Avalanche of offense supports Sdao's strong start vs. Virginia Tech

Game #9: No. 23 Texas A&M 10, Virginia Tech (7 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (9-0, 0-0), Virginia Tech (7-2, 0-0)
WP: Shane Sdao (2-0)
LP: Brett Renfrow (0-2)
Box Score

ARLINGTON, Texas — One minute, it was a battle. Forty-two later, it was over.

Mr. Burgundy — which is just another word for Maroon — would’ve been proud as it truly did escalate quickly in No. 23 Texas A&M’s 10-0 run-rule of Virginia Tech on Friday night at Globe Life Field.

For the first five innings, the Aggies were locked in a tight contest, but an eight-run explosion in the bottom of the sixth helped them make quick work of the Hokies.

“I think our guys just kept playing. They just situationally hit,” A&M head coach Michael Earley said. “We want a relentless lineup, one through nine. Limit the lapses, and when it happens, get right back to it. They did that.”

With the Ags leading 2-0 in the top of the sixth, Virginia Tech had a man in scoring position with two outs.

Then, designated hitter Hudson Lutterman fought off seven Shane Sdao offerings before bouncing into an inning-ending ground out on the 11th pitch of the at-bat.

From there, it was an Aggie avalanche against the Hokie bullpen.

“Everything in baseball is playing everything the same,” Earley said. “Whether you got bases loaded, you’re up to bat, or you got bases loaded, you’re pitching with nobody out. You just execute what you’re supposed to execute and let the game decide it.”

Extreme Aggie execution decided Friday’s game in the sixth.

Eleven men hit in the frame as A&M took advantage of four free passes on five hits, including a quartet of doubles.

Blake Binderup began the rally with a walk. Jake Duer doubled twice, the second of which was the third in a sequence of back-to-back-to-back doubles from Caden Sorrell and Binderup.

In just a matter of minutes, the dam broke as the lead swelled to 10, and all that was left to do was get three outs in the top of the seventh, which freshman left-hander Cole Hubert did.

“It’s amazing,” Sdao said of the offense. “My full trust in them, whether it’s an 0-0 game like last week or a 10-0 game like it was this game. I put my full trust in them that they’re gonna come through for me, and they did that.”

Wesley Bowers, Texas A&M Athletics

Texas A&M’s offense is averging 10.89 runs a game in the 9-0 start.

A&M led from the early goings, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the men in Maroon pinstripes.

Chris Hacopian, who had missed six consecutive games, homered to left field in the bottom of the first off Hokie right-hander Brett Renfrow.

However, during the fourth inning, his back tightened up again. As a result, Binderup pinch-hit for Hacopian, who is now considered “day-to-day.”

“He just kind of tightened up a little bit,” Earley explained. “It’s gonna be a little bit of that, man. We’re gonna have a little bit of back-and-forth getting back.

“Always day-to-day with that guy. He’s really tough. We also want to be smart.”

Potentially losing the All-American for another stint of contests can’t drown out the noise of A&M’s bats. At least not for tonight.

Even still, it seemed as if two runs would’ve been enough for Sdao.

“I really liked the way I competed on the mound. I enjoyed being up there on a big league mound. Who wouldn’t?” Sdao said. “I felt pretty bland out there. I feel like I didn’t have my greatest stuff. All I did out there was compete and do what I do best, and it turned out well.”

Wesley Bowers, Texas A&M Athletics

Shane Sdao has now tossed 13.2 consecutive scoreless innings.

If “bland” is the word the left-hander wants to use, fine. His final line was way better than fine.

Pitching on a big league mound, Sdao spun six innings of scoreless baseball while surrendering four hits, one walk and striking out five.

Only twice did a Hokie reach third. Only once did Virginia Tech have multiple men on base in a single inning.

“It was more like my first outing than my second outing,” Sdao said. “I really enjoyed the way I was on the mound, my presence up there, so that’s always good.”

The quality start lowered Sdao’s ERA to 1.99 in 18 innings this spring.

It also saved the Aggie bullpen, which is great news considering what’s ahead.

On Saturday night, A&M will face top-ranked UCLA. It’s a big one inside a big stadium.

“They’re a good ball club. We’re a good ball club. We’re excited to play,” Earley said. “They’re really, really good. We’re just gonna go out there and compete.”

First pitch between the Aggies and Bruins is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

As Mr. Burgundy might say: I don’t know how to put this, but it’s kind of a big deal.