Texas A&M Aggies Eliminated From College World Series
The Texas A&M Aggies became the second Big 12 school in as many days to be eliminated from the College World Series on Tuesday after falling to California 7-3. The Bears (38-22) won their first CWS game in three attempts since 1980 and will now face Virginia on Thursday in another elimination game after the Cavaliers fell to defending champion South Carolina 7-1 in the second game played Tuesday evening. The Big 12 regular-season and postseason champion Aggies (47-22) are now 2-10 in five all-time CWS appearances after dropping game one to the Gamecocks 5-4 and game two 7-3 to Cal.
The Bears got production all across the field as Freshman utility-player Derek Campbell drove in two runs from the nine hole, and closer Matt Flemer pitched three scoreless innings in his longest outing of the year to keep Cals postseason alive.
Texas A&M took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Adam Smith hit a deep home run into the left field bullpen. California didn't wait long to strike back though scoring three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take a 6-1 lead. Campbell, who came into the game with five RBIs in 22 games, delivered RBI singles in each inning.
The Aggies scored twice on three hits and an error in the sixth to cut the gap to 6-3. Brandon Wood delivered a two-out single before Cal pitcher Kyle Porter (6-0) struck out Kenny Jackson to end the threat. Cal manufactured another run in the seventh, with Tony Renda singling, moving over on a sacrifice and grounder and coming home on Devon Rodriguez's single to score the final run of the game.