Aggies' Five-Run Eighth Inning Delivers Misery to Missouri

Friday, March 29

College Station

6:30 p.m.

Texas A&M

23-5, 6-1

Missouri

17-10, 2-5

Missouri

Texas A&M

Mar 29, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photos

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 11 Texas A&M Aggies used a five-run eighth inning to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, claiming the series opener against the Missouri Tigers, 7-3, on Olsen Field at Blue Park Friday evening.

Trailing 3-2 in the eighth, Braden Shewmake drew a walk and the Missouri catcher Chad McDaniel made an ill-advised throw to second base on Jonathan Ducoff's sacrifice bunt. The throw, which was too late to retire Shewmake, sailed into centerfield, putting both runners in scoring position. With the infield drawn in, Ty Coleman smashed a ball towards second baseman Mark Vierling whom made a diving stop and held the runners in check before throwing to first. After working the count to 3-0, Mikey Hoehner was intentionally walked to fill the bags with Ags, setting up the heroics.

Logan Foster tied the game with a single to short and Hunter Coleman pushed the go-ahead run across with a single to leftfield. Texas A&M would tack on three more runs with the help of a throwing error, sacrifice fly and wild pitch.

The victory stretched the Aggies' win streak to eight games. The Maroon & White improved to 23-5 overall and 6-1 in the SEC. Missouri dropped to 17-10 overall and 2-5 in league play.

Foster and Coleman both went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI to lead the Aggie offense. Hoehner batted 1-for-2 with two walks and two RBI.

Aggie starter John Doxakis battled through 6.2 innings, yielding three runs, two earned, on 10 hits while striking out eight. Bryce Miller (4-0) earned the win striking out three of the six batters he faced in 1.1 blank frames. Kasey Kalich pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning in a non-save situation.

UP NEXT
The Aggies and Tigers meet for game two of the series Saturday at 2:02 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY
T4 | With one out, Chad McDaniel bounced a single up the middle. After Alex Peterson lined out to third, Cameron Swanger hit a two-run home run to leftfield. His first dinger of the season. MIZ 2, A&M 0.

B6 | Shewmake punched a single to leftfield and Ducoff deposited a single to centerfield to start the frame. After Ty Coleman sac bunt attempt resulted in Shewmake being retired at third, a balk put two runners in scoring position. Hoehner fought off strike three with three foul balls before threading a double down the leftfield line, knocking in Ducoff and Coleman. A&M 2, MIZ 2.

T7 | With one out, Paul Gomez doubled down the leftfield line. Gomez was retired heading to third on Chad Peterson's bouncer back to the mound, but Peterson moved to second on a throwing error by Ty Coleman attempting to double him off at first. Kameron Misner made the Aggies pay for the error, sending Peterson home with a single to rightfield. MIZ 3, A&M 2.

B8 | Shewmake drew five-pitch walk to start the frame. On Ducoff's sacrifice bunt, a late arriving throw to second base sailed into centerfield, putting two runners in scoring position. After Ty Coleman's smash to second base was gloved for the first out of the inning, Hoehner worked the count to 3-0 before being intentionally walked to load the bases. A single to short by Logan Foster knotted the game and a single to leftfield by Hunter Coleman plated the go-ahead run. Hoehner also scored on the single by Foster as the first baseman muffed the relay throw. Foster scored on a sacrifice fly by Zach DeLoach and Coleman reached home on a wild pitch to cap the scoring. A&M 7, MIZ 3.

TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Rob Childress
On game one versus Missouri…
"Well certainly a hard fought win on a Friday night in the SEC, and their starter was outstanding. Dox [John Doxakis] competed his tail off. He got us deep in the game and that's what we needed him to do. The bullpen made it stand up, Missouri scratched one across to take the lead and our guys didn't flinch. Our best at-bats were later in the game. We had a lot of heroes tonight. It took all of us to find a way to win tonight."

On the atmosphere with all the video reviews…
"Gosh what are we? 27, 28 games into the year, and we had more replays and moments for that umpiring crew tonight than maybe we've seen collectively all year. I thought they did a good job maintaining sanity of the game and trying to get all the calls right. I'm thankful that we have that in our league."

On Dox's performance…
"Well their hitters will put the ball in play. I thought Dox was outstanding. Tonight was his best performance he's had here in the past three or four weeks. He refused to give in, and there was some moments to crack. That's what his strength is - he's a true competitor. He realized that going into tonight. You know that's what a Friday night guy has got to do. He's got to battle his tail off, and he certainly did that getting us into the seventh inning."

Junior Catcher Mikey Hoehner
On tonight's game…
"That was awesome. It was just a real team effort man. No one gave up, and 35 guys just sold out to one plan. It was truly special."

Junior OF Logan Foster
On his opportunity at the plate late in the game…
"That was pretty exciting for me, I have never really had that opportunity here to be able to do that. In that situation, you can't over think it and with a runner at third base with less than two outs, you just got to put the ball in play any way you can. I was fortunate enough to do that."

Junior LHP John Doxakis
On his emotions…
"It's just a mindset, I'm going to fight for the guys that play for me and that is kind of how we go as a team. Coach had a talk with me before this series, we just got to out there and compete, no matter what compete and fight for each other."