Aggies Drop SEC Opener vs. Ole Miss, 5-4

Thursday, March 22

College Station

6 p.m.

Texas A&M

18-5, 1-3

Ole Miss

21-2, 3-1

Ole Miss

Texas A&M

Photo by: Russell James/Texas A&M Athletics

Mar 22, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score - Ole Miss 5, A&M 4 Photos

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Aggies relinquished the lead in the eighth inning as the No. 5 Ole Miss Rebels tallied a 5-4 victory over No. 12 Texas A&M in the series opener Thursday evening on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.

The Maroon & White led 4-2 going to the eighth, but the Rebels strung together four straight hits off Aggie reliever Nolan Hoffman (3-1) to grab the lead, which A&M was not able to reclaim.

Aggie starter Stephen Kolek was left with no-decision despite a strong outing. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out 10 in 7.0 innings.

Braden Shewmake and Will Frizzell each logged two hits for the Aggies. Michael Helman extended his hit streak to 16 games as he reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with one walk, one HBP and one run.

Texas A&M was ultimately doomed by 12 runners left on base, including three in the eighth inning when the Maroon & White loaded the bases with one out, but couldn't push a run across.

The Aggies dropped to 18-5 on the season, including 1-3 in the SEC. Ole Miss improved to 21-2 overall and 3-1 in the SEC.

SCORING SUMMARY
B2 | Hunter Coleman bounced a leadoff single up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch. Frizzell drew a six-pitch walk and Baine Schoenvogel singled to short. After Allonte Wingate struck out looking, George Janca bounced a ball back to the pitcher. Ryan Rolison threw home to retire Coleman, but catcher Nick Fortes' throw to first got past Cole Zabowski, allowing Frizzell to wheel on home. A&M 1, MISS 0.

T3 | With one out, Grae Kessinger slipped a ball past the glove of George Janca at third base for a single. With two outs, Nick Fortes drove a 3-1 offering over the leftfield fence for his fifth home run of the season. MISS 2, A&M 1.

B3 | Helman poked a leadoff single to shallow centerfield. With one out, Helman was replaced at first on a fielder's choice groundout by Logan Foster. Coleman drew a seven-pitch walk and Foster came around to score when Frizzell knocked a single past the glove of a diving Rebels' shortstop. A&M 2, MISS 2.

B5 | Helman drew a four-pitch walk to start the frame and scored when Braden Shewmake gapped a double to right-center. With two outs, Aaron Walters plated Shewmake with a pinch-hit, ground-rule double to leftfield. A&M 4, MISS 2.

T8 | After Hoffman retired the first batter he faced, the Rebels stacked up four consecutive singles. Kessenger started the rally with a drive to leftfield. Ryan Olenek followed with a bloop single to shallow rightfield. Fortes hit a Baltimore chopper over the glove of third baseman Wingate to knock in Kessinger. Ole Miss reclaimed the lead when Thomas Dillard single through the left side, scoring Olenek and Fortes came home when Foster misplayed the ball. MISS 5, A&M 4.

NEXT UP
The Aggies and Rebels meet again Friday night on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park with another 6:02 p.m. first pitch.

TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Rob Childress
On Stephen Kolek…
"He was on top of his slider and commanded the fastball to both sides of the plate, he was fabulous. He made one mistake and that was Fortes hitting a homerun with a 3-1 count and other than that he couldn't be better than he was tonight. I'm very proud of his performance. I can't say enough about him. That is what you want from your starter."

On Nolan Hoffman and today's game…
"Well that is part of it, when you are a short reliever and finishing games, you are either the hero or the goat there is no in between. Give Ole Miss credit. They came and strung four hits together, tough chance at third base that was a hit and we looked up in right field and the ball gets away from us for a couple extra bases and that ends up being the deciding run. We had our shot in the 2nd inning with the bases loaded, no one out, we only came away with one and again in the 8th we got the guys we wanted at the plate and their reliever was able to get them to punch out."

On if it is frustrating with how good defensively the team has been this season…
"It is all about opportunities, you don't get a lot of opportunities in SEC play and you got to make the most of them. We had a lot tonight with runners in scoring position, I think we only got three hits out of 12 opportunities with runners in scoring position. We the most of a lot of opportunities we have had so far this year, just didn't have them for us tonight."

Junior RHP Stephen Kolek
On the outing and facing adversity...
"I felt like I was commanding the zone with anything I like, it makes it a lot easier. Every time you face a little bit of adversity it can shape who you are. Ever since I've been here as a freshman, it's kind of been hitting me. I just try to do what I can to always bounce back from it."

On Nolan Hoffman...
"He's our guy. We love the kid to death. He's a human, he's going to mess up but at the same time he's going to come back out and be who he's meant to be and he's going to be there for us next time."

Junior INF Michal Helman
On today's game…
"I feel like we came out of the gates strong. We were getting runners on, trying to capitalize on them. Stephen Kolek pitched a great game on the mound, he was lights out. It is just unfortunate that it didn't come out our way."

On the 8th inning rally attempt…
"I liked our chances, absolutely. It is like coach said, he will take them every single time in the situation, and I would too. They are going to forget about it and move on with tomorrow."