The No. 7 Aggies keep finding ways to win, and Wednesday proved to be their toughest challenge yet, resulting in a 4-3 extra inning win over the Broncs of Texas-Pan American.
“A lot of heroes today up and down the lineup, a lot of heroes defensively, and obviously on the mound too,” A&M head coach Rob Childress said. “We had some guys go out in big spots and find a way, and I could not be more proud of our guys.”
The scoring started by UTPA (8-5) early, as they led for the entirety of the game. After seven innings of play, the Aggies trailed 3-0. UTPA pitching held the powerful Aggie lineup in check for most of the game. The eighth inning was what has come to be known as Olsen Magic.
Trailing by three runs, the Aggies (18-0) got two men on base. G.R. Hinsley had one of the biggest hits of the day, as he smashed one down the line to score both runs to cut the Bronc advantage to one. After him, Blake Allemand had the hit to tie the game at three, sending the Olsen Field crowd into a frenzy.
“The pitcher had been in the game awhile so I had seen him a couple of times and I was just trying to stay within myself and not go out and do too much,” Allemand said. “[The] first couple of innings I couldn’t get anything to fall, but I try to do what I always do and get a good swing on it and it was able to find the hole.”
The Aggies threatened with two on base in the bottom of the ninth, but failed to capitalize on the runners in scoring position, which sent the game into extra innings for the first time this season.
After a defensive duel in the first few couple innings, the Aggie lineup came through in a big way in the 11th inning. The Aggies loaded the bases, then a sacrifice fly from Ronnie Gideon brought home Nick Banks to cap off the Houdini-like escape. Banks went 4-for-5 in the win.
“It’s always good to get a series sweep and go 2-0 in mid-week games are really important,” Banks said. “It’s also a good feeling when we can come back in the bottom of the eighth inning, play in extras and get the win.”
The Aggies are the only undefeated team remaining in college baseball, and will begin SEC play this Friday against the Auburn Tigers. Coach Childress knows this win was big heading into the series on Friday.
“It gives us a lot of confidence,” Childress said. “We’re pressing a bit offensively, but we continue to find ways to win.”