COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – A subtle chuckle escaped Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley when he thought about Monday’s if-necessary Game 7 of the College Station Regional.
After all, this Aggie squad has put forth a season to this point worthy of hosting an NCAA Tournament regional, though spotted with blowout losses along the way. A&M suffered losses of seven runs or more five times this season.
On Sunday, the Aggies’ 14-3 loss to USC in the first game of the regional final was the latest continuation of the trend.
Earley’s soft moment of humor rested on his team’s success after those blowouts, winning four of five. Monday, in a winner-take-all Game 7 against the Trojans (46-16), the Aggies (41-15) must have a repeat bounce-back performance.
“Could there not be a more fitting outcome for this team than this right here?” Earley said. “I mean, this has happened to us a few times. Some of the losses we’ve had have been large, right? And all we’ve done is respond. I mean, it might be unprecedented, the season we’ve had.”
A&M suffered lopsided losses to UCLA (11-1), Florida (9-2), Auburn (18-5), Mississippi State (18-11) and Auburn (7-0 in the SEC Tournament) prior to Sunday’s loss. The only exception was a Game 2, 5-4 loss to Auburn in early May.
Here’s the game rundown:
Why did Texas A&M lose? USC starter Andrew Johnson (8-2) kept A&M’s hitters off balance through 7 1/3 innings, which took a career-high 124 pitches.
“I’ll say this, I’ve been here for four years, that’s the best pitching performance I’ve seen in four years, hands down,” USC head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. “In a big moment when we needed somebody to step up and take the ball, there hasn’t been a guy that’s done that as well as Drew did this evening.”
A&M began the scoring in the top of the first thanks to a line-drive home run by designated hitter Chris Hacopian that just escaped Blue Bell Park to left field. First baseman Gavin Grahovac hit his 22nd home run of the season in the fifth, a solo shot. Finally, left fielder Jake Duer lined a triple off the wall in right-center, scoring Nico Partida.
Other than those three swings, Johnson was in command. He allowed those three runs on nine hits. He struck out four and walked one.
“We obviously know they’re a really good hitting team, right?” Johnson said. “They can hit fastballs, they stay on breaking balls really well. The thing was mixing it up and making them uncomfortable, making them make hard decisions.”
Meanwhile, a bullpen game for the Aggies crumbled from the start. Ethan Darden (4-4) lasted 2/3 of an inning after allowing four runs on four hits, including a pair of doubles. All four of the remaining Aggie pitchers gave up at least two runs in no more than 2 1/2 innings of work.
Who stood out? USC right fielder Andrew Lamb went 3-for-3, including a home run and a double, and posted five RBIs. Designated hitter Augie Lopez posted a 3-for-4 night, including a home run, and two RBIs. For the Aggies, Grahovac and Duer both went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
What was a key stat? Sunday’s loss ended a 14-game home postseason win streak that dates back to A&M’s super regional loss to TCU in 2016.
What does this mean moving forward? Earley and his staff will have to come up with a pitching plan for a staff that has been used extensively throughout the regional. It will be an “all hands on deck” game with the season on the line, Earley said.
Clayton Freshcorn, A&M’s closer, should see extended time Monday after throwing only 19 pitches on Friday against Lamar, his only appearance of the regional. Alongside Aiden Sims, who will miss the remainder of the season due to injury, Freshcorn has been the Aggies’ most consistent arm with a 4-2 record, a 2.27 ERA and 12 saves.
Earley declined to say if Freshcorn could earn his first collegiate start Monday.
“We haven’t decided what we’re going to do yet, but it will definitely be all hands on deck. Something to consider,” Earley said. “We’re still fresh after this game and just kind of processing it and where we want to go. There’s many different options and I’ll get in there and I’ll make a decision based on what I think gives us the best chance to win.”
Stankiewicz also declined to name a starting pitcher for Monday’s game.
What’s next: Someone’s season will end Monday as the Aggies host the Trojans at 8 p.m. in Blue Bell Park. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2. The winner will travel to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina in the super regionals.
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