College Station, Texas – Junior All-American righty John Stilson struck out nine batters over six innings in his first career start to lead #8/21 Texas A&M to a 3-1 win over the Le Moyne College baseball team in the season-opener for both teams on Friday night at Olsen Field.
After two and a half scoreless innings, the Aggies broke through with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning. Shortstop Kenny Jackson opened the frame by reaching base on a fielding error by the third baseman. After Jackson stole second base and second baseman Scott Arthur was hit by a pitch, freshman center fielder Krey Bratsen, a 45th round pick by the Oakland Athletics in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, reached on a bunt single back to the pitcher, who then threw the ball wide of first base to allow Jackson to score and Arthur to advance to third. Right fielder Tyler Naquin then flied into a double play, but Arthur was able to score on the throw to first base to double off Bratsen.
The Dolphins, under the direction of first-year head coach Scott Cassidy '98 and in their final season at the Division I level, were able to get one run back in the next half inning. Sophomore left fielder Zack Wiley (Toluca Woods, Calif./Crespi) led off the fourth frame by reaching on a two-base fielding error by third baseman Adam Smith. After moving to third on a groundout, Wiley scored on a single to right field by sophomore designated hitter Brian Stinson (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley).
Texas A&M, picked to finish third in the Big 12 this year after winning the conference tournament and advancing to the finals of the Coral Gables Regional last year, regained its two-run lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior designated hitter Matt Juengel blasted a two-out, two-strike pitch over the fence in left field for his 12th home run as an Aggie.
Senior Jeff Tardiff (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) struck out four batters in six innings on the mound for the Dolphins, while allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits in suffering the loss, his first in six starts dating back to April 3, 2010. Junior transfer Ed Kohout (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence/Genesee C.C.) tossed two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his Le Moyne debut.
Stilson, named a First Team Preseason All-American by Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and a Baseball America Second Team selection, allowed just an unearned run on three hits in picking up his 10th win in 11 decisions in an Aggie uniform. Junior Ross Stripling tossed a 1-2-3 ninth with a pair of strikeouts to pick up his first career save.
Le Moyne (0-1), which fell to the Aggies, 7-2, in the opening game of the 2007 NCAA College Station Regional in the only previous meeting between the two programs, continues its three-game set on Saturday at 3:05 p.m. EST/2:05 p.m. CST.
