Taking the field for the first time at the newly named Irvine-Rasmussen Ballpark, Texas State (22-10) sent the Texas A&M Aggies (25-7) home with an in-state loss for the second year in a row, winning a tightly contested game, 9-8, Tuesday night.
Both the Bobcat and Aggie offenses clicked from pitch one, as the two sides combined for 17 runs on 23 hits, resulting in a game that lasted nearly four hours. In the end, the Bobcats were able to erase multiple deficits, culminating in taking a lead in the seventh that they never relinquished, as freshman Wade Cooper nailed down the four-out save.
“We didn’t really play too well to be honest … but we just kept making pitches we needed to, got some swings we needed to,” Texas State head coach Steven Trout said. “Wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but we leave the ballpark with a win on a really cool night for the Irvine and Rasmussen families … [I’m] fired up for them, for our team and all of Bobcat Nation.”
The game got off to an auspicious start for the Aggies, as junior infielder Gavin Grahovac led off the game for Texas A&M and reached on an error. Immediately following the error, Preseason All-SEC and Golden Spikes watchlist member Caden Sorrell doubled down the line, plating Grahovac, giving the Aggies the lead before most fans found their way to their seats.
An RBI single later brought Sorrell around to score, putting Texas A&M on top 2-0 after the opening frame.
Grahovac caused more issues in the second for the Bobcats as he belted a solo homer to run the Aggie advantage to 3-0.
Despite the early deficit, the Bobcats answered the bell. Junior infielder Manny Salas led off the home half of the second with a solo homer to give the Bobcats life and break onto the scoreboard. After two quick outs following the homer, senior third baseman Chase Mora ate a pitch and was put on first.
Following the HBP, freshman catcher Clayton Namken and former Aggie Justin Vossos each doubled, erasing the A&M lead and tying the game at three-all after two complete.
Texas State carried the momentum from the second into the third inning. With two out and two on base, junior utility Jaquae Stewart hit his eighth home run of the season and third in the last four games to give the Bobcats a 6-3 lead at the end of three.
The Aggies picked themselves right back up off the mat in the next half inning, as a two-run homer by freshman Boston Kellner cut the Bobcat lead down to one, at 6-5.
The score held until the sixth when the Aggies catapulted themselves back in front. Grahovac continued to give the ‘Cats fits, as in eerily similar fashion to the first inning, he reached on an error and came around to score, tying the game at 6-6. Sorrell later came around to score the Aggies second unearned run of the inning to take the lead at 7-6.
Neither side scored in the next two frames as the game entered the seventh inning stretch with the score still sitting at 7-6.
In the home half of the seventh, freshman outfielder Jackson Cotton and sophomore infielder Dawson Park both drew walks to put the ‘Cats in business with only one out. Cotton scored on an RBI double of the bat of sophomore outfielder Ethan Farris, tying the game.
Stewart came through in the clutch again for the ‘Cats, this time with a two-RBI single, propelling the ‘Cats to a 9-7 lead. When it was all said and done, Stewart was responsible for four of the Bobcats nine runs on the evening.
“[Stewart] is a winner, he’s a competitor. I know [Stewarts’] heart, and he just wants to win,” Trout said. “When he’s going, it really makes our lineup so much deeper and he can carry us.”
Stewart’s single proved to be all the ‘Cats needed from that moment on, as Cooper entered the game with two outs in the eighth and held it down for a four-out save, cementing the Bobcats’ first Power Four win this season and second straight season with a ranked win over the Aggies.
Texas State will return to Irvine-Rasmussen Ballpark at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, for the second of two midweek showdowns. This one against Stephen F. Austin. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
