Game #45: No. 1 Texas A&M 10, Tarleton 6
Records: Texas A&M (39-6, 15-6), Tarleton (25-20, 15-9)
WP: Brad Rudis (4-0)
LP: Braydon Risley (2-5)
Box Score
Still undefeated against teams in Texas, as the Aggies down the Texans.
In its penultimate midweek game, No. 1 Texas A&M defeated Tarleton, 10-6, behind quality relief pitching, aggressive base running and a dominating offense.
All three factors played major roles in the Aggies coming away with its 24th non-conference win in a row.
The Maroon & White once again came from behind against the Texans, and thanks to A&M’s relievers, the offense went to work.
Starter Isaac Morton pitched a dominant inning in the first. However, after walking the first two batters in the second, both of which scored, A&M had to turn to the bullpen in the third.
Weston Moss made a quick outing in relief, giving up a walk, single, double and another single, respectively, to put the Texans ahead 4-1. Moss failed to record an out, leaving runners on the corners for Brad Rudis.
In what Schlossnagle noted as the key moment of the game, Rudis retired the first three batters he faced, forcing a foul out, an infield pop-up and a swinging strikeout.
"I thought Brad Rudis was the key moment of the game," A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "First and third, nobody out. We're already down three. That game could have gotten away. I thought that was a huge moment."
Rudis tossed two scoreless innings while striking out a pair of hitters.
Behind him, freshman Kaiden Wilson turned in his best outing of the season, facing the minimum through two innings and striking out four of the six he faced.
"The highlight of the night for our program moving forward is Kaiden Wilson," Schlossnagle said. "It's not even close. He was awesome.
"I wanted to run him back out there, but I also want him fresh for the weekend. That was huge for his confidence and big for our team.”
Since returning from an injury suffered early in the season, Wilson has shown promise as a quality pitcher for the Ags.
"He's not afraid at all," Schlossnagle said. "He has big confidence in himself, and I think the first three hits he gave up of his career were all super tough unlucky jam job singles. He's done nothing but throw strikes and with high velocity and aggression."
Rudis echoed that same sentient.
"He's electric," Rudis said. "He has all the confidence in the world. He has great stuff. He believes in what he has, and that is what makes him great."
Though it may not be this season, Schlossnagle saw potential for a future starting role for the freshman.
"Eventually, we'd love to see the guy be a starting pitcher. I don't know if it will be this year," Schlossnagle said. "It's a great weapon in the bullpen, considering Troy Wansing is down."
Josh Stewart got the final four outs, striking out a pair before forcing two flyouts to close out the victory for the Aggies.
It has become apparent throughout the season that the Aggie bats can win a game by itself.
A&M hit its 100th home run of the season on Tuesday night with Ted Burton's solo shot in the second inning. It's only the second time in program history that the Aggies have eclipsed the century mark.
Home runs No. 101 and No. 102 were hit later in the game off the bats of Jace LaViolette and Ali Camarillo, respectively.
Even missing Gavin Grahovac, who was resting an injury suffered on Saturday night against Georgia, sophomore Kaeden Kent filled the gap. Kent finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, including a bases-clearing double and a walk.
"They're both elite, and they get the job done," Camarillo said.
However, an aspect that took front and center with the Aggies' offense tonight was its baserunning.
Throughout the game, A&M took advantage of the opportunities the Texans gave them on the basepaths.
In the third inning, after Kent singled up the middle, he hustled to second as Tarleton attempted to throw out Travis Chestnut at third.
The following inning, LaViolette turned an infield single into two bases, thanks to help from Jackson Appel, who took third base with nobody covering. LaViolette did the same, taking second base with nobody there to tag him out.
The most impressive baserunning decision was after Kent walked on four straight pitches. As the catcher lobbed the ball back to the pitcher, Chestnut swiped third base under the Texans’ noses.
"I was looking down, and the guy ends up at third base," Schlossnagle said. "I don't think anybody knew what happened. He just like magically appeared there.
"I can't even begin to describe what he does on the bases. I could basically put him on his own. He has such phenomenal instincts on the field as a base runner.”
In the next at-bat, the pitcher balked, and Chestnut scored. He likely would not have scored without his head-up base running as the next two batters were retired.
On the year, Chestnut is 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts.
"It's not just the speed. It's the instincts, and that's what makes him such a weapon is the instincts," Schlossnagle said. “I've coached plenty of fast guys that are bad base runners, and he's really good. He may be the best I've ever coached."
With the win, the Aggies remain undefeated in the non-conference and against in-state competition while also improving to 39-6 overall.
A&M will have a chance to pick up win No. 40 of the year as they travel to Baton Rouge this weekend to face off against LSU.
