Herrera's Three-Run Blast Highlights Game One

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Not many Ivy League teams get the chance to have as colorful of an opening night as the Yale baseball team did on Friday at No. 4 Texas A&M.

In front of a crowd of 6,262 in Blue Bell Park, the Bulldogs (0-1) put a scare into the Aggies due to a five-run rally in the seventh-inning, but ultimately fell to A&M, 12-5, in the first of a three-game series.

The scene was equivalent to that of a minor league ballpark (a very successful one) and was the largest crowd Yale had played in front of since opening the 2014 season at No. 1 LSU. That being said, the Elis made their presence felt in a raucous environment.

"We played one of the best teams in the country tonight and really competed," said head coach John Stuper after the game. "One of the rowdiest crowds you will ever see, but they got awful quiet when Andrew hit the three-run home run."

Indeed it was a three-run smash by junior catcher Andrew Herrera (Allendale, N.J.) in the seventh inning that silenced the Aggie fans, as the homer pulled Yale within one run late in the game.

Team captain Chris Moates (Smithville, Ga.) and junior infielder Alec Hoeschel (Hockessin, Del.) each added one RBI in the loss. Sophomore Tom Ruddy (Sparta, N.J.) and junior Richard Slenker (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) contributed one hit apiece in the opener.

In only his second career start, sophomore right-hander Mason Kukowski (Katy, Texas) had the chance to pitch just one hour away from his hometown. Kukowski (0-1) held his own, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits in five innings of work, while striking out three.

"Mason had a solid start. Sometimes numbers don't tell the whole story," said Stuper. "I'm proud with the way we competed, but we can't be satisfied with that. We want to win."

Sophomore righty Drew Scott (Henrico, Va.) allowed two earned runs in one inning of relief, while three freshmen in Kumar Nambiar (Mamaroneck, N.Y.), Griffin Dey (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) and Sam Boies (Naples, Fla.) combined for two relief frames. Yale used six pitchers in total.

The Aggies got off to a good start with a lead-off home run by J.B. Moss in the first off Kukowski, which was shortly followed by an RBI double from Nick Banks to give A&M a 2-0 lead.

RBI hits in the fourth and sixth innings allowed the Aggies to push four more runs across the board, while the Elis struggled against starting pitcher Jace Vines. The Aggie pitcher had eight strikeouts in six innings.

Yale spoiled a chance to score in the fourth inning when Slenker struck out with runners on second and third with two outs. At the time, the Bulldogs were down 2-0.

Texas A&M led 6-0 heading into the seventh, which is when the Bulldogs started getting to Vines. A lead-off walk by freshman Benny Wanger (Waban, Mass.) was followed with singles by Ruddy and Slenker to load the bases.

Moates, who pinch hit for junior Harrison White (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), drew an RBI walk in the next at-bat against the Aggies' pitcher, Kaylor Chafin, putting Yale on the scoreboard. Hoeschel followed with an RBI fielder's choice, cutting the lead to 6-2.

Herrera silenced the still-confident home crowd with a three-run blast to left, cutting the lead to 6-5 and putting the Aggies' fans in a state of disbelief. The Bulldogs rallied for five runs against A&M relief pitchers in the frame.

In the bottom half, the Aggies scored four times, due in large part to a two-RBI single by Moss. A two-RBI double for Moss in the eighth helped A&M pull away for the 12-5 margin of victory.

Though a loss, the Bulldogs showed fight in the first game of the series and proved to the Aggies that they came to play. Tomorrow's pitching matchup features Yale freshman Scott Politz (Austin, Texas) and right-hander Tyler Ivey for A&M.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. (ET) and can be watched on WatchESPN or the SEC Network. Former Yale alum and U.S President George H.W. Bush will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitches, while also being honored with a commemorative jersey from each program.

Filed by Steve Lewis, Yale Sports Publicity