Texas A&m Baseball blows open game with eight-run sixth, beats Virginia Tech 10-0

texas a&m baseball beat Virginia Tech 10-0 in seven innings Friday at Globe Life Field, ending the tournament-opening game at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series with an eight-run sixth that invoked the run rule.

Shane Sdao sets tone with six shutout innings

Left-hander Shane Sdao worked six shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out five while throwing 85 pitches, and Cole Hubert handled the final three outs as the Aggies finished the shortened game. Chris Hacopian opened the scoring with a two-out solo home run to left-center in the first inning, but exited the game in the sixth after appearing uncomfortable; Blake Binderup replaced him to lead off that decisive frame with a single.

Texas A&m Baseball explodes for eight in sixth

The sixth inning produced the run rule. After Binderup’s leadoff single and a double by Jake Duer put two runners in scoring position, Partida’s walk loaded the bases. A sac fly pushed the lead to 3-0, then a wild pitch and a bases-loaded walk extended it further. Texas A& M followed with a ground-rule double by Caden Sorrell, a double by Binderup and another double by Duer, turning the inning into an eight-run outburst. Preston Crowl and Brody Roe were both charged with four earned runs during the bottom of the sixth as the Hokies surrendered the string of hits.

Renfrow strong but Hokies limited at the plate

Virginia Tech’s junior right-hander Brett Renfrow threw five innings and set season highs with five innings pitched and seven strikeouts, surrendering solo runs in the first and fourth before departing with the Hokies down 2-0. Offensively, Virginia Tech managed just five hits: freshman Ethan Ball went 2-for-3 and hit a loud first-inning double to extend his hitting streak to nine career-opening games, and left fielder Nick Locurto also finished 2-for-3. The Hokies went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded two in the fourth inning.

Next up for both teams

Virginia Tech will try to even its record at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series on Saturday, Feb. 28, when it faces No. 4 Mississippi State with first pitch scheduled for 4 p. m. ET (3 p. m. CT). Texas A& M turns its attention to Saturday’s matchup as well, with Weston Moss lined up to face No. 1 UCLA in the next game on the Aggies’ schedule.