Jim Schlossnagle admits pitching decision may have been a mistake, credits Oklahoma

Texas A&M’s season is over. Coach Jim Schlossnagle wasn’t able to bring home a championship trophy in year one, but getting as close as the Aggies did, the year as a whole has to be considered a success. Texas A&M was one of the final four teams standing in the entire country in year one under Schloss. But he fell to a team he faced every year when he coached at TCU as Oklahoma took A&M down 5-1 to end their season and advance to the championship series.

When reflecting on the game afterward, Schlossnagle was asked about how he handled the pitching situation. “If I had known what I know now, I would have started [Jacob] Palisch.” However, that wasn’t the coach’s mindset. He didn’t want to burn Palisch’s arm to win vs. Oklahoma and then not have him in potential championship games. The pitching wasn’t the main reason why Texas A&M lost, though.

“The story is way less about who pitched for us and way more about [David] Sandlin and the closer for them,” Schloss said in compliment to the Oklahoma pitchers. “They had us on our heels,” he continued. “We struck out 13 times. They only had to field 14 balls. And a good defensive team and athletic team and a team that’s playing well,” he said of Oklahoma. “You’re setting yourself behind the eight-ball there,” Schlossnagle finished with, emphasizing that the Aggies simply didn’t do enough at the plate to get the win.

So yes, a different pitching decision could have saved some runs. But Texas A&M scoring just one run is the real problem. Anything less than perfect pitching and you’re going to lose when you only score a run. Bats ran dry for the Aggies in Omaha.

Texas A&M learned that the hard way.

Still, an extremely successful season for Jim Schlossnagle during in his first go-around in College Station. Jumping from TCU to A&M is a bold move for Texan. Playing both sides of the battle is a dangerous game, but Schloss attacked the challenge head on. He led the Aggies to their most successful regular season in some time, then earned the No. 5 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Then they blew their way through the College Station Regional, defeating the Horned Frogs for Schlossnagle’s revenge on his former home, to advance to the Super Regional. Texas A&M hosted that round as well and took care of Louisville in two straight games to book their ticket to Omaha.

The Aggies fell just short of the championship series. But surely they’ll be back under Schlossnagle.