Let’s catch-up on Aggie Baseball. Since their sweep of Delaware (4-4-26), the Aggies took a beating at Arizona, 13-3, and dropped 2 of 3 to WKU. The Aggies won the final game, 10-7. Jake Carvajal and Julio Ramos pitched two scoreless innings of relief. Brandon Clizbe went 3 for 4 with 5 RBI’s and a home run.
On Tuesday, the Aggies played the Lobos. I didn’t take the day off for it. I was sort of glad I didn’t because of how much work would have piled up in my absence. Then again, it was a 6-1 win for the Aggies. Pitching was a highlight tonight with JT Price, Hazen Wright (the winner), Carvajal, and Carson Timmons locking it down. Offensively, Chris Daniels was 3 for 4, with 2 RBI’s and a home run, and Easton Rulli was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s.
There was a great crowd of 982 and it was a quick game at two and half hours, which started at 4:00pm. (So, it would have been a nice pleasant way to spend an early evening if I had gone.) The Aggies had beaten an undefeated UNM in March (3-8-26 was when I wrote about it). The Lobos are still a good team at 22-13-1 (a tie?) and leading the Mountain West at 8-3-1 in conference (a tie? Really?). Somehow, the Aggies have their number this season.
Friday night, the Aggies began their next conference series against Sam Houston State. Aggie pitching did not get off to a good start giving up 8 runs to start the game. After those first two innings, the relief corps did lock it down and Aggie hitting got to work. They closed up the score and got it to 8-7 in the ninth. The Aggies had tying run at second, but he was left stranded to end the game. Jonatan Clough had the big blow in the comeback with a 3-run homer. Brayden Barnes, Ramos, and Timmons each had a scoreless inning of relief.
That brings us to Saturday night. It was breezy, but sunny in the afternoon. I had no excuse not to go other than I really didn’t want to go to a night game. As soon as I got there, the wind picked up and got cold. Instantly, I was regretting my decision. At least, I was wearing a thermal top and had a light jacket with me.
At the stadium going up the stairs, I ran into broadcaster Adam Young. He was being mobbed by some other fans praising his game call. Good for him. I met up with Fan Michael. He was wearing an Aggie Baseball jersey he’d gotten at the Aggie gear sale that I missed. I missed out on a whole bunch of stuff there, but he did tell me that it wasn’t being given away cheap. His jersey was $35. Michael me that he’d talked to Coach Angier before the game. He told the Coach, “No playing from behind tonight. Catch-up is for French fries.”
Friday night’s attendance was a good 745. Saturday night it was 698. Maybe some other people were smarter about the weather conditions. SH brought quite a few fans with them. Other fans in the crowd included a guy in a cool El Paso Chihuahuas jersey, several kids in Cubs shirts, and girls in tank tops and shorts in spite of the cold. (Anything to attract the attention of the Baseball players.) The Anthem was delayed and then started suddenly, which caught everyone by surprise. Up on the scoreboard, some lights were noticeably out. We gotta get a new scoreboard.
Things added up on the scorecards mostly because of a lack of scoring and on-field weirdness. I made one mis-score that I had to white-out. Connor Wylde started for the Aggies. The wind made many flyballs in the game exciting. Camden Kaufman battled the wind on a popup on the infield for the second out. Jonatan Clough caught the final out as the ball curled away from him. In Cade Corcoran’s at bat, he fouled a ball hard off his foot that required some attention. A sympathetic SH fan shouted, “Walk it off!” He’d double and be joined on base with a walk, but they’d be left stranded.
In the bottom of the first, Steve Solorzano curled one flyball at pole foul. The crowd was shouting for it to go fair. Solo then fouled a shot directly into the visiting dugout. He finally flied out to Sam Houston’s relief. The Aggies would end up leaving two on base without scoring, as well.
Clough started off the second with another acrobatic catch. Wylde only yielded a walk in the frame. Sean Bazmore in right field for SH ran down a liner to start the bottom of the second. (Pretty much every flyball tonight was an adventure. I’m just listing the best plays.) After that catch, SH starter, Tyler Ryden, ran into trouble. After a single and a walk, Boston Vest singled in a run and Solo sac’d in a run from third. The Aggies loaded the bases with 2 outs, but left them stranded. Aggies up 2-0.
A leadoff walk began the top of the third and was sac’d over. The infield fly rule did come into effect on a popup to second. (No weirdness ensued like a ***recent Chihuahuas game on 4-17-26***.) On the final out, Vest was screened at short by the runner going by. Vest made a heads up running throw to get the runner out at third. The Aggies went down in order in the bottom. Ryan Franden at third made a great play on a liner.
In the top of the fourth, Wylde notched a couple of strikeouts. He gave up a single on a high bouncer to second. Kaufman got it, but overthrew first base, though the runner stayed put. I was asked by a fan why that wasn’t an error. The official scorer likely thought a good throw still wouldn’t have gotten the runner and since he didn’t advance on the overthrow, there was no error. (The threshold for an error is “ordinary effort.”) The Aggies only managed a walk in the bottom.
Hazen Wright came in for the top of the fifth. He threw 6 balls in a row, which prompted a visit from the Coach. Wright came back from 2 walks to get 2 strikeouts. Then, he gave up another walk to load the bases and Bazmore cashed in 2 runners with a double. Tommy Meluskey made a running grab on liner in center to end the inning. We were tied at 2.
The Aggies again only managed a walk in the bottom of the inning. Of more importance, I finally noticed in the stands that Nellie Reese was there. Her mom and dad, I’d find out later, were out-of-town on family business. With Nellie was her Volleyball teammate, a newly blonde, Tess Fuqua. It’s a good look. I’m rethinking my lack of commitment to Aggie Sports next season. I got a smile and a wave from Nellie on my way back from the bathroom. She’s really happy now not playing Volleyball and having a boyfriend. (I got a confused look from Tess when I waved at her.)
The wind and the cold had me going to the bathroom 4 times while I was at the stadium. I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t hold it. There was a rare line at the bathroom between innings. I spoke to SH pitcher Ryden’s father there. He was cold and nervous about his son pitching. I told him it was 95-degrees here three weeks ago. That didn’t help.
For the sixth, the Bearkats singled and the Aggies went down in order. Much of the crowd was deserting with sun down and it getting colder. At least the players were obligingly playing quick. In the top of the seventh, Wright got 2 outs, but then a ball went under Kaufman’s glove at second. An error was initially charged, but changed immediately to a hit. Those fans weren’t there to ask me to explain that, which is good, because I wouldn’t have been able to. Wright picked the runner off anyway. The Aggies went down in order in the bottom with 2 strikeouts by a reliever just brought in.
In the top of the eighth, Wright was hit on the ankle on a comebacker. He fell down, but still threw out the runner. Wright walked the next batter. The crowd was incensed since it happened on a close pitch. Coach Angier went ahead and took Wright out for Dylan Weekly.
Weekly got the second out, but gave up a single next and a stolen base put both runners on scoring position. The SH coach called a conference with the runners and the hitter. This was almost unprecedented. I don’t know what clever strategy they were planning, but ultimately, a wild pitch brought the runner in from third. There was a play at the plate and the runner just slid under the tag. The crowd was mad about the call. I had a pretty good view of it. He looked safe. Another single brought in the other runner to give Sam Houston a 4-2 lead.
Clough led off the bottom of the eighth with a double. He was moved to third with 1 out and Coach Angier called a conference with the runner and the batter. Again, this doesn’t normally happen. Easton Rulli had an RBI fielder’s choice to bring in the run. (Was that the plan?) 4-3 SH.
The Bearkats began the top of the ninth with a single, but catcher Dane Woodcook made a good play on foul popup behind the plate and the next two batters went down. Woodcook singled to begin the bottom of the ninth and was sac’d over to second by Vest. Unfortunately, a lineout to first by Solo and a strikeout by Chris Daniels ended the game. Sam Houston wins, 4-3.
The final strike was on a check swing. Michael was furious. Apparently, Friday’s game had ended on a questionable call. Coach Angier briefly got into the umpire, but the ump pretty much walked away. I had a pretty good view. It looked like he swung.
Given the low-scoring game, all of my Gameballs are going to pitchers tonight. For Sam Houston, starter Tyler Ryden went 6 innings giving up 2 runs and reliever Connor Mondey pitched 3 and gave up 1 run. For the Aggies, starter Connor Wylde pitched 4 scoreless innings.
The game went 2 hours and 52 minutes. It wasn’t quick enough given the conditions, but it was interesting, if disappointing. (I’m not coming back to any more night game unless the weather conditions are perfect.) A low-hanging thin crescent red moon hung in the sky with Jupiter shining nearby. I went home and wished I hadn’t drunk all my hot chocolate a week ago. I skipped writing when I was home so I could play Command and Conquer: Zero Hour. I beat the final USA mission on the hard level. It was time well-spent. Oh, and ***tomorrow’s game*** starts at 10:00am.
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