ARLINGTON, Texas (KBTX) – Texas A&M’s venture up to Globe Life Park in Arlington for the College Baseball Series was unlike a traditional series.
The 18th-ranked Aggies were pitted against three power-conference opponents, including a UCLA team that was ranked either first or second, according to most polls.
Facing three different teams didn’t necessarily equate to a series win. However, the Aggies took down Arizona State 9-3 on Sunday to close out the travel weekend, giving A&M a 2-1 record in Arlington.
To head coach Michael Earley, that was every bit a series win.
“I know it’s three different teams, but you got to win a series, right?” he said. “We wanted to win the tournament. We didn’t. We’ve got to get used to that fact, especially when you play in our league — it’s tough to get one of those first two and when you do, you’ve got to finish the job on Sunday and they did that. So, it was a good weekend.”
A&M (10-1) bounced back after taking its first loss of the season against the Bruins by the run rule. The Aggies managed only two hits in the loss.
Sunday’s effort against Arizona State (8-4) featured an Aggie squad that looked more like the nine previous wins the Aggies had tallied this season.
“I was really just upset with the fact we got run-ruled, right?” Earley said Sunday. “I think, looking back, we did some things better than I thought. But, at the same time, it was a response after we did get our butts kicked.”
Here is the game rundown:
Why did A&M win? A&M’s offense was particularly potent when traffic was on the base paths.
A&M went 6-for-19 with runners on base and hit 13-for-24 in advancement opportunities. They were a perfect 2-for-2 with runners on third base and fewer than two outs.
Aggie outfielder Caden Sorrell added to his growing tally of home runs by belting his sixth of the season in the bottom of the first, giving the Aggies a 2-0 lead.
A&M gathered all the runs it needed for the win in the bottom of the second, with runs driven in by Terrence Kiel II and Gavin Grahovac. Infielder Sawyer Farr added to the tally by scoring on a wild pitch.
A&M brought another run home in the third and added insurance with a trio of runs in the sixth.
All three of Arizona State’s runs came off a pair of home runs in the second and the sixth.
Who stood out? Earley has tinkered with his lineups several times since infielder Chris Hacopian and designated hitter Wesley Jordan have been sidelined due to injury.
On Sunday, utility fielder Travis Chestnut was given the day off in favor of Farr, while College Station native Blake Binderup took over at designated hitter. Binderup posted a 2-for-4 night with a run scored. Freshman third baseman Nico Partida was the Aggies’ other multi-hit player with a pair of base knocks and two RBIs.
Starter Aiden Sims labored through 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs — both on Garrett Michel’s home run in the second — on three hits.
Reliever Ethan Darden was A&M’s most effective pitcher, giving up the lone run on one hit — Dominic Longo’s solo shot in the sixth.
“He’s been really impressive,” Earley said of Darden. “He’s thrown a lot of strikes. He’s got good stuff, gives a unique look to the opposing hitter, especially coming after Sims.”
Clayton Freshcorn (2-0) closed out the final two innings of the game for the Aggies and earned the win. Sun Devil starter Jaden Alba (1-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up six hits and four runs in three innings.
What was a key stat? A&M hit .385 with two outs on Sunday, and had five two-out RBIs.
What’s next? The Aggies return to Blue Bell Park for a midweek matchup with Incarnate Word (7-5) on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
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