Aggies Open Weekend with 3-1 Victory Over Mississippi State

Friday, April 10

College Station

6:30 PM

Texas A&M

32-2, 10-2

Mississippi State

21-15, 5-8

Mississippi State

Texas A&M

Apr 10, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 1 Texas A&M Aggies got a strong performance on the mound from Grayson Long and a two-run home run from Logan Taylor to claim a 3-1 win in Friday night's series opener against Mississippi State on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.

Long (7-0) retired 10 in a row at one point and exited the game with a 3-1 lead after 7.0 innings of work. He allowed one unearned run on three hits and two walks while striking out four.

Andrew Vinson needed just eight pitches to get through the eighth inning. He yielded a one-out single to Cody Brown, but on the next pitch Hunter Melton pounced on a Jacob Robson chopper down the first-base line to turn an inning ending 3-6 double play.

Things got precarious for Mark Ecker as he tried to nail down his sixth save of the season. He started the ninth inning by inducing a fly out by Gavin Collin, but Reid Humphreys doubled down the leftfield line to bring the tying run to the plate.

After John Holland flied to deep rightfield for the second out of the ninth, Wes Rea appeared to end the game with a grounder to third base, but Melton was unable to hold on to the throw at first, putting runners on the corners. Pinch-hitter Jake Vickerson drew a six-pitch walk to load the bases, but Ecker sealed the deal by getting pinch-hitter Luke Reynolds to swing-and-miss at an 0-2 offering.

Texas A&M (32-2, 10-2 SEC) broke the scoring seal in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Nick Banks pounded a single through the right side of the inning. Logan Taylor followed by hammering a 2-2 offering over the leftfield fence for a two-run home run. It marked his seventh whammy of the season.

The Aggies took advantage of a Bulldogs' error to add an insurance run in the fifth. With one out, Michael Barash reached base when third baseman Seth Heck was unable to handle a chopper. Blake Allemand followed by bouncing a single over Heck's head and Ryne Birk drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Mitchell plated Barash with a sacrifice fly to leftfield, staking A&M to a 3-0 lead.

Mississippi State (21-15, 5-8 SEC) mounted their only successful rally in the top of the sixth. Brown laced a single through the right side of the infield and was replaced at first by Robson who grounded to second base for a fielder's choice. Collins put runners on the corners with a single through the left side of the infield, but was retired at second base trying to advance on a wild pitch.

Taylor led the Aggies at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBI. Allemand also logged two hits, including a double.
Mississippi State managed just five hits for the game with Brown and Humphreys logging two apiece.

Lucas Laster (4-2) was the hard-luck loser for the Bulldogs. He worked 7.1 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits and two walks while striking out four.

The Aggies improved to 9-0 in the first game of series (tournaments) in 2015. Last season, the Maroon and White struggled on the opening day of series (tournaments) going 3-13.

The series continues with game two slated for 1:05 pm on Saturday.

TEXAS A&M QUOTES

Head coach Rob Childress
On the game…
“Two big hits for us tonight, none bigger than the home run. It was a 3-0 lead and we did enough. Hunter (Melton) made a great play there in the eighth inning to start the double play. With two cats on the bases, one at the plate and one on first it got us off field which was a big spot.”

On the defense…
“We have been playing pretty good defense the last couple of weeks. I would like to see zeros in that last column up there, but it was enough to make it stand tonight.”

On Ronnie Gideon's defensive improvement…
“He made a great play on that one bunt. The guy gets down to first in about 3.7. He has worked really hard and continues to get himself in better shape. He has starting to play better and better, too.”

Junior pitcher Grayson Long
On his performance…
“The fastball was working really well. My slider was good and my change-up was the best it's been all year. With the offense that we have right now, it's easy to go out there and do your own thing. You don't have to worry about being perfect.”

On facing the Mississippi State lineup…
“That's a great team over there in Mississippi State. I just kept telling myself 'You just have to keep doing your thing and someone in the lineup is going to step up.' That's what has happened all year.”