No. 14 A&M cleans up its defense in 6-2 win over Texas Southern
Game #12: No. 14 Texas A&M 6, Texas Southern 2
Records: Texas A&M (7-5, 0-0), Texas Southern (4-9)
WP: Gavin Lyons (1-0)
LP: Justin Mayes (0-2)
Box Score
There is clean, and then there is a mother's definition of "clean."
When doing chores, the former is comfortable, while the latter is spotless, perfect, pristine.
One night after perhaps the messiest game of the year, No. 14 Texas A&M cleaned up its act in a 6-2 win over Texas Southern on Wednesday night at Blue Bell Park.
While comfortable for much of the evening, further polishing still needs to be done.
"A lot better," A&M head coach Michael Earley said. "We made the plays that were hit at us; made the plays that we were supposed to make.
"Better. A lot better. We gave ourselves a chance to win the baseball game, and that's all you can ask for."
A&M's defense was indeed a lot better, committing no errors with a handful of standout plays.
The pitching only allowed four free passes on two walks and a pair of hit-by-pitches.
That's a noticeable improvement over Tuesday's five defensive miscues, four hit batters and four walks in the loss to UTSA.
"When we play bad defense like we did the other day, there is no excuse for that," shortstop Kaeden Kent said. "We figured out what we needed to do to get better, and we did it, and it showed today, and hopefully, we can keep doing that."
Kent played the role of Hoover vacuum at short, turning in a web gem on a slow roller to his left in the sixth. Meanwhile, Gavin Kash dusted off his first baseman's mitt and looked natural at a position that has plagued A&M thus far.
Wednesday showed the Aggies are capable of being solid in the field. Now, they must find that all-important consistency.
"I thought we played nine innings," Earley said. "Sure, you wanna always score more runs or get more hits. From a baseball standpoint, we didn't put ourselves in a situation where we could lose the game by our own accord. The other team had to beat us, and that's all you can ask for in a baseball game.
"I thought the energy was good. The energy was good yesterday. The execution was poor. I think we're still really building off of Sunday like we have something, I think, going in this dugout, a mindset we kind of hit."
While no mop-up job was to be found in a four-run ballgame, A&M's pitching was stout again.
Beyond a pair of solo homers in the fourth, starter Aiden Sims turned in four strong innings.
In his collegiate debut, right-handed freshman Gavin Lyons tossed three scoreless, hitless frames before Clayton Freshcorn and Brad Rudis held the Tigers off the board in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
"I just know that my players behind me, they're the best," Lyons said. "They're the best in the country, and there is never a doubt in my mind that they can't make a play.
"They bounced back from yesterday. All those guys came here early today and really put in the effort, and the scoreboard showed it. We had zero errors tonight, and it was awesome."
Pitching and defense were required as A&M's offense did enough but never broke the game open.
The Aggies registered seven hits and worked eight walks, yet they left nine men on base.
Pushing across four unanswered after the Tigers tied the game at 2-2, A&M's lead was never threatened, but the offense left room for further tidying.
"I like what they did at the plate," Earley said. "Are they capable of more? Yes, but hitting is tough. I was pleased with their overall approach as a team.
"I think we stung some balls again and didn't have much to show for it. Keep doing that, and they'll eventually fall."
In the first, Kent walked, and Wyatt Henseler doubled as they came across to score on Kash's groundout and Terrence Kiel II's single, respectively, to build a 2-0 lead.
Jace LaViolette's bases-loaded walk in the fourth broke the 2-2 tie as Hayden Schott drove in Kiel an inning later.
To close out the scoring, Kent doubled home Sawyer Farr and later scored on LaViolette's sacrifice fly in the sixth.
While the offensive approach is starting to sort itself out, one difference was obvious: A number of the Aggies have buzzed their hair since Tuesday's loss.
"Just changing up the mojo, and shoot, it worked because we got a win," Kent said with a smile. "It was obviously Hayden's idea, and a few guys got it, and a few more may get it tomorrow. We're just changing up the mojo, trying to get some wins."
Whether cleaned-up hair-dos or cleaned-up defense, Wednesday is a step in the right direction.
And unlike doing the laundry, the Aggies aren't ready to throw in the towel.
