A 9-5 victory helped A&M avoid a sweep at Foley Field thanks to late-inning rallies on Sunday, after losing to the Georgia Bulldogs (16-12-1, 3-5-1 SEC) by scores of 3-2 and 6-1 Friday and Saturday.
Blake Allemand and Hunter Melton provided a pair of singles in an eighth-inning rally, which allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to be pushed across the plate. The Aggies originally trailed 5-4
Kray Bratsen stayed busy in the late innings, drawing a walk in the eighth inning and a single and stolen base in the ninth. Bratsen was plated as part of Allemand’s two-RBI single that put the Aggies ahead 8-5. Lankford then chalked up an RBI in the ninth inning before the side was retired.
A.J. Minter and Jason Jester worked the ninth inning to finish off the Bulldogs. Tyler Stubblefied started on Sunday, but was removed from the game after throwing 3.1 innings. Stubblefield allowed seven hits, three runs (2 earned) and a walk while striking out three of the 19 batters he faced.
A&M sophomore Andrew Vinson improved to 1-1 after being credited with the victory in which he pitched two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth.
The Aggies (18-11, 4-5 SEC) did not have the same fortune in Friday and Saturday’s matchups against the Bulldogs, which included a defeat by way of walk-off.
Jared Walsh’s ninth-inning grounder on Friday resulted in a failed attempt of a fielder’s choice by Aggies’ first baseman Cole Lankford, scoring Georgia’s Stephen Wrenn from third base to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 victory.
Although Jared Cheek received the Sunday loss for Georgia, Cheek retired all six batters he faced in relief on Friday night, and will leave the series with a 4-3 record on the year.
Friday starter Daniel Mengden received a no decision Friday after 7.1 innings of work. Mengden allowed just two runs on three hits, while reliever Parker Ray (2-2) picked up the loss.
Saturday was the only game that did not include a successful a late-inning rally. Allemand had a bases loaded extra-base hit taken away with two outs in the sixth inning by outfielder Wrenn. The Aggies would manage to score the only run in the ninth inning with Jace Statum, plating Allemand on a sacrifice fly.
Sophomore Grayson Long (3-1) received his first loss of the season in an outing in which he allowed four runs and eight hits, half being for extra bases, and lasting only 4.1 innings
Bulldogs starter Robert Tyler (2-2) managed to work against the Aggies lineup for eight innings – all scoreless – in an effort that allowed just seven hits while striking out six.
The game was delayed on two separate occasions on Saturday resulting in a combined time of over four hours.
A&M will begin preparation for Tuesday’s 6:35 p.m. matchup against the Houston Cougars. The game will be the first of five consecutive at Blue Bell Park for the Aggies.