Late offense, seven pitchers lead No. 16 Texas A&M over Bobcats, 7-5

Game #37: Texas A&M 7, Texas State 5
Records: Texas A&M (28-9, 8-7 SEC), Texas State (20-16-1, 8-7 Sun Belt)
WP: Cason Sherrod (4-1)
LP: Braden Pearson (1-2)
SV: Nolan Hoffman (7)
Box Score

The No. 16 Aggies, after winning their last six, made it seven in a row after taking down Texas State 7-5 at Olsen Field Tuesday night.

After trading runs and being tied with the Bobcats for a majority of the game, Hunter Coleman delivered a clutch RBI triple to put A&M ahead in the seventh and ultimately give the Aggies a hard-fought victory.

“It was good, it definitely felt good tonight, we were all over the barrel all night,” Coleman said of his performance. “Especially when we play good pitching and have good defense, it really helps out.”

The Bobcats lit up the scoreboard early. After hitting a batter with a pitch, Chandler Jozwiak gave up a two-run homer to left-center field off the bat of Jonathan Ortega for Texas State.

It didn’t A&M long to answer back. In the home half of the first and after Michael Helman snuck a double down the left field line, Coleman brought him in with an RBI double. A few hitters later, DH Chandler Morris plated two runs with a single and was thrown out trying to advance to second base, giving the Aggies the lead.

Texas State would strike again in the top of the second as Dalton Shuffield led off with a double. A few batters later, he would cross the plate with an RBI groundout by Jared Huber, tying the game at three runs apiece.

A&M would recapture the lead in the bottom of the fourth. After two-straight singles by Braden Shewmake and Logan Foster, Coleman brought his teammate in on an infield single. 

The Aggies didn’t hold the lead for long as the Bobcats would put a run on the board in the top of fourth on a lead-off triple and an RBI knock from Ryan Newman.

The Maroon & White were able to recapture the lead after George Janca clobbered a solo home run to left field that bounced off the roof of the Student Recreational Center.

The back and forth continued when the Bob Cats tied the game after Luke Sherley hit an RBI single to bring home Derek Scheible in the top of the seventh.

The Aggies would tack on an insurance run in the eighth thanks to an RBI double by center fielder Allonte Wingate.

“We feel like we have a really good offense and feel like we have the guys in the right approach and mindset put in place to get big hits in big situations when we need them,” Shewmake said. “Those guys did that and [Allonte Wingate] did it in the eighth to give us some breathing room. Those were all big knocks and it’s nice for closer to get out there when you have a two-run lead and not just a one-run lead.”

Freshman lefty Jozwiak toed the rubber for the Aggies and had his night cut short — pitching just an inning while surrendering four hits and three runs before turning the ball over to Christian Roa in relief. Roa would be the first of several relievers’ head coach Rob Childress used to navigate through the game.

After Roa worked his way through two innings while giving up a run, Jason Ruffcorn came on for a scoreless inning. Ruffcorn handed the ball off to Dustin Saenz, who pitched a third of an inning before being pulled for Cason Sherrod. Sherrod (4-1, 4.05 ERA) worked through 2.2 innings, giving up a run on the way to earning the win. Asa Lacy bridged the gap with a scoreless eighth to closer Nolan Hoffman, who pitched a scoreless ninth and earned a save.

Childress said he was proud of how his bullpen worked their way through a tough and dangerous offense in Texas State.

“We had a lot of heroes on the mound, we went to a lot of guys tonight and each one of them when they came in the game got us a stop,” Childress said. “That’s a very very offensive club, a lot of older guys especially at the top that make you nervous. I was really glad that Ortega didn’t come to the plate there in the ninth. He really makes me nervous.”

The Aggies will return to the diamond when they hit the road to take on Tennessee for a weekend series in Knoxville. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network +.