By PJ Potter - ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Three Texas A&M pitchers combined to pitch a shutout in the final game of the opening series, defeating Hofstra 5-0 to complete the three-game sweep.
Texas A&M’s Tyler Ivey recorded the win in his college debut, striking out seven batters over six innings. The 6-foot-4-inch freshman issued two hits and one walk.
Relievers Ty Schlottmann and Mark Ecker secured the shutout, combining for three strikeouts and three hits in the final three innings.
J.B. Moss and Ronnie Gideon led the way for the Aggies offense, who put together all five runs batted in and had five of the team’s eight hits.
Gideon, who amassed two home runs and seven RBI for the series, roped the game-winning run in the home half of the second inning with a base hit to left center field.
Moss extended the lead with an RBI double in the right center field gap in the fourth, putting the Aggies up 2-0.
Gideon then slammed a two-run home run in the seventh and Moss a single in the eighth to cap off the five run day for Texas A&M. Moss ended the game going 3-for-3 and 5-for-10 in the series with two triples and a double.
This is the first time Hofstra has been shut out this season and the first time since April 4 of last season against the College of Charleston.
Hofstra was held to just five hits over the course of the game, including two singles each from Steven Foster and Teddy Cillis.
Cillis rounded out his first series with Hofstra with four hits in 11 at-bats. Hofstra’s pitching remained strong until the seventh inning, a 2-0 game until they let up the home run to Gideon.
Starter Bowie Matteson earned the loss, stretching four innings of work. He surrendered two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three.
Chris Bonk was the first reliever to replace Matteson and was pulled after allowing two runs in two innings.
Brendan Mulligan and Dave Jesch came in relief for a second time this series, both tossing one inning each. Mulligan allowed just one hit in the frame and Jesch yielded one run and two strikeouts.
For the series, Brad Witkowski batted .364 (4-for-11) with three runs batted in. Ryan Karl finished 4-for-12, including a solo home run. Freshman Vito Friscia had two hits in six at-bats and walked three times.
For No. 4 Texas A&M, Hunter Melton went 6-for-10 (6-for-7 in the first two games) with two home runs, six RBI, one double, and seven runs scored.
Hofstra returns to action Friday, Feb. 26 in Fort Myers, Florida in a four-game set against Missouri.