The flags out in right-center field blew roughly toward the north. In the same manner, Ryan Randel greeted the Aggies batters.
He worked the mound at a quick paste. At 6:31 pm he hurled his first pitch, and by 9:13 pm the University of Houston players and coaches were celebrating after downing No. 7 Texas A&M, 4-1 on Tuesday night at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.
Cougars junior pitcher Randel, who flirted with a no-hitter through five frames dominated the Aggies on the mound throughout the evening. The capacity crowd watched Randel surrender one run, two hits, and a walk over six and a third inning of work.
The 6’7”, 230 pound, hard-throwing right-hander had no reason to be concerned with strikeouts, his commanding-control led the way, producing ground and fly ball outs which helped to preserve the victory.
As the game progressed, so did Texas A&M’s frustrations. Unable to find the right mound mix, coach Rob Childress used six different pitchers.
The Aggies struggled and never found it’s rhythm. Even when it got aboard with walks, Randel would clamp down and get out of the inning.
The Cougar ( 22-15) defense backed Randel nicely, committing only one error in an otherwise stellar day at the park. Sure-handed shortstop Kobe
Hyland followed up with a couple of great plays by throwing out would-be base runners.
Although runs were hard to come by, Cougars bats gave Randel an early lead to work with.
Third baseman Jared Triolo led off with a single. Right fielder Blake Way followed with an RBI double, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Then, freshman designated hitter Derrick Cherry drove in Way, increasing its deficit, 2-0.
Four out of the first five innings were three up and three down for Randel. In the top of third, the Cougars suffered its lone error. But Houston brushed it off by turning an inning-ending double play. That’s the kind of evening Cougar fans enjoyed.
In the bottom of the second inning, Aggies pitcher Chandler Jozwiak’s throwing error allowed Brad Burckel to score from second base. That gave Houston a 3-0 lead.
Texas A&M (27-11-1) saw its best chances in the top of the sixth inning when center fielder Zach DeLoach led off with a double to left-center.
Designated hitter Brett Brown grounded out as DeLoach moved to third base. Then, first baseman Hunter Watson’s run-scoring fielders choice plated DeLoach, trimming the lead, 3-1. Just when the Aggies thought it had its third base runner of the inning, second baseman Bryce Blaum hit a rocket shot that had double written all over it, however, Cougars third baseman Triolo made a leaping slab to record the third out.
Sean Bretz relieved Randel, recording five outs and Fred Villarreal got the save for Houston.
