Texas A&M Baseball: Aggies Sweep Alabama, Claim Third Consecutive SEC Series
By Tim England
Game 3: Texas A&M defeats Alabama 3-2
George Janca was clutch in the closest game of the series as his 3-Run #Whammy in the top of the 7th gave Texas A&M a 3-2 victory and a sweep of Alabama. The Aggie offense had been present all weekend but was held to one hit by Nick Eicholtz’s solid six inning performance.
Alabama scored on Chandler Taylor’s double in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. This was the first time Alabama had led the Aggies all weekend. Janca did not allow that lead to last long however. His home run in the 7th gave the Aggies a 3-1 lead.
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The Crimson Tide did not make it easy for the Aggies to close out the game as they scored one on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 9th to come within a run. However, Mitchell Kilkenny slammed the door shut on an Alabama comeback, earning his 5th save of the year.
Stephen Kolek followed up his phenomenal performance from last week with another solid outing. Alabama was able to rack up eight hits but only one run in Kolek’s 5.2 innings of work. Kaylor Chafin added to his great performance from Thursday with another two great innings, allowing no runs or hits.
#Ball5Tracker
Total #Ball5 Chants in 2017: 29
Longest of Season: #Ball10 vs Nick Silber/Zach Esquivel of Rice on 3/21/17
Bottom Line
To start at 0-5 in conference play and respond by going 8-2 and win three straight series is a lot to ask for, especially for this young Texas A&M team. Mitchell Kilkenny is solidifying the closer role while Kaylor Chafin is becoming the go-to reliever. Corbin Martin & Stephen Kolek are following the example set by Brigham Hill and pitching lights out as starters.
Meanwhile, the young guns are being led by SEC Freshman of the Year Candidate Braden Shewmake, Cole Bedford and Logan Foster. The trio has combined for 77 RBI and 8 HR. Shewmkae and Joel Davis have also started in every single game this year for Texas A&M, the only two players to do so.
Next: 6 Aggies Make Opening Day MLB Rosters
Texas A&M faces UT Arlington on the road before returning to College Station to face Tennessee for the weekend series. It’s not hard to picture the Aggies sitting at 30-11, 11-7 by this time next week.
#BTHOutarlington
***Stats from 12thMan.com***