Thompson's 10th inning walk-off gives Aggies 8-7 win over Tarleton State
Game #5: Texas A&M 8, Tarleton State 7
Records: Texas A&M (2-3), Tarleton State (1-4)
WP: Joseph “Moo” Menefee (1-1)
LP: Ty Jones (0-1)
Box score
Disaster averted.
On Wednesday night, Jordan Thompson delivered in the tenth inning, lacing a single into left field to score Mikey Hoehner and give Texas A&M a walk-off victory over Tarleton State, 8-7. The Aggies are now 2-3 on the season.
"When you get to experience Olsen Magic early in the season, it's something you can always draw from later in the season," said head coach Rob Childress.
Leading 7-5 in the ninth, Trevor Werner blew the safe by coughing up two runs in the frame. In the tenth, Hoehner walked and later advanced to third on Austin Bost's two-out single to right field. Then the hero delivered.
"It was amazing, especially because it was my first career hit here, too," Thompson said. "Getting to celebrate with all the guys was really amazing and special."
While the walk-off sent the Ags home happy, the ballgame was much tighter due to more sloppy defensive play from A&M. The Aggies committed two errors on the night, which allowed two unearned runs to score early. After four innings, A&M trailed 5-2 — their only offense coming from two Will Frizzell home runs.
"He was big for us," Childress said of Frizzell. "I mean, he's the only offense we had until the fifth inning. Literally."
Frizzell finished the game 3-for-4 with two solo shots and a double.
The home nine fought back in the fifth. The Aggies scored four runs, jumpstarted by a Ray Alejo hit-by-pitch and Kalae Harrison's subsequent two-out blast. It was Harrison’s first career collegiate round-tripper.
"We were talking about, all game, just trying to find a way to get on," Harrison said. "Ray got in the way of that pitch and kept the inning going. I was able to come up and put a good swing."
In addition to Menefee, Mason Ornelas stood out on the mound, striking out five Texans in 2.2 innings and providing much-needed stability out of the bullpen.
"He works fast; he throws strikes, and he has an out pitch that you can't match up with, rights or lefts," Childress said of Ornelas. "Certainly didn't want to go to him tonight, but the game forced us to."
While the win certainly wasn't pretty or easy, A&M will take at least a shred of positive energy heading into this weekend’s Round Rock Classic.
"I'll be a much better feeling getting on the bus tomorrow," Childress said. "Hopefully, we can gather that momentum and ride that for a while like we're capable of."
The Aggies face Baylor on Friday night at Dell Diamond. First-pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
"We're ready to get after it and show everybody what we know we have in our locker room and dugout," Frizzell said.
