COLLEGE STATION, Texas – After the Aggies let a four-run lead slip away in the top of the ninth, senior catcher Michael Barash righted the wrong with a walk-off home run in the home half of the frame to lead No. 3 Texas A&M to a 5-4 win over the Texas Longhorns on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Barash delivered the victory when he launched a full-count offering over the leftfield fence for his fourth home run of the season. The heroics came two pitches after a pair of Longhorns over ran a foul ball down the rightfield line.
Texas (7-10) clawed back into the game with four runs in the top of the ninth. With A&M closer Ryan Hendrix on for his second inning of work, Patrick Mathis started the frame with a wall-banger to right-center for a leadoff double. Kacy Clemens was hit by a pitch and Joe Baker drew a walk to load the bases.
Turner Larkins came on to relieve Hendrix and was greeted by a two-run double by Koby Clemens, cutting the Aggie lead to 4-2. Zane Gurwitz popped up to second for the first out of the inning and Brady Harlan followed with a strikeout to put A&M on the cusp of victory. Travis Jones worked a seven-pitch walk to reload the bases and Bret Boswell bounced a single through the left side of the infield to plate two runs, including Koby Clemens sliding under the tag at home for the tying run.
Mark Ecker came on to end the frame with a fly out to leftfield by Tres Barrera to put Barash in position for the end game.
Texas A&M drew first blood in the bottom of the third. George Janca started the frame with a walk and J.B. Moss singled down the leftfield line. Nick Choruby reached first when his sacrifice bunt was mishandled by Longhorns’ starter Morgan Cooper. Janca was retired at home on fielder’s choice grounder to third base by Boomer White for the first out of the inning, but A&M was able to breakthrough on the bat of Hunter Melton. Melton hit a ball deep into the hole on the right side with his infield single plating Moss and Choruby came home to score when second baseman Joe Baker’s ill-advised through sailed past an uncovered first base, staking A&M to a 2-0 lead.
The Aggies tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Barash started the rally when he was hit by a pitch as the leadoff batter and with one out, Joel Davis hammered a first-pitch offering to rightfield for the his second home run on the year and the 4-0 lead.
Barash led the Aggies at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one home run and one RBI.
Boswell batted 2-for-5 with one double and two RBI for the Longhorns.
Aggie starter Brigham Hill worked 7.0 scoreless innings, scattering six hits and one walk while striking out five. Ecker (1-0) vultured the win, retiring the only batter he faced.
Ty Culbreth (2-2) was saddled with the loss yielding a home run to the only batter he faced.
Texas A&M returns to action Friday when the Maroon and White travel to Alabama for a three-game series at Auburn.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Senior catcher Michael Barash
Thoughts on the experience
“This is amazing. I wanted to play in this kind of game when I came to Texas A&M. I want to call my mom and dad and just have a long conversation with them. We only get so many opportunities like this as baseball players, we got to enjoy it while we can. It was awesome.”
Junior outfielder Joel Davis…
On the game…
“I don’t even know what to say right now. “We played a great game and so did they. They never stopped fighting. Our biggest word right now is “fearless”. Even though we gave up the lead we were able to put it behind us and get the win.”
On the two-run homer…
“He started me off this time with a first pitch changeup. He left this one a little bit up and I was ready to hit it.”
Sophomore pitcher Brigham Hill
Thoughts on the performance…
“We got the win and I couldn’t ask anything more from my defense. I just wanted to pound the strike zone and the let the defense work because I think we have one of the best defenses in the nation. It was just such a blessing to be out there with these guys.”
