Texas A&M shut out the Bearkat baseball team 8-0 on Tuesday, in what was the Aggies’ first shot out against SHSU since 1993.
The Bearkats had seven hits against A&M, but couldn’t score. SHSU loaded the bases in the fourth inning with only one out, but first baseman Jonathon Hamilton hit into a double play.
Texas A&M scored three runs in the third inning and one in the fourth off freshman pitcher Caleb Rodgers. The Aggies scored four more in the ninth.
Going into the final inning Bearkat head coach Chris Rupp said he still thought his team could pull out the win.
“In the last inning we were four runs down,” Rupp said. “That’s conceivable.”
However, the Bearkats made a throwing error in the top of the ninth with two outs giving the Aggies two more runs.
“When you play against top 20 teams and make mistakes, they’re going to take advantage of them,” Rupp said.
Rodgers threw six innings against A&M in his first start of the season. The freshman from Waxahachie threw three strike outs and gave up a two-run double in the third inning.
The Aggies picked up another run off Rodgers on a groundout, and an RBI in the fourth inning gave A&M a four run lead.
“I could have done better,” Rodgers said. “We can beat A&M and we will, just not today.”
The Bearkats left 11 men on base and hit into two double plays. Rupp said his hitters did not perform well against A&M pitchers Brian Finch and Dan Donaldson.
Brandon Foster, Phillip Weaver and Cory Whitlock collected two hits each for the Bearkats. Andrew Kasparek had a single in the sixth for SHSU.
The Bearkats now drop to 4-4 losing their fourth straight game.
The Bearkats travel to Norman, Okla. this weekend to play the Sooners at L. Dale Mitchell Park.