BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — Will Frizzell hammered the nail in the coffin with a ninth-inning solo shot to propel the Texas A&M Aggies to a walk-off win over the No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels, 9-8, Friday evening on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
The Aggie and Rebels fought back-and-forth throughout the game, resulting in three lead changes. Tied, 8-8, going into the bottom of the ninth, Frizzell led off and delivered a huge solo blast to deep right-centerfield to give the Aggies their fourth win over a ranked team.
At the plate, Jordan Thompson, Will Frizzell, and Taylor Smith dealt most of the damage. Thompson made his way into the starting lineup for the first time of this year and did not let them down. The Boerne, Texas native paced the Aggie bats, going 2-for-4 with one run, two doubles and three RBI. Smith was 1-for-3 with two runs, one double, one walk, and two RBI, while Frizzell had himself a two-homer night, including a two-run blast in the fifth and the walk-dinger.
As a unit, the Aggies offense was great with two out, batting 6-for-14 while plating eight of their nine runs.
On the mound, starter Dustin Saenz settled with the no-decision after the Rebels crawled back and tied things up in the sixth. The Corpus Christi, Texas native tossed 5.2 innings, yielding seven runs on 10 hits while fanning five. Chandler Jozwiak came in the seventh inning and retired six straight batters, before being pulled in the ninth with one out. Jozwiak worked 2.1 innings, scattering one hit, while striking out a pair of Rebels. Bryce Miller (3-2) was next in line and earned the win in relief. Miller acquired the final two outs of the ballgame via strikeouts.
The Maroon & White improved to 26-22 on the year and 6-16 in conference, while the Rebels fell to 32-13 on the season and 13-9 in SEC play.
TOP AGGIE PERFORMERS
Will Frizzell – 2-for-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB
Jordan Thompson – 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB
Bryce Miller (W, 3-2) – 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Chandler Jozwiak – 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K
GAME SUMMARY
T1 | Jacob Gonzalez roped a single to leftfield on the first pitch of the game, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double down the leftfield line by Peyton Chatagnier. Kevin Graham plated one after reaching first on a throwing error. Graham advanced to second on the same error, third on a groundout, and scored on a sacrifice fly by TJ McCants. OM 3, A&M 0.
B1 | With one out, Logan Sartori singled on a blooper over the second baseman and stole second. Will Frizzell drew a six-pitch, before coming around to score, along with Sartori, on a laced double to leftfield by Taylor Smith. Jordan Thompson tied things up with a double of his own down the third-base line. A&M 3, OM 3.
T4 | Cael Baker singled to leftfield with one out before being replaced by Gonzalez on a fielder’s choice. Gonzalez moved to second after Chatagnier was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a bloop single in the left-centerfield gap. OM, 4, A&M 3.
B5 | Kalae Harrison got things started, reaching first on a throwing error after laying down a bunt. With two outs, Frizzell put the Ags ahead for the first time of the night with a lined two-run home run over the leftfield wall. Austin Bost kept the two-out rally going, singling to leftfield and advancing to second on a wild pitch. Taylor Smith drew a four-pitch walk, before Thompson provided some insurance runs, smacking a bases-clearing double in the right-centerfield gap. Thompson stole third and scored on a pinch-hit single through the right side of the infield by Brett Minnich. A&M 8, OM 4.
T6 | Hayden Leatherwood and Baker went yard consecutively to start off the inning. With two outs, Graham doubled off the left-centerfield wall, and moved to third on a wild pitch. The Aggies went to the bullpen, before Hayden Dunhurst singled on a ball up the middle. Bench drew a walk, prior to McCants delivering the tying run on a lined shot to centerfield. A&M 8, OM 8.
T9 | Frizzell drilled the first pitch he saw and placed it over the right-center field wall. A&M 9, OM 8.
UP NEXT
The Aggies return tomorrow for game two of the SEC series against the No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels, with first pitch slated for 11:02 p.m.