Penn went toe-to-toe with No. 24 Texas A&M for eight innings Friday night. One swing in the ninth was the difference.
The Quakers dropped a 1-0 decision at Blue Bell Park in their season opener, undone by a walk-off RBI double from Boston Kellner with one out in the bottom of the ninth.
Penn (0-1) managed just four hits but received strong pitching throughout, keeping the Aggies (5-0) off the scoreboard until the final frame.
Senior Jake Moss set the tone early. The right-hander worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing five hits and three walks while working around traffic. Texas A&M left 10 runners on base in the game and repeatedly found Moss and the Penn defense able to limit damage.
Thomas Shurtleff took over in the fifth and matched zeros into the ninth. The junior right-hander scattered two hits over four innings before running into trouble in the final frame. After a leadoff baserunner reached and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position, Kellner lined a double to bring home the game’s only run.
Shurtleff (0-1) was charged with the loss despite allowing just one run.
Penn’s offense found limited opportunities against Aggies starter Shane Sdao, who tossed seven scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing three hits. Ethan Darden and Josh Stewart combined to close out the final two innings.
Davis Baker led the Quakers offensively, going 2 for 4. Nick Spaventa and Jay Secretarski added singles, accounting for the team’s four hits. Ryan Taylor was hit by a pitch but Penn did not draw a walk against Texas A&M pitching.
The Quakers struck out 10 times and left five runners on base.
Defensively, Penn committed two errors but avoided any immediate damage from them, continuing to keep the game within reach deep into the night.
In front of 6,235 fans and under cloudy skies in 70-degree weather, Penn matched a ranked SEC opponent pitch for pitch before the Aggies finally broke through.
The series continues Saturday in College Station, with the Quakers looking to turn a tightly contested opener into momentum.
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