In easily the most exciting game so far of the Big 12 Championship, Texas A&M defeats Kansas State 9-8 Saturday afternoon in 11 innings to earn their shot at a Big 12 Championship title.
With the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the 11th inning, Aggies catcher Kevin Gonzalez singled to third base and scored Matt Juengel to get the walk-off win and send the Aggies to the Big 12 title game.
Kansas State led the game 8-4 headed into the bottom of the 8th inning when Matt Juengel and Jacob House started the inning off with back-to-back singles for the Aggies off Wildcats pitcher Jared Moore. Kayvon Bahramzadeh came in to relieve Moore and things did not get any better for the Wildcats. Gregg Alcazar drew a walk to load the bases for the Aggies so Kevin Gonzalez could rope an RBI single scoring Juengel. Another run came in on a wild pitch that was followed up with another walk before James Allen came in to relieve Bahramzadeh. A walk by Allen and a fielders' choice scored two more runs to tie the game for the Aggies headed into the 9th inning.
Kansas State led the game for most of the way as Kent Urban blasted a home-run for the Wildcats in the 4th inning to give them the 1-0 lead, and start a five-run inning for the Cats. Chase Graskewicz's two-RBI double opened the game for Kansas State as they took a 5-run lead to the bottom of the 4th inning.
Krey Bratsen led off the 4th inning with a walk before Juengel singled for the Aggies, Jacob House then walked on four-straight pitches. This set up Adam Smith to single in two runs to make the score 5-2 at this point and get Texas A&M back into this game.
Matt Juengel and Jacob House combined to go 5-11 with five runs scored for the Aggies as their three and four hitters set the tone for the rest of the lineup.
It was the seven walks issued by Kansas State pitching that was the difference in this game. Texas A&M took advantage of these mistakes and they are playing for a Big 12 title because of it.
Chase Graskewicz, Tanner Witt and Jason King all had multi-hit games for Kansas State. Kansas State now has to wait to hear whether they did enough to continue on in post-season play. The NCAA selection show will be broadcast on ESPN on Monday at 11:30 CT.
Texas A&M will play the winner of the Missouri-Texas game scheduled for 4:00 Saturday for the Big 12 championship Sunday at 1pm.