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A&M Drops Series Finale to Mississippi State
An eight-run fourth inning by the Bulldogs was too much to overcome and the Aggies fell 15-4 on Sunday.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas –
The No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies lost the series finale to the No. 16
Mississippi State Bulldogs, 15-4, Sunday on Olsen Field at Blue Bell
Park. The A&M pitching staff gave up season-highs for hits (19) and
runs on the afternoon.
Mississippi State (30-9,
8-7 SEC) pounced on the Aggies early for a run in the top of the first.
With one out, Alex Detz singled up the middle and was replaced at first
when Hunter Renfroe bounced into a fielder’s choice grounder. Brett
Pirtle singled down the rightfield line with two outs and Wes Rea
followed with a double down the leftfield line to knock in Renfroe for
the 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs offense came unleashed
in the top of the fourth as Mississippi State put up eight runs in the
inning. The Dogs only need four hits in the inning as Aggie pitchers
issued four base-on-balls and hit a batter in the frame. The inning
featured a two-run single by Rea and a grand slam by Nick Ammirati who
entered the game as a defensive replacement at catcher in the third
inning.
Texas A&M (21-16, 6-9 SEC) showed
signs of life in the top of the sixth. Jace Statum hit a leadoff single
up the middle. With one out, Krey Bratsen singled to leftfield and Troy
Stein drew a walk to load the bases. Ross Mitchell came in to relieve
Mississippi State starter Jacob Lindgren. Brandon Wood bounced into a
potential double play ball to shortstop, but Adam Frazier’s throw to
second base sailed into rightfield allowing two runs to score. With
runners at second and third, Hunter Melton hit sharply into a groundout
to shortstop to drive in Stein and Mitchell Nau followed with a single
through the right side of the infield to knock in Wood, cutting the
lead to 9-4.
The Aggies would load the bases in
the sixth when Logan Taylor reached on an error and Charlie Curl hit a
single to rightfield, but pinch-hitter Daniel Mengden grounded out to
third to halt the rally.
Mississippi State would
finish off the game with a four-run eighth inning and solo home runs by
Renfroe and Rea in the ninth inning.
Corey Ray
(3-1) was strapped with the loss for A&M. He allowed three runs on
six hits and three walks while striking out one over 3.2 innings.
Lindgren
(3-1) earned the win for Mississippi State. He allowed three runs, one
earned, on three hits and three walks while striking out five over 5.1
innings. Jonathan Holder picked up his 11th save of the season, giving
up just one hit and one walk while striking out four over 3.0 shutout
innings.
Bratsen led Aggie hitters at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one run and one stolen base. Nau went 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Mississippi
State’s Rea led all batters on the day, going 4-for-5 with one double,
one home run, three runs and four RBI. Renfroe went 3-for-5 with one
double, one home run, four runs and one RBI. Ammirati went 3-for-5 with
one home run, two runs and five RBI.
The Aggies
begin an eight-game road swing on Tuesday with a 6:30 pm game against
the Sam Houston State Bearkats in Huntsville, Texas.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Rob Childress
On
what does the team have to do to turn things around: “We have to start
believing. We have to go back to believing in who we are and what we
are, and playing Aggie baseball. We certainly didn’t do that the last
two days. It all goes to down to getting us off to a good start on the
mound and having an answer offensively.”
On
situation with Mikey Reynolds’ injury: “He’s sore obviously. But I
think it will be a day-to-day thing. Obviously Tuesday is probably out
for sure.”
On the team’s reaction in the postgame
talk: “They’re disappointed. They’re upset. They’re mad. But it’s a
matter of us going and doing something about it on the field.
Mississippi State beat us in every facet of the game. We have to go out
and play a better game.
Junior Outfielder Krey Bratsen
On
the team’s attitude: “I think that we’re underachieving. I think we
have a group of guys who can be great players, but haven’t reached that
level. I think I have more confidence in some of the freshmen than they
do themselves. It’s a game of failure and you have to go out and have
confidence in your ability and not worry about failing.”
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