Hayden Schott Delivers 10th Inning Magic, Texas A&M Secures Series Sweep Over Rhode Island
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Jim Schlossnagle admitted prior to a three-game series against Rhode Island that Texas A&M's win streak would eventually end. Soon enough, the Aggies' perfect record would be no more.
It just didn't happen on Sunday despite a scare.
Hayden Schott's walk-off single in the 10th inning secured the 12-11 win over the Rams and helped the No. 7 Aggies advance to 16-0 on the season. Schott, a graduate transfer from Columbia, might be the new Kyle Field, but the Olsen Magic Sunday treated him like a regular.
“I don’t know what I was thinking,” Schott said. “I kinda just blanked, I was like, ‘Stick to my approach, see a fastball.’
“It was pretty unbelievable I’ll never forget it, ever.”
Sunday's performance came with its highs and lows. The highs? Left-hander Justin Lampkin struck out 11 and allowed just one run in 5.2 innings, while the Aggies plated seven behind his performance.
The lows? The Rams (2-9) scored plated 11 between two innings, including eight in the seventh. The Aggies needed four pitchers to end the pain while falling behind by four runs.
“I’m proud of our team for not cashing in that game because it would have been very easy to cash in,” A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said.
Texas A&M Athletics
That's the thing about the Aggies. They're resilient, even when down, they're willing to swing for the fences.
Quite literally.
Ted Burton smacked a solo shot to left field in the eighth to bring A&M within two. Schott grounded out to Tommy Hughes in the ninth, but it was enough for Jace LaViolette to reach home.
Schott was frustrated after the ground out but said a famous television show line helped him prepare for his first walk-off in his career.
“I love the show Ted Lasso, so he says ‘Be a goldfish,' " Schott said. "They have the shortest memory in the Animal Kingdom so I tried to be a goldfish and forget what happened last at-bat.”
For the Rams, their memory lingered. Back-to-back walks to Burton and Jackson Appel led to Blue Bell Park feeling the tension with two outs and the bases loaded. Freshman outfielder Cayden Sorrell, who pinch hit for catcher Max Kaufer, battled back from a 2-2 count to pick up a game-tying walk.
“I thought [Caden] Sorrell’s at-bat was awesome,” Schlossnagle said.
Evan Aschenbeck didn't miss a beat in the tenth, striking out the side while allowing one hit. Gavin Grahovac was hit by a pitch and Braden Montgomery walked to put the freshman in scoring position with two outs.
Schott, using the 'goldfish' memory, zipped a fastball to right field that rolled to the fence line. Eric Genther headed back to the visitor's dugout while the Aggies engulfed Schott rounding second.
“It’s a good thing for our team to have to go through something like that because it's certainly going to happen again during the course of the season when you have to battle back or play an extra-inning game,” Schlossnagle said.
A&M remains one of two undefeated teams entering the start of conference, along with Florida State. The Aggies have one final tune-up game at home against Sam Houston State on Tuesday at 6 pm CT before traveling to Gainesville to take on No. 4 Florida.
The Olsen magic worked Sunday, but consistency will be the only way the Aggies remain undefeated on the road.