{"id":36093,"date":"2022-06-04T06:11:34","date_gmt":"2022-06-04T06:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/5-texas-am-overpowers-oral-roberts-in-regional-opener-8-2\/"},"modified":"2022-06-04T06:11:34","modified_gmt":"2022-06-04T06:11:34","slug":"5-texas-am-overpowers-oral-roberts-in-regional-opener-8-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/5-texas-am-overpowers-oral-roberts-in-regional-opener-8-2\/","title":{"rendered":"# 5 Texas A&M overpowers Oral Roberts in regional opener, 8-2"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Game # 56:<\/strong> # 5 Texas A&M 8, Oral Roberts 2
Records:<\/strong> Texas A&M (38-18, 19-11), Oral Roberts (38-19, 17-7)
WP:<\/strong> Micah Dallas (6-3)
LP:<\/strong> Ledgend Smith (7-5)
Box Score<\/p>\n

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Remember those old days for Texas A&M when erratic defense and relief pitching were cause for concern?<\/p>\n

That was a different time. And seemingly a different team.<\/p>\n

The top-seeded Aggies (38-18) excelled in all three facets in an 8-2 victory over fourth-seeded Oral Roberts (38-19) in the NCAA Baseball Tournament College Station Regional opener on Friday afternoon at Blue Bell Park.<\/p>\n

A&M advances to the winner’s bracket on Saturday. The Aggies face the winner of Friday night’s clash between second-seeded TCU and third-seeded Louisiana.<\/p>\n

Starting pitcher Micah Dallas (6-3) allowed one run in five innings to pick up the win for A&M. ORU left-hander Ledgend Smith (7-5) took the loss despite a solid showing in which he gave up three runs – two unearned – and struck out six in 4.1 innings.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jamie Maury, TexAgs<\/p>\n

Menefee punched out seven in 3.0 IP.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Smith got minimal run support as defensive gems – including a pair of double plays – thwarted Oral Roberts’ scoring threats. So did Joseph Menefee, who pitched three clutch innings of brilliant relief.<\/p>\n

Menefee allowed just two hits and one run while striking out seven in three innings.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s got two really good pitches,\u201d ORU head coach Ryan Folmar said of Menefee. “If you’re looking for one and he throws the other, you’re in trouble. I think we got caught in between several times. “<\/p>\n

Speaking of relief, Austin Bost blasted a three-run home run in the seventh, and Jack Moss ripped a two-run double in the eighth, which allowed the Aggies to finally breathe easily.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor as poorly as we played defense in our last game (a 9-0 SEC Tournament loss to Florida), we played really good defense,\u201d A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. \u201cI think we turned at least two double plays during Micah’s (Dallas) innings. (Trevor) Werner made some really nice plays.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Dallas) pitched out of trouble, kept us in the ball games. Moo (Menefee) kind of settled the storm, and Austin’s homer took a whole heck of a lot of pressure off. “<\/p>\n

The Aggies committed eight errors in three games in the SEC Tournament. Their defense appeared worrisome again in the second inning. A throwing error by Dallas contributed to the visiting Golden Eagles taking a 1-0 lead and putting two runners on base with one out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jamie Maury, TexAgs<\/p>\n

Jordan Thompson’s second-inning homer put the Aggies on top, 2-1.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

But Werner fielded a hard smash at third base and executed a double play to end the inning.<\/p>\n

ORU’s Mac McCroskey led off the third inning with a single, but one out later, Dallas got Jackson Loftin to ground into another double play.<\/p>\n

ORU also had runners at the corners with two out in the fourth, but Werner made a nice play to end that threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe spent time on (defense) all week,\u201d Schlossnagle said. \u201cWe did a few different things. We tried to make things a little more game-like vs. just hitting repetitive ground balls one after the other. We tried to do some game-like things and play some balls live. For the most part, we did a nice job today. “<\/p>\n

The good defensive efforts helped the Aggies protect a 3-1 lead they had built on the strength of a Jordan Thompson two-run homer and a Bost sacrifice fly.<\/p>\n

That lead became precious in the seventh.<\/p>\n

Menefee, who relieved Dallas in the sixth, issued a one-out walk. He appeared to get out of the inning by getting Jake McMurray to hit a tailor-made double-play ball, but second baseman Ryan Targac misplayed it for a two-base error.<\/p>\n

Undaunted, Menefee struck out two-hitter McCroskey and three-hitter Caleb Denny.<\/p>\n

“[Menefee] almost had an inning-ending double play, \u201dSchlossnagle said. \u201cNow, the game’s on the line, 3-1, (runners on) second and third and the middle of the order, and he gets strikeouts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s what this team has been about all year long. Something ugly happens, and they fight right back. “<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat’s what this team has been about all year long. Something ugly happens, and they fight right back. “<\/p>\n

– A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The counterpunch in the bottom of the inning was a knockout, and it was a thing of beauty.<\/p>\n

Kole Kaler and Jack Moss were on base with one out. Folmar brought in right-hander Kaleb McCullough, the Golden Eagles’ third pitcher.<\/p>\n

One out later, Bost launched a 2-0 pitch that soared way over the left-field fence and hit the Rec Center on the bounce.<\/p>\n

ORU managed a run in the eighth, but the Aggies answered in the bottom of the inning with Moss’ double to score Thompson and Werner.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were mixing me well all day,\u201d Bost said. \u201cThat lefty (Smith) is good for a reason. They brought in the righty (McCullough), and he threw some good pitches away.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen he brought the fastball in. I was able to pull my hands inside and get a good swing on it. Good things happen when you put good swings on it. “<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n