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Childress Earns 500th Career Win in Aggies’ Season Opener

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Head Coach Rob Childress earned his 500th career win Friday night as the No. 11 Texas A&M Aggies team opened up the season with a 4-1 win over Rhode Island Rams on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.

Texas A&M (1-0) gave the ball to Stephen Kolek (1-0) who worked into the sixth in his first opening day start. The junior fanned 10 Rams and allowed just one unearned run in his 5.2 innings. Kaylor Chafin pitched the next 2.2 frames for A&M, striking out three, before Cason Sherrod came in for the final two outs. The trio combined for 14 Ks, allowing only one walk and limiting all nine Rhode Island’s hits to singles.

Offensively, Logan Foster led Texas A&M with a 3-for-4 day out of the eighth spot in the order, including one double, a run and an RBI. In his first Aggie game, Michael Helman reached base in four plate appearances, including two hits. He also drove in one run and stole a bag. The bottom three in the Texas A&M order combined to hit 7-for-12 with three doubles and three of the four Aggie runs.

KEY INNINGS

B2 | In his first collegiate at bat, Will Frizzell led off the second with a double down the left-field line. Foster singled Frizzell home to open the scoring before Baine Schoenvogel rifled a double to left plating Foster. After Schoenvogel moved to third on a groundout, Helman brought him home with an RBI groundout. A&M 3, URI 0.

T4 | Rhode Island got on the scoreboard with an unearned run in the fourth. Greg Cavaliere singled and moved to second on a failed pickoff. With one down, Xavier Vargas brought in the run as he singled up the middle. Kolek erased the threat inducing a 5-4-3 twin killing. A&M 3, URI 1.

B5 | Chris Andritsos worked a walk to begin the fifth, chasing Rhode Island starter Tyler Wilson (0-1) from the game. Cole Bedford doubled off the new reliever, Taso Stathopoulus, plating Andritsos from first. The Aggies loaded the bases with one out, but were unable to scratch across any more runs. A&M 4, URI 1.

NEXT UP

The Aggies and Rams will be back in action for game two Saturday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. Lefty Chandler Jozwiak is set to get the start on the mound in his Aggie debut with Matt Murphy getting the call for Rhode Island.

TEXAS A&M QUOTES

Head Coach Rob Childress

On his 500th win...

“Any time you get a milestone win, it’s a good time to look back and reflect. There are a lot of good people who were responsible for those wins and I’m grateful I was able to coach some outstanding young men who have gone on to be outstanding husbands and fathers. I’m grateful I’ve been able to work with outstanding assistant coaches who have been the reason we’ve been able to maintain our success at Texas A&M.”

Sophomore OF Logan Foster

On fellow Nebraska native Michael Helman starting today…

“Definitely when they did the starting lineup when we ran out to our positions hearing them say, ‘Michael Helman’ and then saying, ‘Lincoln, Nebraska,’ it sent chills through me. It was awesome. I’ve known Nolan [Hoffman] and Mike since I was like eight years old. We grew up playing against each other and we’ve been friends ever since.”

On his individual performance and having a 3-hit night…

“The guys in front of me really set up the innings. We just kept competing as a team at the plate.”

Junior RHP Stephen Kolek

On how the first game felt…

“It felt great. It felt very exciting to get out there and throw the first pitch of today’s game. I thought overall we had a really great team effort, just every aspect of the game we really did well. I’m proud of our team for that.”

On the slider and other pitches working well for him tonight…

“Yeah, all of the pitches seemed to be working pretty well. It all goes back to our team effort. Everybody’s been working hard. I trust what I do so if I just throw it over the plate, I know I’ve got a great defense behind me and they’re going to take care of me. So, I was trying to do my part for them.”

Junior 2B Michael Helman

On how much he has waited for this opportunity to finally be an Aggie…

“It’s great, I love this team, I love the atmosphere of opening day, there is nothing like it.”

On his first game success…

“I had a lot of nerves going out there. I got the butterflies of course. I just tried to stay composed and I had people like Braden Shewmake and other guys who had my back the whole time. Stephen Kolek did a get job setting the tone for game. He didn’t give them any ground balls early. He just struck guys out, and put guys down.”

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