Texas A&M
1-0
Rhode Island
0-1
Childress Earns 500th Win in Aggies' Season Opener
Feb 16, 2018 | Baseball
Texas A&M (1-0) gave the ball to Stephen Kolek (1-0) who worked into the sixth in his first opening day start. The junior fanned 10 Rams and allowed just one unearned run in his 5.2 innings. Kaylor Chafin pitched the next 2.2 frames for A&M, striking out three, before Cason Sherrod came in for the final two outs. The trio combined for 14 Ks allowing just one walk and limiting all nine Rhode Island's hits to singles.
Offensively, Logan Foster led the Aggies with a 3-for-4 day out of the eighth spot in the order. The sophomore finished with one RBI, one run and a double. In his first Aggie appearance, Michael Helman reached base in four plate appearances, including two hits. He also drove in one run and stole a bag. The bottom three in the A&M order combined to hit 7-for-12 with three doubles and three of the four Aggie runs.
KEY INNINGS
B2 | In his first collegiate at bat, Will Frizzell led off the second with a double down the left-field line. Foster singled Frizzell home to open the scoring before Baine Schoenvogel rifled a double to left plating Foster. After Schoenvogel moved to third on a groundout, Helman brought him home with an RBI groundout. A&M 3, URI 0.
T4 | Rhode Island got on the scoreboard with an unearned run in the fourth. Greg Cavaliere singled and moved to second on a failed pickoff. With one down, Xavier Vargas brought in the run as he singled up the middle. Kolek erased the threat inducing a 5-4-3 twin killing. A&M 3, URI 1.
B5 | Chris Andritsos worked a walk to begin the fifth, chasing Rhode Island starter Tyler Wilson (0-1) from the game. Cole Bedford doubled off the new reliever, Taso Stathopoulus, plating Andristsos from first. The Aggies loaded the bases with one out, but were unable to scratch across any more runs. A&M 4, URI 1.
NEXT UP
The Aggies and Rams will be back in action for game two Saturday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. Lefty Chandler Jozwiak is set to get the start on the mound in his Aggie debut with Matt Murphy getting the call for Rhode Island.
Congrats to a great coach and even better man!#500Wins #FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/yj42qEBDMw
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
5.2 Innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 10 strikeouts@skolek32 was locked in, helping the Aggies to the opening night victory! #FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/kcCONrJ2wU
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
Opening night Bubbles #12thMan pic.twitter.com/AgjoE1JAah
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
Here's the RBI single by @Lilfost05, which opened the scoring for the Aggies on Opening Night! #FamilyF1rst #12thMan
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
Watch - https://t.co/iTN9xSZPWo pic.twitter.com/BNJeNGv3fq
Home. ????
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
Great night for some baseball fun at Blue Bell Park.#FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/MvaPNROspo
.@CBed12 delivers the RBI double to give the Aggies a 4-1 lead! #FamilyF1rst #12thMan
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
Watch - https://t.co/iTN9xSZPWo pic.twitter.com/5WDhoFMQZC
Have a look at the 10th strikeout of the night by @skolek32. #12thMan #FamilyF1rst
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
Watch - https://t.co/iTN9xSZPWo pic.twitter.com/OQVwkTVrm4
.@bradenshewmake makes the play, as the Aggies look to finish things off in the 9th! #FamilyF1rst #12thMan
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
Watch - https://t.co/iTN9xSZPWo pic.twitter.com/EKhjEMVkRk
Winners win!
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
Ags take Game 1 of the year, 4-1!#FamilyF1rst #12thman pic.twitter.com/iCxIvJKaBb
"It brings back a lot of memories. Anytime you get a benchmark win, it's time for reflection." - @Rob_Childress on earning his 500th win at Texas A&M#FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/juyGXN1zzW
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
"All the way around, in every facet, I'm really proud of the job we did tonight." - @Rob_Childress on Texas A&M's performance on Friday#FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/UAUz4FeaWS
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
"If I just throw it over the plate, I know I have a great defense behind me." - @skolek32 #FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/TukgG54JnJ
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
"I love this team. I love the atmosphere of opening day. There's nothing like it." @theHELM after his first game in front of the #12thMan #FamilyF1rst pic.twitter.com/BtY6R3V8Tk
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
"It's something great to be a part of Coach Childress' legacy." - @Lilfost05 #FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/l3RJiL3uMx
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 17, 2018
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Rob Childress
On his 500th win...
"Any time you get a milestone win, it's a good time to look back and reflect. There are a lot of good people who were responsible for those wins and I'm grateful I was able to coach some outstanding young men who have gone on to be outstanding husbands and fathers. I'm grateful I've been able to work with outstanding assistant coaches who have been the reason we've been able to maintain our success at Texas A&M."
Sophomore OF Logan Foster
On fellow Nebraska native Michael Helman starting today…
"Definitely when they did the starting lineup when we ran out to our positions hearing them say, 'Michael Helman' and then saying, 'Lincoln, Nebraska,' it sent chills through me. It was awesome. I've known Nolan [Hoffman] and Mike since I was like eight years old. We grew up playing against each other and we've been friends ever since."
On his individual performance and having a 3-hit night…
"The guys in front of me really set up the innings. We just kept competing as a team at the plate."
Junior RHP Stephen Kolek
On how the first game felt…
"It felt great. It felt very exciting to get out there and throw the first pitch of today's game. I thought overall we had a really great team effort, just every aspect of the game we really did well. I'm proud of our team for that."
On the slider and other pitches working well for him tonight…
"Yeah, all of the pitches seemed to be working pretty well. It all goes back to our team effort. Everybody's been working hard. I trust what I do so if I just throw it over the plate, I know I've got a great defense behind me and they're going to take care of me. So, I was trying to do my part for them."
Junior 2B Michael Helman
On how much he has waited for this opportunity to finally be an Aggie…
"It's great, I love this team, I love the atmosphere of opening day, there is nothing like it."
On his first game success…
"I had a lot of nerves going out there. I got the butterflies of course. I just tried to stay composed and I had people like Braden Shewmake and other guys who had my back the whole time. Stephen Kolek did a get job setting the tone for game. He didn't give them any ground balls early. He just struck guys out, and put guys down."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kolek, Stephen (1-0)
L: Wilson, Tyler (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Vargas, Xavier 1
SH: Foley, Mike 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cavaliere, Greg 1
SB: Cavaliere, Greg 1 ; Hill, Laurence 1
Batting:
2B: Bedford, Cole 1 ; Frizzell, Will 1 ; Foster, Logan 1 ; Schoenvogel, Baine 1
RBI: Helman, Michael 1 ; Bedford, Cole 1 ; Foster, Logan 1 ; Schoenvogel, Baine 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Andritsos, Chris 1 ; Frizzell, Will 1 ; Foster, Logan 1 ; Schoenvogel, Baine 1
SB: Helman, Michael 1
HBP: Helman, Michael 1 ; Shewmake, Braden 1
