Texas A&M
16-1
Long Beach State
5-11
Aggies Complete Sweep of Long Beach State
Mar 11, 2018 | Baseball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies logged a 5-1 victory over the Long Beach State Dirtbags Sunday afternoon on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park to complete a three-game series sweep. The Maroon & White outscored the Dirtbags 27-3 for the weekend.
Mitchell Kilkenny (4-0) registered the longest outing of his career, yielding just one unearned run, scattering five hits and two walks while striking out seven over 8.0 innings. Kaylor Chafin retired all three batters he faced in the ninth, including one strikeout.
Michael Helman reached base in all four of his plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with one walk, one run and one RBI. Chris Andritsos knocked in two runs with a walk and a sacrifice fly.
The Aggies improved to 16-1 on the season and ran their home winning streak to 16 dating back to the 2017 Super Regional. Long Beach State fell to 5-11 for their 2018 campaign.
SCORING SUMMARY
B1 | The Aggies drew first blood for the second straight day. With one out, Helman reached on an infield single and moved to third when Braden Shewmake poked a single down the leftfield line After Shewmake stole second base, Andritsos knocked in Helman with a sacrifice fly to right-center. A&M 1, LBSU 0.
B2| Will Frizzell got things rolling with an opposite field single to leftfield and Cole Bedford followed with a bunt single. A throwing error by Santino Rivera on a toss to second allowed Frizzell to score and put two runners in scoring position. After a groundout by Janca, Bedford scored when Zach DeLoach hit a grounder to first and Garrett Nelson decided to come home with the throw, but it sailed high. An RBI single by Helman and a bases loaded walk by Andritsos closed out the scoring in the frame. A&M 5, LBSU 0.
T7 | The Dirtbags scratched out an unearned run in the top of the seventh. Brooks Stotler reached base when Helman misplayed a ball in the hole between first and second. Stotler moved to second on a groundout by Laine Huffman and scored with two outs when Nelson punched a single to rightfield. A&M 5, LBSU 1.
NEXT UP
The Aggies return to action Tuesday when they host the UT Arlington Mavericks in a 6:32 p.m. contest on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Respect. Thank you to all the veterans, active duty, and retired military personnel all over & to those in attendance at today's game ???? #FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/JYqo6rEe48
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) March 11, 2018
.@mr_mitches was impressive on Sunday & improved to 4-0 on the year.
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) March 11, 2018
He worked eight innings, allowing just five hits & one run with seven strikeouts. #FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/VxE2Z9i6GN
Here's a look at the RBI single by @theHELM_ from the second inning.
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) March 11, 2018
?? - https://t.co/sJzCdx2F81#FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/NIH9pQslaw
The Aggies grab the early advantage thanks to an RBI by @Chris_Andritsos.
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) March 11, 2018
?? - https://t.co/sJzCdx2F81#FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/Z6gdliA5LT
Military Appreciation Day. ????
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) March 11, 2018
Thank you to the men and women who have served and are currently serving to protect our nation. Today we honor you. #FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/kkRXCVAcyM
Head Coach Rob Childress
On his outing today…
"We overwhelmed them offensively yesterday and [had] a very business-like approach today. Again, it looks like every game is started on the mound. Mitchell Kilkenny was outstanding and got us off to an amazing start, was super efficient. We scored early and didn't give them any hope as the game went along."
On Kilkenny's start today…
"I thought he was really, really good. All four pitches for a strike, probably as good as he's been all year long. He was very efficient. Got us through eight innings and it was good to see Kaylor [Chafin] go out there. [He] kind of ironed some things out and was very sharp, as well."
On Michael Helman…
"Had a great week. He's a very good player, certainly lucky to have him on our team. Today was no different. He had a great day for us offensively."
On the way the batting lineup is hitting…
"Very pleased. I mean Will [Bolt] and Justin [Seely] and Jeff [Christy] have done an amazing job getting these guys where they are. They work incredibly hard with them. Our hitters are totally sold out and bought in to the plan and what those three are trying to do. It's awful fun to watch."
Junior RHP Mitchell Kilkenny
On his start today against Long Beach State…
"Good contact team. They don't like to strike out much. We had good win, so it was a little easier to just throw it over the plate and feel good about it. Our hitters got us off to a great start, so that's always good. It helps a lot on the mound, at least mentally."
On if he felt pressure being the Sunday closer…
"I wouldn't say pressure. I love when something's on the line whether it's a sweep, whether it's getting a first win or just getting a series win. It's just a lot of fun to come out here and give everyone our best shot."
Junior INF Michael Helman
On sweeping the series before SEC play…
"It is great, our offense came around the past two games, and our pitching is looking amazing right now."
On how it feels to have a big weekend at the plate before SEC play…
"I actually got kicked out of the cage yesterday because I was hitting so bad, but that kind of helped me turn it on. It definitely builds my confidence and I know, just as a whole, we were hitting the ball extremely well those past few games and just hitting flat balls to opposite sides of the field. I think that our offense is looking great and our pitching staff is looking great as well."
On approach with the weather…
"With the wind blowing in, we just had to make sure we were hitting flat balls, unlike yesterday we could lift balls in the air and they would carry, but today anything in the air, it was just going to die. I think we did a good job with that today."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kilkenny, Mitchell (4-0)
L: Radcliffe, Tyler (0-2)
Batting:
RBI: Nelson, Garrett 1
SH: Duran, Jarren 1 ; Andrews, Clayton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stotler, Brooks 1
Batting:
RBI: DeLoach, Zach 1 ; Helman, Michael 1 ; Andritsos, Chris 2
SF: Andritsos, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DeLoach, Zach 1 ; Helman, Michael 1 ; Frizzell, Will 1 ; Bedford, Cole 1 ; Wingate, Allonte 1
SB: Shewmake, Braden 1
CS: Helman, Michael 1
