame, the next six A&M hitters reached base to give the Ags an early lead.
Chandler Jozwiak tossed three scoreless innings in his first start since March 27, striking out five while allowing two hits.
Texas took advantage of two A&M relievers in the fifth to get back into the game. Stephen Kolek, pitching out of the bullpen for the first time of the season, faltered in his second inning of work. After he allowed two men to reach base, Childress called for Kaylor Chafin, who promptly surrendered a two-run double to Kody Clemens and an RBI double to Zach Dubia.
Chafin loaded the bases before he was pulled, and Cason Sherrod got the first batter he faced to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.
The Aggies got a runner into scoring position in three of the next four innings after their four-run opener, but could not break through until Hunter Coleman worked an incredible at-bat in the sixth. He immediately got behind in the count 0-2 but fouled off five two-strike pitches before singling to left on the ninth pitch, plating two to give A&M some insurance that proved crucial.
“I was locked in I guess and was going to compete no matter what,” Coleman said. “The guys in front of me kind of set that up and were able to get on base. There were a lot of opportunities for us tonight to get some big hits and for me to finally cash in was big.”
Texas answered with a run in the seventh to cut the A&M lead to two, but Asa Lacy got a strikeout and a flyout to strand runners on the corners. Lacy returned for the eighth and struck out the first hitter he faced before giving up a single to Tate Shaw and handing the ball over to Hoffman with the heart of the UT order due up.
Hoffman allowed an RBI single to Clemens and then loaded the bases with a walk and a single to set the stage for the Reynolds at-bat. Hoffman has been superb so far in his first year on campus and ultimately came through with an enormous out.
“Hoffman has been our guy all year and to see him come in and do what he does is almost expected,” Coleman said. “You can always see it in his demeanor and in his eyes that he’s going to outcompete anybody that gets up there, so I knew he had it.”
The Aggies make a quick turnaround and return to Olsen Field Thursday for the first game of a three-game series against Alabama. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. and can be seen on ESPNU.
