Spring Break
Aggies sweep double header on Wilson's arm
By: Brad Cox
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Sports
Junior Alex Wilson's first Texas A&M start played out like a scene from the movie "Bull Durham."
After striking out the first two Wright State batters in the second game of a double header Saturday, Wilson let a mid-90s fastball fly above the head of Raiders' third baseman Quentin Cate. Much like when Tim Robbins' "Nuke LaLoosh" hit the bull mascot in the movie.
Cate didn't dig in, and struck out looking for Wilson third consecutive strike out. The Aggies went on to win 9-0.
After transferring to A&M in 2008, Wilson sat out the season after having Tommy John surgery. With a fresh ligament in his arm, Wilson was a strike out king in his first start in nearly two years, sending 14 batters back to the dugout in 6.2 innings of work.
"To have a night like that and have everything go right is one I'll remember for sure," Wilson said. "I told the guys, 'let's send a message right here.' I didn't exactly plan on striking out the side [in the first inning] but I'll take it every time."
The Aggies' offense got off to a rough start in the second game of the double header, hitting into two double plays in the first two innings. A&M broke the drought in the third inning when senior outfielder Kyle Colligan hit a sacrifice fly into centerfield to score junior third baseman Caleb Shofner from third base.
The Aggies went quietly in the next two innings, struggling to get anything going against Wright State starter Travis Lamar.
The flood gates opened in the sixth inning. After Colligan flew out to left field to lead off, senior first baseman Luke Anders and sophomore designated hitter Nick Fleece took walks from Lamar. A&M then tallied six consecutive hits to score six runs and take a 7-0 lead.
However the long inning took its toll on Wilson, who took the mound in the top of the seventh inning colder than when he left it in the top of the sixth. Wilson gave up the only walk of the game to Raiders' left fielder Casey McGrew and then gave up a single to Cate.
After recording his 16th strikeout of the game, Wilson gave up a single to Wright State first baseman Garrett gray, who had struck out in his first two at bats. Wilson was then replaced by freshman southpaw Ross Hales.
"His pitch count was 87, I wanted him to get back out there for one more inning," A&M Head Coach Rob Childress said about Wilson. "I probably shouldn't have let him go out there. It was an incredible performance."
Hales closed the game for the Aggies, striking out three and allowing two hits in 2.1 innings of work.
Continuing his hot start in 2009, Shofner went 1-for-1 in the game, recording two runs and a walk. After three games Shofner is batting .833 and has an OPS of 2.584.
Shofner is hoping to carry on the legacy of his jersey number, one, which was worn by former A&M greats Parker Dalton and Dane Carter.
"I was really good friends with both those guys," Shofner said. "I said why not get their number and see what happens."
After striking out the first two Wright State batters in the second game of a double header Saturday, Wilson let a mid-90s fastball fly above the head of Raiders' third baseman Quentin Cate. Much like when Tim Robbins' "Nuke LaLoosh" hit the bull mascot in the movie.
Cate didn't dig in, and struck out looking for Wilson third consecutive strike out. The Aggies went on to win 9-0.
After transferring to A&M in 2008, Wilson sat out the season after having Tommy John surgery. With a fresh ligament in his arm, Wilson was a strike out king in his first start in nearly two years, sending 14 batters back to the dugout in 6.2 innings of work.
"To have a night like that and have everything go right is one I'll remember for sure," Wilson said. "I told the guys, 'let's send a message right here.' I didn't exactly plan on striking out the side [in the first inning] but I'll take it every time."
The Aggies' offense got off to a rough start in the second game of the double header, hitting into two double plays in the first two innings. A&M broke the drought in the third inning when senior outfielder Kyle Colligan hit a sacrifice fly into centerfield to score junior third baseman Caleb Shofner from third base.
The Aggies went quietly in the next two innings, struggling to get anything going against Wright State starter Travis Lamar.
The flood gates opened in the sixth inning. After Colligan flew out to left field to lead off, senior first baseman Luke Anders and sophomore designated hitter Nick Fleece took walks from Lamar. A&M then tallied six consecutive hits to score six runs and take a 7-0 lead.
However the long inning took its toll on Wilson, who took the mound in the top of the seventh inning colder than when he left it in the top of the sixth. Wilson gave up the only walk of the game to Raiders' left fielder Casey McGrew and then gave up a single to Cate.
After recording his 16th strikeout of the game, Wilson gave up a single to Wright State first baseman Garrett gray, who had struck out in his first two at bats. Wilson was then replaced by freshman southpaw Ross Hales.
"His pitch count was 87, I wanted him to get back out there for one more inning," A&M Head Coach Rob Childress said about Wilson. "I probably shouldn't have let him go out there. It was an incredible performance."
Hales closed the game for the Aggies, striking out three and allowing two hits in 2.1 innings of work.
Continuing his hot start in 2009, Shofner went 1-for-1 in the game, recording two runs and a walk. After three games Shofner is batting .833 and has an OPS of 2.584.
Shofner is hoping to carry on the legacy of his jersey number, one, which was worn by former A&M greats Parker Dalton and Dane Carter.
"I was really good friends with both those guys," Shofner said. "I said why not get their number and see what happens."
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