June 7, 2011
Texas A&M 3, Arizona 0 (Box Score)
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Tyler Naquin's eighth-inning, two-out double and Krey Bratsen's ensuing run-scoring single up the middle broke a scoreless tie and sparked a three-run rally as host Texas A&M outlasted Arizona, 3-0, in the championship game of the College Station Regional on Tuesday afternoon at Olsen Field.
The Aggies (45-19) advance to the Tallahassee Super Regional where they will face Florida State, the No. 5 national seed, beginning on Saturday, June 11. The season comes to an end for the Wildcats (39-21).
The aces for both clubs that pitched in the opening game's of the regional last Friday took to the mound on Tuesday - and they did not disappoint. Texas A&M's Michael Wacha pitched seven scoreless innings in a no-decision effort, while Arizona's Kurt Heyer carried a shutout bid into the eighth inning.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Naquin belted his fifth double of the regional tournament, before Bratsen singled home the game's first run. Heyer's outing ended after 7.2 innings of work.
With reliever Bryce Bandilla in the game, Bratsen stole second base. The Wildcats then intentionally walked designated hitter Matt Juengel, before Jacob House hit a two-run double to right centerfield to push the lead to 3-0.
In the top of the ninth, Ross Striping retired the Wildcats in order to earn his fourth save of the year. Releiver Nick Fleece, who worked the eighth inning, earned the win and improved to 7-1.
Heyer suffered the loss despite his 7.2 innings pitched in which he struck out six and scattered five hits.
Arizona mounted its first scoring threat in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Jett Bandy singled and stole second base, before moving to third on a single to left field by Bobby Rinard. With runners at the corners, Alex Mejia blooped a single to shallow center field, which forced Bandy to hesitate to see if the ball would be caught. The ball fell in front of centerfielder Krey Bratsen, who threw out Bandy at home plate for the second out. A groundout ended the inning.
The Wildcats had another scoring chance in the eighth inning. Seth Mejias-Brean and Joey Rickard reached with two-out singles to put runners on first an second. But Bryce Ortega grounded out to end the inning, stranding two runners.
Five Wildcats were named to the All-Tournament team, including Heyer, Ortega, Mejias-Brean, Mejia and Rinard. The Aggies' Naquin was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Arizona finished one victory shy of 40 wins for the season. A victory today would have put the Wildcats into the Super Regional Round for the third time in school history.
Arizona Wildcats Selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft
(as of 3:15 p.m. CDT)
RHP Kyle Simon, Baltimore Orioles (4th Round, 125 Overall)
LHP Bryce Bandilla, San Francisco Giants (4th Round, 147 Overall)
1B Cole Frenzel, New York Mets (7th Round, 222 Overall)
SS Andy Burns, Toronto Blue Jays (11th Round, 349 Overall)
LHP Matt Chaffee, Atlanta Braves (12th Round, 386 Overall)
