Special to The Eagle
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Texas A&M baseball coach Rob Childress opened himself to criticism when he held Michael Wacha out of Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regional against Florida State, but Wacha closed the door one night later.
Wacha helped Childress earn his first trip to the College World Series in six seasons at A&M with a superb start that sent the Aggies to an 11-2 victory over the Seminoles in the series finale Monday night.
The decision to give Wacha an extra day's rest looked much better with the Aggies bound for Omaha than it did when they headed back to the hotel after losing 23-9 in the middle game of the Super Regional on Sunday when Childress started freshman Derrick Hadley.
Childress saved Wacha for the third game because the right-hander pitched Tuesday in the finale of the weather-delayed College Station Regional.
"He wasn't ready," Childress said. "He'd gone back-to-back starts on short rest and he wasn't 100 percent and that's why we gave him the rest. Today, he got another day's rest, and he was outstanding. Just an incredible performance."
Wacha continued his memorable postseason, going 7 1/3 innings and giving up only three hits and two runs against an offense that on Sunday scored the most runs against A&M since 1996. In two elimination games, Wacha has proved his mettle, giving up eight hits and two runs in 14 innings. In the postseason, Wacha has pitched 20 innings and is 2-0, having given up a meager 13 hits and two runs.
"Just from what I saw yesterday, they're a great hitting team," Wacha said. "If I just went out there, kept the ball low and threw strikes, I'd have a chance."
Ross Stripling proved Saturday that the FSU lineup wasn't infallible when he went seven innings and gave up two runs as the Aggies took the opener 6-2.
"Ross gave me the opportunity to get an extra day's rest," Wacha said. "I just knew I had to throw strikes and get us to Omaha."
His outing got off to a rough start as Seminoles' second baseman Devon Travis battled his way to a 12-pitch walk. But Wacha got catcher Rafael Lopez to ground into an enormous double play.
"It was big time," Wacha said. "That guy [Travis] battled every pitch I gave him and got a walk ... I think it really set a tone for the game. I did have some pregame jitters, but I wouldn't be human if I didn't."
From there, Wacha settled down, got into his groove and began to locate his pitches. He attacked the 'Noles lineup with a mixture of well-placed fastballs. But it was his off-speed stuff that made the difference.
"He was able to establish his changeup and throw his slider when he needed to," A&M catcher Kevin Gonzalez said.
Childress was asked what he told his troops as they prepared to avenge a 14-run loss on the road in a hostile environment with the season on the brink.
"We might have lost the battle, but we're here to win the war," he said.
With Wacha ready to go, Childress had quite a weapon. His decision to rest his ace made the difference between a season ending and A&M's first trip to Omaha since 1999.
"That's the sweetest one I've ever had," Childress said.
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