Aggies Defeat Miami, 11-7, Force Elimination Game Tomorrow

The story of A&M's 11-7 victory over Miami Sunday afternoon was definitely John Stilson, who pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief after pitching 3 innings earlier in the day against Dartmouth. Stilson was a warrior today, being there when his team desperately needed it, helping them claw their way back into this regional, and helping preserve the win tonight so they could force the deciding game tomorrow.

The ESPNU crew commenting on the game gave Stilson their player of the game award, and while I don't take issue with their decision, I actually think you could make a fairly good argument for Adam Smith to win the award, because he is the one who arguably changed the whole complexion of this game (and the Coral Gables Regional) with one swing of his bat in the fourth inning. With the score 3-1, and Matt Jungel on first after an RBI-single brought in Brodie Greene for the Aggies' first run on the day, Smith blasted a two-rum homer that is probably still orbiting the Earth right now. Besides evening the score, 3-3, that one hit served notice to Miami that this was a game, and we weren't going away. Miami responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but after adding three more runs in the top of the fifth and five more runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Aggies had a lead that would prove to be insurmountable, and it all started with that one swing by Smith. Smith ended the game 1-5 with those 2 RBIs, but it may have been the most important hit of the game.

Brodie Greene went 2-4, with 3 runs scored, and Matt Juengel also went yard, going 3-5, a HR, a double, and 4 RBIs. Starting pitcher Michael Wacha was serviceable, giving up 10 hits, and 7 earned runs with 3 strikeouts. After struggling in the first inning, giving up 3 hits with a 3-run homer, Wacha pitched two shutout innings before giving up two runs in the fourth, one an inside-the-park HR that was made possible by Andrew Collazo injuring himself by smashing his head into the outfield wall while going for a fly ball. Miami had a solo HR by the next batter, but Wacho would shut them out after that, making it to the sixth inning before being pulled for Stilson.

We face Miami again tomorrow in a game that is listed at 6 PM on ESPNU on my television schedule. I'm not sure who will be starting for us, but I suspect it will be Barret Loux. Hopefully, we'll be able to score enough runs to win tomorrow, and make it to the Super Regional next weekend.