Spring Break
Wilson's performance not enough for Aggies
By: Brad Cox
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Sports
For Texas A&M starter Alex Wilson, the Aggies' 2-0 loss to Utah on Saturday night was a fluke.
"I can't remember a game where I controlled it and dominated it like I did tonight and just had no help at all," said Wilson, a junior right-hander. "It was a disappointing night."
In his third start of the season, fresh off a tough-luck outing against Rice this past weekend, Wilson came out firing, striking out the side in the first inning. In six innings of work, Wilson struck out 14 while giving up three hits and one walk.
The Utes scored an unearned run in top of the sixth inning after senior center field Kyle Colligan botched a routine fly ball by Utah second baseman Corey Shimada. Shimada was batted over to third on a single and then brought home on a second single. Though the run was unearned, it came while Wilson was pitching, giving him the loss.
Utah starter Jordan Whatcott, who entered the game with a 9.00 ERA, pitched six scoreless innings, holding the Aggies to two hits, striking out three and walking five. A&M stranded five batters in the first two innings, leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning.
"They pitched well but I'm not going to give them any credit," Wilson said. "The kid beat us with an 88 mph fastball, which has never happened here. It's a fluke. In my eyes I don't expect it to ever happen again."
It was the second shutout of the season for the Aggies. The first was a 2-0 loss to Rice at the Houston College Classic. That shutout was the first in 156 games. A&M has now been shutout twice in seven games.
With 103 pitches tallied, Wilson left the game before the bottom seventh inning. Freshman Denny Clement relieved him and pitched 1.1 innings, giving up a earned run and two hits while striking out two Utes.
Junior Travis Starling brought in during the eighth inning and closed the game, holding Utah to one hit in 1.2 innings of work.
The Utes' second run was in the eighth inning after Shimada scored from third base on an error.
"I can't remember a game where I controlled it and dominated it like I did tonight and just had no help at all," said Wilson, a junior right-hander. "It was a disappointing night."
In his third start of the season, fresh off a tough-luck outing against Rice this past weekend, Wilson came out firing, striking out the side in the first inning. In six innings of work, Wilson struck out 14 while giving up three hits and one walk.
The Utes scored an unearned run in top of the sixth inning after senior center field Kyle Colligan botched a routine fly ball by Utah second baseman Corey Shimada. Shimada was batted over to third on a single and then brought home on a second single. Though the run was unearned, it came while Wilson was pitching, giving him the loss.
Utah starter Jordan Whatcott, who entered the game with a 9.00 ERA, pitched six scoreless innings, holding the Aggies to two hits, striking out three and walking five. A&M stranded five batters in the first two innings, leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning.
"They pitched well but I'm not going to give them any credit," Wilson said. "The kid beat us with an 88 mph fastball, which has never happened here. It's a fluke. In my eyes I don't expect it to ever happen again."
It was the second shutout of the season for the Aggies. The first was a 2-0 loss to Rice at the Houston College Classic. That shutout was the first in 156 games. A&M has now been shutout twice in seven games.
With 103 pitches tallied, Wilson left the game before the bottom seventh inning. Freshman Denny Clement relieved him and pitched 1.1 innings, giving up a earned run and two hits while striking out two Utes.
Junior Travis Starling brought in during the eighth inning and closed the game, holding Utah to one hit in 1.2 innings of work.
The Utes' second run was in the eighth inning after Shimada scored from third base on an error.
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