Aggies Respond to Take Series at Auburn

Friday, April 7

Auburn, Ala.

5:00 PM

Texas A&M

20-12, 5-7

Auburn

19-12-1, 4-8

Texas A&M

Auburn

Photo by: Ethan Mito/Texas A&M Athletics

Apr 07, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score SEC Standings Photo Gallery

AUBURN, Ala. – The Texas A&M Aggies rebounded from a narrow loss in the opener of Friday's doubleheader to get a wire-to-wire, 12-6 win over Auburn to clinch the series over the Tigers at Plainsman Park.

Texas A&M (20-12, 5-7 SEC) plated eight runs in the first three innings, but had to hold off the Tigers' (19-12-1, 4-8 SEC) resilient early attack to claim its third series win in as many years against Auburn. It was the Aggies' first series win at Auburn since 2016.

Jack Moss had three hits and scored a career-high four times and the Aggies were able to do what they could not in the opener, taking full advantage of 10 free passes from Tiger pitching with seven hits with runners in scoring position.

In all, four Aggies had multi-hit games, including Hunter Haas and Brett Minnich. Ryan Targac led the Aggies with three RBI, while Trevor Werner and Jace LaViolette had a pair of RBI apiece.

Chris Cortez got the start in the series finale, but it was Shane Sdao who followed him and allowed a run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts in an inning of work. Brad Rudis, however, was credited with his fourth win of the year after turning in a key outing from the pen as well. The righty from Madisonville shut the Tigers out in 2.2 innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four.

Brandyn Garcia followed that up with 2.1 perfect innings, retiring all seven Tigers he faced with six being on strikes.

For Auburn, Tommy Sheehan got the nod but did not make it out of the first inning. The lefty issued three walks and allowed two hits in a three-run first inning. Texas A&M added another four runs in the second inning and never allowed the Tigers to draw even for the remainder of the night, doing nine runs of damage against a quartet of Auburn relievers.

UP NEXT
Texas A&M will return to Blue Bell Park for a Tuesday matchup with UTSA. The midweek between the Aggies and Roadrunners is set to begin at 6 p.m. and will be aired on SEC Network+.

TOP AGGIE PERFORMERS
Brett Minnich – 2-for-5, 1 R, RBI
Jack Moss – 3-for-5, 4 R, 2B, RBI, BB
Jace LaViolette – 1-for-2, 3 BB, 2 RBI, 2 SB
Ryan Targac – 1-for-3, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Brad Rudis – (W, 4-0) 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Brandyn Garcia – 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K

GAME SUMMARY
T1| TAMU 3, AUB 0
The Aggies were able to immediately get on the board against Auburn starter Tommy Sheehan, loading the bases on a single by Hunter Haas and walks to Jack Moss and Austin Bost. Sheehan responded with strikeouts of Brett Minnich and Trevor Werner, but then issued a run-scoring free pass to Jace LaViolette and allowed a two-run single to Ryan Targac dumped into right-center field.

B1| TAMU 3, AUB 2
Auburn responded from the first inning with a pair of runs of their own against Aggie starter Chris Cortez as two walks and a single loaded the sacks just three hitters into the frame. Bryson Ware got the first run home with an RBI single and Cooper McMurray plated a second with a sacrifice fly, but Cortez was able to get each of the final two Tigers of the inning to keep the Ags in front.

T2| TAMU 7, AUB 2
Three walks and four singles proved to be the formula for the Aggies in the visiting half of the second as Texas A&M sent 10 hitters to the plate to up its lead to five runs. Moss delivered the first run-scoring swing with an RBI single to plate Max Kaufer and three batters later LaViolette drew another bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 5-2. Targac then followed with another walk to score the third run of the inning, and Jordan Thompson capped the frame when he shot a single through the left side of the infield to score Austin Bost.

T3| TAMU 8, AUB 2
It was a third straight scoring inning for the Aggies in the third as they loaded the bases once again on singles by Moss and Minnich and a walk to Bost. Werner made it an 8-2 game with a sacrifice fly to left field and the Aggies would have had even more had Kason Howell not robbed LaViolette of a run-scoring hit with a brilliant diving catch in center field for the inning's final out.

B3| TAMU 8, AUB 6
Despite a six-run advantage, the Aggies were unable to throw up a shutdown inning in the third as Auburn pushed across four runs to quickly get back in the game. The Tigers got the first run in without the benefit of a hit as a hit batter and pair of walks loaded the sacks to open the inning, bringing in reliever Shane Sdao who uncorked a wild pitch to score Bobby Peirce to make it an 8-3 game. A grounder from McMurray tacked on another, then consecutive hits from Howell and Christian Stanfield brought home two more before Sdao delivered two straight strikeouts to end the inning.

T5| TAMU 11, AUB 6
The offensive parade continued into the fifth with three more runs across for the Aggies. Moss' third hit, a one-out double, got the wheels moving and Minnich cashed in with a sure single to left field to plate him. Trevor Werner then tomahawked an RBI double into the left-field corner to score Minnich. The Aggie third baseman then swiped third and came in to score the third inning on a wild pitch by reliever Drew Nelson.

T8| TAMU 12, AUB 6
A two-out bunt single by Travis Chestnut turned into another run for the Aggies in the eighth. The junior beat out a bunt back to pitcher Zach Crotchfelt to reach base and then immediately swiped second just two pitches later. An errant throw by Auburn catcher Ike Irish advanced him to third on the play, then the final 90 feet came courtesy of Crotchfelt when he inadvertently rolled the baseball back into his own dugout, out of play before being granted time by the umpire. The play was ruled the second Auburn error of the play, allowing Chestnut to come home with the 12th run of the game for the Aggies.

POSTGAME COMMENTS