Texas A&M beats Penn 2-1 in 11 innings behind Sawyer Farr and strong pitching, but 17 strikeouts highlight offensive struggles.
Texas A&M is undefeated. That’s the good news. The uncomfortable truth? The Aggies’ bats have gone ice cold.
A&M needed 11 innings Saturday to slip past Penn 2-1 at Olsen Field, securing the series and improving to 6-0. But this wasn’t an offensive clinic. It was a grind, defined by punchouts, stranded runners and long stretches where the lineup looked out of sync.
The Aggies piled up 17 strikeouts and left opportunity after opportunity hanging. Their best early shot came in the fourth inning, when they filled the bases and came away empty. Weak fly balls and missed swings became a pattern as the afternoon wore on.
Fortunately, the pitching staff refused to blink.
Weston Moss delivered six strong innings, allowing one run on six hits while keeping Penn from building momentum.
Juan Vargas followed with three scoreless frames, surrendering just one hit and maintaining control of the strike zone. By the time Clayton Freshcorn entered, the stage was set.
Freshcorn slammed the door with two flawless innings, earning the win without allowing a hit. In total, the Aggies’ staff gave up just seven hits, walked none and struck out 11.
Then came the spark.
Down to their final strike in the ninth, Sawyer Farr was called off the bench and roped a two-out RBI double to score Terrence Kiel II and force extra innings. Olsen Field woke up in a hurry.
In the 11th, three consecutive singles loaded the bases with no outs. Farr stepped in again and this time didn’t need to swing. A four-pitch walk forced home the winning run, giving A&M back-to-back walk-offs.
Clutch? Absolutely. Clean? Not even close.
Nine hits and three walks aren’t terrible, but 17 strikeouts are. For a team that erupted for 52 runs in its first five games, the sudden drop in production is hard to ignore.
Head coach Michael Earley, who assumed hitting-coach duties this season, will have adjustments to make.
Sunday’s Game 3 could say a lot about where this lineup really stands.