COLLEGE STATION, Texas – A five-run first and three-run sixth were all No. 20 Texas A&M needed to defeat Abilene Christian baseball Wednesday night at Blue Bell Park in its 9-3 win.
The loss snapped ACU's winning streak at three games and dropped its season record to 7-6, while the Aggies improved to 13-2.
The Wildcats grabbed the first lead, plating a two-out run in the opening frame when shortstop Robert Salazar's single through the left side rolled far enough to score outfielder Dalon Farkas from second base.
Unfortunately for the visitors, the Aggies' response was immediate as their first three batters all reached base in taking a 2-1 lead. To make matters worse, a combination of two-out errors kept the inning alive for catcher Hunter Coleman who crushed his first home run of the spring – a two-run shot down the left-field line – to push A&M's lead to 5-1.
The Aggies led 6-1 after two innings and later escaped what could have been a big fifth inning for the Wildcats as their first two runners both reached base and scored via walk and error.
Third baseman Seth Watts drew a walk against starter Chris Weber and motored all the way to third base on a bad throw by the 6-foot-4 left hander from Boerne, Texas following a comebacker by Farkas. Watts scored to make it a 6-2 game on Luis Trevino's fly ball to center field, and Farkas trimmed the deficit to three runs by scoring on an error by first baseman Hunter Watson, who dropped a potential double-play ball.
The score remained 6-3 in the Aggie's favor until the bottom of the sixth when designated hitter Joseph Menafee clubbed a bases-clearing double to the right-center gap off David Ruot, who was the Wildcats' fifth of seven pitchers.
Brock Barger (1-2) started and was charged with five runs (two earned) in his one inning of work with two strikeouts. Logan Patterson surrendered the Aggie's second-inning run, and after 1.2 innings he was lifted in favor of Kenny Otero, who scattered two base hits in 1.2 scoreless frames.
Triston Busse stranded a runner at second base to end the fifth inning, but hit A&M's No. 9 batter and surrendered a bunt single to Bryce Blaum to start the sixth inning, leading to the big hit from Menafee.
Ruot bounced back to get back-to-back ground balls in completing the sixth inning. Zach Smith pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, and Mark Geisel pitched to only four batters in the eighth.
Chandler Joswiak, who relieved Weber with two on and one out in the sixth, was credited with the victory which was his second of the season. Four additional A&M pitchers followed Joswiak to the mound, combining for two hits and two walks allowed plus eight strikeouts as the Wildcats left nine runners on base, including five in scoring position between the seventh and ninth innings.
Weber whiffed six batters during his 78-pitch outing, while Joswiak recorded one K in as many innings.
The Wildcats return to home action Friday for the start of a three-game series vs. Southland Conference rival Northwestern State. First pitch times at Crutcher Scott Field are 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Friday and Sunday games will be web streamed and carried locally on 98.1 FM - The Ticket. Saturday's game will be an internet radio-only broadcast due to the conflict with ACU women's and men's basketball.
