Texas A&M’s baseball squad just wrapped up their fall schedule with an absolute fireworks show, pulling out a wild 13-10 exhibition victory over McNeese at Blue Bell Park. That final game gave Michael Earley and his coaching staff a *ton* to chew on as they look ahead to the real season, showcasing some serious pop but also some glaring issues.
Pitching Had Its Moments (And Its Head-Scratchers)
Coach Earley wasn’t shy about trying out arms, rolling through 11 pitchers in the scheduled 12-inning game. They racked up a respectable 23 strikeouts overall. Gavin Lyons set the tone early, opening the night with five strikeouts over two innings, which is exactly what you want to see. Logan Prisco came in and was lights out, retiring all six batters he faced and punching out three. Then, talk about closing strong, freshman Chandler Hart made a huge impression late, striking out the side in the 12th after A&M had fought its way back into control. Those moments were great, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The pitching staff also issued eight walks, which is a number that absolutely has to come down for actual games.
Bat Flipping and Base Running, But Still Too Many Left Hanging
The offense brought the noise, collecting 14 hits and drawing a whopping 16 walks. Nico Partida was a machine at the plate, reaching base in all six of his plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with three walks and scoring a run. That’s big production from an established player coming back. A&M fell behind 2-0 early but rallied for four runs in the fifth to take the lead. McNeese clawed back, actually reclaiming the lead in the ninth, but A&M responded with a five-run bottom half, taking advantage of four consecutive bases-loaded walks. The game got tied at 10 in the tenth, thanks in part to two defensive errors that extended the inning for McNeese. But then, freshman infielder Cole Travers stepped up with the biggest swing of the night, launching a two-run home run that absolutely smashed off the scoreboard in left field. Zane Becker added an RBI single in the 12th to seal it. However, despite all that offense, leaving 19 runners on base and committing three defensive errors are things that will haunt you when the games count.
Look, this 13-10 slugfest might not carry much weight once spring begins, but seeing freshmen like Cole Travers and Chandler Hart step up in huge spots? That’s gold. Coach Earley and his staff have a long checklist before opening day, especially with those walks and errors, but they’ve clearly got some raw talent to mold. Get ready, Aggie fans, because the evaluation period is officially over, and now the real work begins.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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