The Battalion — March 30, 2023

Aggies look to break losing streak against national champs BASEBALL ON PG. 7

Silver Taps

Analysis: Former president holds first 2024 rally in Waco TRUMP ON PG. 5

Dec. 20, 2002 — March 18, 2023

Big history in a small package

A&M Forestry Service receives antique humidor

By Jack Lee @JackTheBatt

In the back of Texas A&M’s forestry services building, 20 minutes off of the main campus, there is a wooden box in a storage closet. Beneath its unassuming appearance lies a tale of American history, Texas legends and Aggie family. The box, a humidor, a container to keep cigars moist, was recently donated to A&M by Henry Kirby “H.K.” and Roberta “Robbie” Pitts. Associate Director of Forest Resource Development Bill Oates said the humidor’s historical significance lies in its origin.

“Back about 100 or so years before, I think it was in the Coolidge administration, they started remodeling the White House to remove some of the material that was installed after everything was burned [in the War of 1812],” Oates said. “They made various items out of the material that came out of the White House. They would give them away to people as gifts.”

According to clippings of the Baltimore Sun provided by Oates, two humidors were originally built out of the White House roof materials, in addition to some other souvenirs.

“A large part of the removed timber was purchased by the National Lumber Manufacturers’ Association,

which has presented some of the rough to various eager recipients,” the Baltimore Sun reported in 1929. “A few of these presents of historical material were made.”

The humidor at A&M, Oates said, may be one of the last surviving samples of the former White House.

“There might still be stuff still out there, but people may not even know what it is,” Oates said. “If you didn’t have a plate on it, like a metal plate on it that describes it, if it didn’t have that, people wouldn’t even know where it came from.”

At 91 years old, H.K. has

led a storied life, including being a public school teacher, an adjunct professor of history at A&M Kingsville and the inventor of the University of Texas’ ‘hook ‘em horns’ sign. H.K. said the humidor fell into his possession via family connection.

“I got it from my aunt when she passed in the late [19]60s,” H.K. said. “It originally belonged to Cousin John Henry.”

John Henry Kirby, or Cousin John Henry, as he liked to be called, was a Texas oil and lumber tycoon known as “The Father of Industrial Texas.” Kirby was

[North]gatekeepers

A

look inside the life

of Northgate

the recipient of one of the two humidors built out of the White House roof from the National Lumber Manufacturers’ Association. H.K. said Kirby employed his parents and his grandfather and took a special interest in his aunt Maurine Knox.

“My aunt had — bless her heart — she had polio when she was about 19,” H.K said. “It froze her face into a contorted shape. I think that’s one reason Cousin John Henry worked so hard and did so much for her. He kind of felt sorry for her having polio which crippled her.” Though Kirby never

counters and dancefloors are kept safe for everyone else who are not too drunk to enjoy — although often, not without a fight.

May 14, 2001 — March 16, 2023

Fentanyl epidemic, explained

graduated college, H.K. said he was an advocate of higher education and a supporter of A&M.

“He was a big proponent of education and he admired Texas A&M,” H.K. said. “He was looking to provide a continuing thing rather than give a lump sum, so he gave A&M a big tract of his land.”

The land, now known as the John Henry Kirby Memorial Forest, Oates said, was donated to A&M with the stipulation that the revenues from the forest be used to fund scholarships.

“So far, during the time we’ve managed the forest, it’s generated more than half a million dollars,” Oates said.

When Kirby died in 1940, H.K. said, his daughter was bequeathed many of his possessions, including the humidor, to Knox, who subsequently gave the humidor to H.K. upon her passing.

“I just knew we had it in the house,” Robbie said, “I always thought it was such a neat piece.”

Though a University of Texas alum, H.K. said he donated the humidor to A&M because of its historical connection to Kirby.

“I knew of [A&M’s] association with Kirby,” H.K. said. “I said, since the Aggies take care of that stuff, we should give it to them so it can be shown to the masses. Right now, they’re talking about taking it to [the Bullock Texas State History Museum] in Austin.”

By Mia Putnam @MiaBatt25

If you are suffering with addiction or substance abuse, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration free helpline at (800) 662-4357.

Fentanyl is one of the most prominent names in the news right now. The synthetic opioid has been causing an unprecedented number of overdose deaths in Texas, especially to vulnerable teenagers and young adults.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, there were over 75,000 fentanyl overdose deaths in a 12-month period between April 2020 and April 2021 in the United States. This issue hits close to home, as Texas Department of State Health Services reported that Texas had a 120% increase in deadly fentanyl overdoses since 2020.

Dr. Jun Wang, a professor in the Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics at the Texas A&M School of Medicine, said fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug. An opioid is a very powerful pain suppressant and used clinically to suppress pain, he added.

“Why fentanyl is so popular among teenagers [is] because fentanyl is a synthetic drug,” Wang said. “Some opioids, like heroin, have to be extracted from some product like a plant. But fentanyl is not, it can be synthesized in a lab. This makes the price very low and easier to access.”

Along with fentanyl being relatively inexpensive compared to other opioids, it is a drug of choice due it being extremely potent and causing an increased high, according to the CDC.

“Fentanyl is 50-100 times more potent than heroin,” Wang said. “This means it can come into your blood very quickly. A lot of chemicals cannot go to your brain … but fentanyl can get into the brain easier than heroin or other drugs, and it gets into it very fast.”

Fentanyl can cause dangerous effects because it can get into the body system so quickly, Wang said.

By Ruben Hernandez @battandmuse

In the Northgate district of College Station, attendees shed all their restraints and limitations out into the night’s breeze for a night of extravagant pleasure and risky business. The mediators of such recklessness, within their respective bars and clubs, are the St. Peters of paradise, composed of protein milkshakes and low-carb intake: the bouncers.

It’s to no surprise why bouncers exist in the first place, since bars and clubs aren’t the exact hotspots for peaceful people of sane and practical mind. It is a given fact that any function that has servings of alcohol is bound to be ruined by someone who excessively drinks — aside from church during communion. Thanks to the trusty bouncer, bar

Tipsy Turtle bouncer Slater Milliken said, despite working for only two months, he has already faced violent encounters with drunk customers. Milliken said after a group of drunk men jumped the fence that divides Paddock’s from Tipsy Turtle, his manager prompted him to take the group out of the bar even after showing their identifications and proving to be of drinking age.

“They were going to order their drink, I told the bartender to cancel their s---,” Milliken said. “One of their buddies just started recording me out of f---ing nowhere, just like shoving his phone on my face. I deleted the video and then shoved him out.”

With one drunkard out the bar, Milliken said the remaining stragglers shifted to the back of the bar. Him and three other bouncers approached the

bouncers BOUNCERS ON PG. 3

“Opioids suppress your respiratory system,” Wang said. “Whenever people take opioids and feel relaxed, they decrease their breath. If you have fentanyl going into your brain, it will suppress your respiratory system, and it happens so quickly and you cannot realize you need to go to the ER and this leads to overdose death.”

Clinical assistant professor Joy Alonzo is the co-chair of the A&M Opioid Task Force and said teenagers and young adults have gotten access to this drug

The Battalion wins Overall Excellence for print, audio

By Michaela Rush @Michaela4Batt

Last Saturday, March 25, The Battalion earned 29 awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, or TIPA, during the organization’s annual convention in Fort Worth.

Twenty-eight of these awards included categories of writing, design, photography and audio production for content published during the 2022 calendar year. Assistant news editor Ana Renfroe also won first place during the live news writing competition during the convention.

Notably, The Battalion earned two Division I Overall Excellence Awards, TIPA’s highest honor, in the newspaper and news production audio categories. The publication has not won the newspaper award since 2019, and this is its first win in the news production audio category.

In addition to these achievements, Megan Williams, editor in chief of The Aggieland Yearbook, and Renfroe were elected to the

TIPA Executive Board as the student president and vice president, respectively.

To support award-winning and independent student journalism, donate to The Battalion via Friends of The Battalion or The Battalion Excellence Fund, both 501(c)(3) organizations.

Below is a full list of awards earned by The Battalion and its staff.

Division I Overall Excellence Newspaper: The Battalion

Division I Overall Excellence News Production - Audio: The Batt Signal and Home Turf

First Place

Live Contest - Print News: Ana Renfroe

Cover Design - Newspaper: Ishika Samant, The Battalion — November 17, 2022

Podcast: Jordan Epp, Grant Gaspard, Tying things up with the Tigers

Second Place

Breaking News Photo: Ishika Samant, Roe

v. Wade Protest

Sports Action Photo: Robert O’Brien, Women’s Swim: A&M vs. Rice

Critical Review: Joey Kirk, Criticism: Tár

Program Production - Audio: The Batt Signal

General News: Kyle McClenagan, Drumbeat of war: Possibility of conflict causes study abroad to be scrapped

Special Edition Design - Print: Robert O’Brien, Fall Sports 2022

Sports Feature Photo: Robert O’Brien, Baseball vs. South Carolina General Column: Caleb Elizondo, A modest proposal

Third Place

Best In Show - Website: The Battalion Staff, thebatt.com

Static Ad Design: Robert O’Brien, 3rd

Floor Cantina

In-Depth Reporting: Casey Stavenhagen & Nathan Varnell, The Rudder Association

Overall Design - Web: The Battalion Staff, thebatt.com

Static Information Graphic: Cameron Johnson, Aggie Ring Day Sports Game Story: Jordan Epp, 3 seconds, 2 yards, 1 dream

Photo Illustration: Robert O’Brien, The Rudder Association

Sports Column: Matthew Cobb, ‘Do or

Die’: A&M must beat Miami to stay afloat

General News Photo: Robert O’Brien, Muster 2022

Website: The Battalion Staff, thebatt.com

General News Audio Story: Kenzie Finch, Episode 23: Exercising our civic duty

Honorable Mention

Editorial: The Battalion Staff, Print is not dead

Overall Design - Newspaper: Robert O’Brien, The Battalion — November 10, 2022

Feature Reporting - Audio: Jack Lee & Caroline Wilburn, Norman E. Borlaug: The Aggie who fed the world

Newscast - Audio: Kenzie Finch, Caroline Wilburn, Jamie Whitley & Amanda Hare, Episode 18: Books, ballots and Bush

General Column: Robert O’Brien, The tragedy of the Class of 2024 photo

H.C. Barnes, secretary manager of the Southern Pine Association, next to the humidor in 1929.

Photo courtesy of Bill Oates

Nathaniel Neil Callaway

Austin Michael Hodge Dec. 2, 1996 — March 3, 2023

Christian Duvall Owen

Northgate bouncer Matthew Burkhart outside O’Bannon’s Irish Pub on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

Kyle Heise — THE BATTALION

Generations of history at Tavo Coffee Co.

Co-owners give insight into starting their own coffee shop

By Anna Deardorff @annardeardorff

Coffee beans from a family farm in the mountains of Chimaltenango, Guatemala are transported over 1,600 miles to Tavo Coffee Co to Downtown Bryan. A community quickly arose as co-owners Cathy and Gustavo Ramón, Class of 2016 and 2018, respectively, began teaching customers coffee brewing methods in their coffee shop using Gustavo’s family-grown beans.

The Ramóns, who got married in 2018, opened Tavo in October of 2021 after five months of being a coffee cart, Gustavo said. Their shop in Downtown Bryan is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, according to their Instagram.

Coffee production spans back five generations in Gustavo’s family, with him being the first to open an actual shop, he said. The Ramóns said they prioritize “origin trips” to

the Guatemalan farm, where their employees see the harvest for themselves. Barista and computer science senior Jaka Tanugraha went on the most recent trip over spring break.

“The trip was amazing, maybe one of the best trips I’ve ever taken in my life,” Tanugraha said. “They’re growing different varietals on the farm right now, so it’s cool to see that development.”

Gustavo’s uncle, Jorge Del Carmen, currently runs the family farm, which produces Xejuyu coffee beans, graded as excellent by the Specialty Coffee Association of America, according to Tavo’s website.

“They got to meet the farmers,” Gustavo said. “They got to see the coffee on the plant get picked and processed all the way through. That’s something we’ve wanted to do from the very beginning.”

The shop’s logo is a hang glider as a tribute to Gustavo’s late grandfather, Juan Del Carmen, who passed away in 2010, Gustavo said.

“He was a pilot,” Gustavo said. “He was the one who had the farm in his hands for 30 years. The farm was his, [and] a lot of the plants grown are the plants that he planted himself.”

In addition to serving high-quality beans,

READY. SET. SAVE!

Cathy said she makes homemade seasonal syrups.

“Right now we’re experimenting with honey sage fig, brown butter peach and violet ube,” Cathy said. “Our goal is for it to not be so sugary, and also to have fresh ingredients and raw cane sugar.”

Tavo offers a variety of espresso drinks and pourovers in store, according to their website. In addition to using Xejuyu beans from their family farm, Tanugraha said they also rotate different roasts through a bottomless subscription. A bag of beans is placed on a scale and automatically re-orders another as soon as you’re running low, according to Bottomless’ website.

“We’re really proud of our return rate of customers,” Gustavo said. “For most coffee shops nationwide, I think the average is somewhere between 5 and 15% of customers become regulars. Ours is anywhere from 40 to 50%, which is incredible.”

On top of the community built from regulars, Gustavo started Tavo’s running club, which recently partnered with Lululemon as an ambassador. They run Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Thursdays at 7 a.m., and Cathy said anyone is welcome to join.

“I’m the [Bryan-College Station] area’s only certified running coach,” Gustavo said. “We met a couple of our closest friends from the run club itself. Sometimes we’ll get just a handful, and sometimes we’ll have 40 people show up out of nowhere.”

To create a local feel within the shop, the Ramóns sell plants from Grow ‘Em Plant Co. and artwork from Bryan Contemporary Artists.

“The whole point of having the art and the plants was to keep the shop fresh,” Gustavo said. “Every time you walk in here is a novel experience, it’s never boring.”

Cathy said they welcome pop-up vendors on Saturday mornings, and Tavo is planning a large artisan market at the shop on Earth Day, April 22. Nostalgia Novelties thrift store and PIPER-jade permanent jewelry will be a few of the vendors there, she said.

“I am very thankful and I get to do what I love to do everyday, so this is a dream come true,” Cathy said. “It’s hard work, but you can do it.”

We’re hiring lifeguards for our pools, instructors for swim lessons, and coaches for the Tsunami Swim Team.

PAY STARTS AT $12/HOUR!

Not certified? No problem! We have American Red Cross certification programs available. If you’re hired and work all summer at College Station pools, your certification costs are reimbursed at the end of the season.

The front desk at the recently-opened Tavo Coffee Co. storefront on Main St in Downtown Bryan, Texas on Thursday, March 9, 2023

Bridget Bristow -- THE BATTALION

Encapsulating a legacy

Class of 2024 buries time capsule to be opened at 50year class reunion

By John Chapa @JDChapaBatt

Every class at Texas A&M has its unique tradition that has stuck with them for decades, with the exception of the junior class. Seniors have an Elephant Walk, sophomores have a Pull Out Day, and fish have Fish Fest. This spring, the Class of 2024 will participate in the Class Council’s second annual Legacy Night on March 30.

Initiated by the Class of 2023, Legacy Night 2022 celebrated the former junior class with a jamboree outside of the Academic building with free food and festivities. Class of 2024 Traditions Executive Director and agricultural economics junior said he hopes Legacy Night becomes a lasting tradition for the junior class. Tradition is what unites the A&M student body, Mills said.

“The junior class tradition has existed for over 100 plus years,” Mills said. “It’s changed from a junior ball, to a dance, to Junior E-Walk … tradition is what builds the class. A&M is considered a family, and it’s because of those traditions that we are a close family. That has always hit home with me … so being able to put on a tradition to keep that family growing is what I came to A&M for. I want to leave that impact here and make sure everyone gets that feeling.”

The first recognized junior tradition, according to Class Councils, was Junior Banquet. The tradition lasted from 1900 to 1967, then was subsequently followed by the Junior Ball, Boot Dance and Junior E-Walk. What most largely differs between Legacy Night and the previous traditions is that students will celebrate the tradition 50 years later. On March

through cartels.

“The fentanyl that is causing all the overdose deaths in communities is actually not medical fentanyl,” Alonzo said. “It is what the [Drug Enforcement Administration] refers to as ‘illicitly manufactured fentanyl.’ It’s manufactured by the cartels largely by precursors that are shipped overseas and is cooked in the desert in shacks or open warehouses.”

Many of the overdoses in Texas, Alonzo said, are not due to addiction, but due to buying these fake tablets.

“It’s an accidental exposure,” Alonzo said. “Right now, there is a proliferation of fentanyl contaminated products in the illicit drug market. On Snapchat and other social media sites, many teenagers will buy counterfeit tablets that look like ADHD tablets or Xanax tablets. The counterfeit tablet presses are not

the group and told them to leave, but Milliken said it wasn’t until his manager came that the group soon followed orders.

“My manager went back there, and she’s really scrawny and redheaded,” Milliken said. “She walked back there and she was like, ‘If you don’t know how to f---ing walk I’ll teach you! Right, left! Right, left!’ They stood up and walked across the street, screaming ‘Right, left! right, left!’”

This departure, however, was not without an altercation, Milliken said.

“They tried to f---ing fight me after that,” Milliken said. “I was like, ‘Come on, we can meet out back,’ and the cop was like, ‘What?!’, because there’s always cops here. So he was like ‘What?!’ and I was like ‘Yea, them punkass motherf---ers!’ and they just walked off.”

Sometimes these fights don’t occur head on with the bouncers, but between drunk people themselves, The Good Bull Icehouse bouncer Joel Anstine said.

31, the day after Legacy Night, a time capsule containing gifts donated by juniors will be buried on Legacy Path outside of the Liberal Arts & Humanities building on campus.

Director of Logistics and agricultural economics junior Carson Davis said he believes the tradition is here to stay. Leaving a significant footprint on the world is something Aggies have always done, Davis said.

“Legacy Night fits so well because A&M students and former students already have a great tradition of leaving a legacy behind,” Davis said. “This tradition fits like a puzzle piece. It’s perfect. It’s already something we do, leave that legacy. This is only a little bit

regulated and cartels can use them to make what looks like medical oxycontin. Unfortunately, they are contaminated with fentanyl.”

Alonzo said taking one of these tablets is enough to cause a death by overdose.

“It’s ultrapotent compared to medical opioids,” Alonzo said. “About the amount of fentanyl that is in 10 grains of salt is enough to be a deadly dose of this illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Right now, the DEA estimates that out of 10 of these counterfeit tablets about seven of them are contaminated with fentanyl. Maybe it’s just a teeny bit and it makes you feel super chill. But maybe it’s enough to kill you.”

Although fentanyl can lead to overdose deaths, there is a way to prevent that through naloxone. Naloxone is a Federal Drug Administration approved medication to reverse opioid overdoses.

The A&M Opioid Task Force works to

“The biggest thing that I’ve seen personally was a guy [who] got jumped in the bathroom for cutting in line,” Anstine said. “He was talking shit to the people in line and then three of those people got pissed about it and beat him up in the bathroom.”

Oftentimes, the heavily intoxicated are escorted in an embarrassing fashion, as The Corner bouncer Bobby LeRouax said how some people can’t seem to take the pressure.

“We had to kick out a dude up top for being too drunk,” LeRouax said. “When he was coming down the stairs, as they were walking him down, he was bawling, crying, holding on to his buddy, telling how sorry he was for getting them kicked out.”

Although all these instances are anecdotes to share from spending a night at the job, they bring up an issue when it comes to the reputation and conflicts that come tied with the job of being a bouncer. Even with this toll, people like Anstine, who found the job to be the foot in the door for the career into the bar industry, see the challenges in the relationship between

different, it’s something more tangible.”

Legacy Night will take place at Aggie Park from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and include festivities such as a bouncy house, giveaways and lawn games. Starting at 6 p.m., the Moore family creamery is giving away 100 free scoops to the first 100 customers. Burger Mojo will also have free burgers and salads while supplies last. Giveaways include a Class of 2024 sweatshirt, a Roku TV, airpods and a mini A&M football helmet signed by Johnny Manziel. Athletic Director of A&M Ross Bjork will deliver the keynote address. Newly-elected Student Body President Hudson Kraus will be in attendance, as well as the Yell Leaders to lead a

provide education and prevent drug overdose deaths at the university. Public health masters student Folakemi Ezenwanne is the program coordinator for the task force.

“The [Opioid] Task Force is primarily concerned with joining the fight against the opioid epidemic that we currently face in the county,” Ezenwanne said. “Opioid overdose education training provides people with education about the opioid epidemic and an opioid overdose prevention plan. We are handing them an actual plan for what to do if you ever come across an opioid overdose victim.”

The Opioid Task Force offers training throughout the year for A&M students and other affiliates of the university that is open to students and student organizations upon request, Ezenwanne said. Some students, like public health junior Carolynn Stallman, have received naloxone training and Stallman said felt better prepared for an overdose situation.

customer and bouncer.

“I think it is one of the most under-looked service industry positions, security specifically, but all bar work is really just, I feel, thrown to the side, [as if] it’s really not service industry or even one of the biggest service industries in the nation,” Anstine said. “I think it has to do with the intoxication level of people who are around us who don’t understand that we’re just trying to help you guys, make it safe for you guys. We’re not trying to ruin anybody’s night, but we got to do what we got to do at the end of the day.”

Even with constant threats roaming around ready to happen at the drop of a shot glass, LaRouax said he enjoys the interactive aspect of the job, since his friendliness and connections are what got him interested in the job in the first place.

“Honestly, I just feel that I’m a big people person so I love the fact that we’re just sitting out here, especially working the door,” LaRouax said. “I mean I get to see about 50 to 60, 70 of my friends just walking by, just any

Yell Practice. Director of Marketing and marketing junior Riley Berkholz said she worked extensively with the team to advertise the new tradition and raise awareness for the event.

“I think the more people who get involved, know about it and talk about it, will help the tradition feed into the next class,” Berkholz said. “I think the tradition grows exponentially from getting people to want to do it and participate in it.”

The fifth chapter of the junior class tradition starts with creating a legacy at A&M. To learn more about the new junior tradition, visit the Class Councils website or Instagram.

“I really didn’t know much about it beforehand,” Stallman said. “I feel like the training really went in depth about giving a background before. It gave you solutions and how to deal with overdoses if you were ever in that situation.”

Alonzo said providing naloxone is relatively easy and can be bought at a local pharmacy, like HEB or Walmart. However, it is still recommended that students or individuals take training.

“If you witness someone overdosing, call 911 immediately,” Alonzo said. “Even if you haven’t taken the training, [naloxone] is so easy to use. You can look at the package insert and it tells you to put the naloxone up the person’s nose and press the plunger. You cannot hurt them; the only way you can hurt them is by doing nothing.”

given night, even if they don’t come in or we don’t hang out, it’s just good to see people that I haven’t seen in a few weeks, months at times, just while working the door. The culture out here is a lot of close-knit people.”

With business and camaraderie, bouncers are here to stay. Whether they protect us or pick us off the ground and send us flying into the cold street corner — it’s their rules we’re playing by, after all. As long as you don’t cause any problems, nothing shall come unto you, Milliken said.

“Really, I don’t have any concerns, because I’m kind of hard-headed myself,” Milliken said. “But as long as someone doesn’t come up to me with no problems or acting belligerent already, then I have no problems with that person.”

Photo courtesy of Riley Burkholc

FENTANYL CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

BOUNCERS CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

Yell Leaders Zac Cross and Kipp Knecht lead a Yell Practice at the first Legacy Night on March 31, 2022.

Silver Taps

December 20, 2002 — March 18, 2023

NATHANIEL ‘NATE’ NEIL CALLAWAY

Generous, selfless, loyal and an Aggie through and through

By Ana Renfroe

Nate was driven and overwhelmingly kindhearted and will be remembered for the lasting impressions he made.

Although born in Waco, Nate grew up in his small, rural hometown, Whitney. Throughout his life, Nate had an immense passion for the outdoors, nature and animals. As a child, Nate dreamt of the simple life, depicted in his favorite western TV shows and movies. At an early age, Nate displayed many talents and passions, but William “Jay” and Misti Callaway, his parents, and his brother, Zach, said Nate was ultimately focused on success.

“He wanted to do great things with his life,” Jay said. “It honestly wasn’t for his personal gain. He talked off about using any success he gained to help his family and those less fortunate.”

Jay said Nate was a hard worker with an entrepreneurial mindset. When Nate was 16, he and Zach bought a set of cows for Nate to take care of. Looking for a business to start improving his future, Nate also raised his own hay, along with helping his Pappaw cut, rake, bale and haul hay.

Alongside his interest in business, Nate was also an exceptional athlete throughout his entire childhood, his parents said. He had a profound love of golf, baseball, basketball and football, ultimately proving to be a difficult opponent for those he faced. In high school, Nate was a four-year varsity basketball player and a fouryear starter on his baseball team. He won many All-District level honors, and he often traveled

with his team.

Before attending Texas A&M, Nate worked over the summer to save up money. One day, Nate called his aunt, a principal of a high school, and said he wanted to make a donation to the school. Initially, she rejected the money from her nephew, but Nate was insistent and left $600 in her mailbox to help students buy back-to-school supplies if they could afford it.

Nate should have been saving for college, and didn’t have tons of money, but he wanted to give what he had, Jay said.

Nate had a curious mind and worked hard throughout high school, thriving in higher-level honors classes. His efforts paid off when he was accepted into A&M. In the fall of 2021, Nate was admitted as a construction science major but aspired to be in the Mays

Dec. 2, 1996 — March 3, 2023

AUSTIN MICHAEL HODGE

finance program. Unable to transfer due to its strict admission timeline, Nate changed his major to agricultural economics. After graduation, Nate hoped to enter the investment banking or finance industry.

Initially, Nate was nervous about attending A&M after his New Student Conference, but he soon discovered one of his favorite things: Aggie football.

“It took him one football game, and he was hooked,” Jay said. “He was right on in there with them. He became passionate about A&M very quickly, and he talked about it all the time … He didn’t miss a game the two years he was there.”

While at A&M, Nate continued to make a lasting impression on those around him.

In the fall of 2022, Nate was a sophomore and rushed to join the Kappa Sigma fraterni-

ty. Invited to join Kappa Sigma, Jay said Nate was blessed to meet some of his best friends and his girlfriend, Ashley Beardmore. Nate and Ashley began dating in November 2022, and he was looking forward to where their relationship would lead.

“He worked as hard in our relationship as he [did] in everything else,” Beardmore said. “He did everything he could possible for me. Anything I needed, he went above and beyond to do it for me.”

Beardmore said Nate did everything he could for other people, no matter what it was, he wanted to help others.

In Kappa Sigma, Nate met one of his best friends, Marshall Ku, whom he planned to move in with later this year for the fall semester.

“He was probably one of the most hardworking, respectful people I’ve ever met in my life,” Ku said. “I’m so proud to say he’s one of the best friends I made since I’ve been in college.”

Nate was a God-oriented, vibrant Aggie who exemplified all of the Core Values, Ku said.

“He’s a very traditional person, I used to always call him an old man,” Ku said. “He would always show up to the library with a tiny old computer, a mouse, a pen and a notepad. He has old-man characteristics.”

Nate wanted to live a godly, simple and faithful life, Beardmore said.

Nate is missed beyond any words could express. He was a faithful believer, and his family knows where he is now, his father said.

“He strove for excellence in everything he did,” Jay said.

May 14, 2001 — March 16, 2023

CHRISTIAN DUVALL OWEN

Agricultural economics sophomore Nate Callaway will be honored at Tuesday’s Silver Taps Ceremony in Academic Plaza at 10:30 p.m.

Sport management senior Austin Hodge will be honored at Tuesday’s Silver Taps Ceremony in Academic Plaza at 10:30

Enviormental studies junior Christian Owen will be honored at Tuesday’s Silver Taps Ceremony in Academic Plaza at 10:30 p.m. A tribute article will not be published at this time.

Analysis: Trump plays the victim, but does anyone care?

There’s not a cloud in the sky as the harsh sun beats down on the tarmac. The crowd waits for Donald Trump to emerge from his plane. “Hallelujah” plays and some supporters sway to the chorus. A painter onstage moves to the rhythm, coating her canvas in streaks of orange.

“Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Halleloo-ooo-jah.”

The painting is done, it’s Trump’s profile. The former president makes his way down the stairs of the plane and toward the stage as “God Bless the USA” plays.

“I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.”

“Justice for All,” a song by the J6 Prison Choir — a group of people convicted for crimes committed during the 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol — begins to play and Trump places his hand over his heart. Most of the audience follows suit.

“Oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light …”

The anthem is interrupted by audio of Trump reciting the first line of the pledge of allegiance. Footage of Trump supporters trespassing on the Capitol building play on the jumbotrons. The song continues with the

choir singing the “Star Spangled Banner,” and audio of the pledge dispersed throughout.

A song and pledge typically associated with patriotism and loyalty was misappropriated to glorify one man and his efforts to overturn a democratic election. It’s March 25, 2023.

Welcome to Trump’s first 2024 presidential rally. Welcome to Waco.

Clawing for attention.

Without the bully pulpit and infamous Twitter account, Trump has resorted to increasingly divisive political stunts to gain attention and news coverage. Late last year, the former president courted Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and white nationalist Nick Fuentes and even called for the death penalty to be used on drug dealers.

In Waco, Trump praised far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green and defiled the national anthem, portraying insurrectionists as martyrs in the process. Towards the end, he even jumped on the transgender moral panic, declaring he would outlaw “genital mutilation” in all 50 states.

In the world of Trump, the temperature must keep rising to maintain his base.

This isn’t a flawed strategy as far as the primary is concerned. If Ron DeSantis truly is the future of the Republican Party, as pundits claim, someone should really tell Republicans that. In the most recent polling on the matter by The Harris Poll, respondents were asked to

select a Republican candidate as if the primary were held today and Trump came out on top with 50% with DeSantis trailing at 24%.

Remember, Trump doesn’t need a majority of the Republican vote to win a nomination — only a plurality. The easiest win condition is simply maintaining the support and energy behind his campaign. If the party fails to both completely consolidate around another candidate and scrape away at Trump’s base, he wins by default.

“I am your justice.”

The “fake news” media, “deep state,” “globalists” and immigrants all made returning appearances in the cast of American boogeymen on Trump’s stage. So what’s changed? In 2016 these actors attacked his supporters directly, but now they play second fiddle to Trump’s personal political and legal troubles.

New York prosecutors and tax returns received center stage. The politics are simple: cast threats against you as an attack on your supporters.

“So they’re not coming after me, they’re coming after you and I’m just standing in their way.” Trump said.

This performance was already written in 2020. Back then, the starring roles were an impeachment and the media’s portrayal of his leadership during COVID-19. As you may remember, it didn’t work.

“I am your warrior,” Trump said. “I am

your justice … I am your retribution.”

Is he? Does the average voter care about a potential Trump indictment? The release of his tax returns? The “weaponization of law enforcement?” None of these issues translate to any effect in the lives of the general public.

Again, the intent is clearly to rally his base, but Trump’s political well-being isn’t listed on Pew Research’s list of top policy priorities for a reason.

Looking toward the primary, the former president’s chances look quite favorable even as conservative commentators continue to drool over a potential DeSantis run. However, for each day that passes Trump appears even weaker in a general election.

Gasping for attention, Trump has surrounded himself on all sides by the likes of congressman Matt Gaetz and disgraced pillow salesman Mike Lindell. Each political stunt and new ally only further alienates him further from the general electorate. Facing a country primarily concerned with the economy, healthcare and terrorism, according to Pew Research, Trump allows policy to be overtaken by personal grudges and threats.

The start of this presidential bid is essentially a worse incarnation of his 2020 one. If history is prologue, it’s due to fail as well.

Caleb Elizondo is a computer science sophomore and opinion editor for The Battalion.

Opinion: Pimping out students in plain sight

and then grant them exclusive power to provide and manage every aspect of Aggie dining, what do you get? The answer is vertical and horizontal integration — also known as a total monopoly. No competitive prices, wages or food options.

Rapper Big Daddy Kane once said the now iconic line, “pimpin’ ain’t easy,” although if you look into how Texas A&M handles dining operations on campus, you might disagree.

It’s easy to get lost in the endless options to eat or grab a quick smoothie, but what if I told you nearly every single restaurant is operated by the same company?

That’s right, there’s only one company that oversees almost every restaurant, dining hall, food truck and fast food chain on campus. The worst part is 80% of undergraduates surveyed don’t even know it exists which is why they’ve been able to exploit and profiteer off of students’ backs without anyone batting an eye.

Allow me to introduce Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services. They’re a national food catering company that has contracts with 300 college campuses around the country, A&M being one of its largest.

In the same informal student survey sent out to random students, over a third of the 65 respondents gave Chartwells a 7/10 in satisfaction when taking into consideration all the times they’ve eaten on campus. Close to 40% of students’ responses fell below seven. Eight was the second-highest represented independent figure, however, this fell dramatically as numbers climbed higher with nine receiving only 4.6% of total responses and 10 receiving a mere 3.1%.

As observable in the data, responses flocked toward mediocrity, meaning outside of subpar food, students literally have no other options to eat elsewhere on campus. It goes without saying, that’s not something A&M should be proud of, especially when they’re doing it unethically. Here’s a quick lesson in Economics 101. When you invite a corporate entity on campus

Yup, even the fast-food chains you hold near and dear like Chick-fil-A and Starbucks are operated and managed by Chartwells. What this means is regardless of whether someone is working for a chain or somewhere like 1876 Burgers, policies and pay are standard across the board.

Don’t believe me? I encourage you to read the Texas A&M University System Dining Services Agreement, all of which is public information; A&M isn’t even trying to hide this. They made a deal with the devil, and now students are paying the price.

Of course, A&M’s first response to this would most likely be ‘It’s for simplicity’s sake’ or ‘There’s no other way to properly supervise dozens of restaurants to ensure quality control and fair pay.’ And to that I say horseshit.

Why? Well, I suppose the simplest and most obvious answer is because A&M isn’t even doing that now.

Allow me to introduce Erin Regan, a sophomore animal science major in the Corps who also works as a barista at Quadbucks, the colloquial name given to the Starbucks near the Corps dormitories. She shared a similar sentiment regarding the frustrations that come with working for Chartwells.

“It’s been almost a year [since working at Quadbucks] and I haven’t seen a single raise,” Regan said. “I don’t have a vehicle on campus … so I don’t have access to working off campus at a higher paying job.”

For reference, she was brought on at $11/ hour with prior experience working as a barista at Starbucks. Students without prior experience aren’t even that lucky, making only $10/ hour when they are first brought on according to District Marketing Director Brittany Coker.

$12.30/hour is the national average for baristas working at Starbucks according to Indeed. Starbucks baristas have even made anywhere from $15-23/hour in years past. In addition, these averages aren’t even including tips, which according to multiple current and previous student workers, employees working for Chartwells cannot accept.

The craziest part is that Chartwells has the money needed to bump up students’ pay! Let’s do some quick math shall we.

Chartwells made over $25 million in revenue last semester just off of the meal plans purchased at Texas A&M according to the 2022 Aggie Annual Stats issued by Chartwells.

Let’s assume the 350 student workers employed by Chartwells are working an average of 15 hours a week, 16 weeks at a time, the duration of the academic semester, at an hourly rate of $10.

If Chartwells set aside $200,000 — less than one percent of its total meal plan revenue for the fall semester— that would result in a $571.43 bonus for each student employee per semester. If this were factored into wages, this would result in a $2.38 an hour increase meaning students would now be making $12.38/ hour. Remember the national average?

When asked what the process would look like if student employees were to collectively seek a pay increase, Sr. HR Generalist for Chartwells, Susan Bouliane, admittedly wasn’t sure what the proper steps consisted of, however, she did offer insight as to what a student seeking a raise all by themselves should do.

“On an individual basis … we want them to understand that they [employees] have an open door with their manager,” Bouliane said.

Needless to say, this is in sharp contrast to the response Regan received when speaking to her previous manager regarding a pay raise.

“I got told to my face ‘Well you can just go work for another location,’” Regan said.

Outside of pay, Regan also summed up what it was like to work for Chartwells as a student.

“We’re wildly overstaffed, underpaid, under scheduled and do not have competitive benefits,” Regan said. “It’s no one else’s fault except the corporation running this entire unit.”

This summary falls very closely in line with the comments left on the Indeed employee reviews as well.

This isn’t just a problem at A&M either.

Seattle University also complained Chartwells has declined giving its workers raises, tips and overtime pay. When voting to authorize a strike in 2017, over 90% of Chartwells employees at both DePaul and Northwestern University voted ‘yes.’

The problem is evident, A&M has outsourced and supervised the growth of a monopoly on campus that is largely unknown outside of the students who work for them.

By serving what most call mediocre food, enforcing policies that are called unfair by the employees they affect and offloading all of that onto the shoulders of administrators whose jobs it is to fulfill the obligations of Chartwells, A&M has created the equivalent of a monopolistic Frankenstein’s monster.

As one of Chartwells’ largest universities, it’s time A&M uses its influence and old money that it prides itself on to demand better policies for its students. Aggies are the ones going to class, buying your meal plans and running your restaurants. They shouldn’t have to fight for reasonable wages, better food and competitive business too.

Students want the convenience of working near class and A&M needs employees to run their 52 dining locations on campus. It’s a win-win so what are you waiting for?

Stop worrying about the bottom line, and worry about your students. Quit hiding behind the middlemen you hired to take the punches for you and stand up for your students.

Benjamin Barnes is a telecommunications junior and opinion writer for The Battalion.

A man wears a Trump hat during a rally in Waco, Texas on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

Caleb Elizondo -- THE BATTALION

Caleb Elizondo @CalebElizondo7

Opinion editor Caleb Elizondo says former president takes risks when rallying his base

Benjamin Barnes @Ben_Batt24

Opinion writer Benjamin Barnes says campus food contractor is approaching monopoly status

By Grant Gaspard @Grant_Gaspard

“The more value you have and the more versatility you have, the better it’s going to be,” coach Jimbo Fisher said.

The ability to play in multiple positions is one of the most valuable traits a player can possess in the NFL. And on March 28, not just one but three Aggie football players were able to showcase their skills and abilities to play in multiple areas on the field.

This past Tuesday, all 32 NFL teams were present for the 2023 Texas A&M Pro Day. Due to the NFL annual league meeting on March 26, no NFL head coaches were present in College Station. Fortunately, according to A&M athletics communications, among the NFL personnel present were four defensive backs coaches, two special team coaches and two running backs coaches.

This event allowed NFL prospects to complete workouts they missed out on or felt “they didn’t meet personal expectations” at the NFL Combine that started on Feb. 23 and ended on March 6.

One of the three players looking to revamp their times in the timed drills from the combine was former Aggie cornerback Jaylon Jones.

“Definitely wanted to come out here and redo the 40-yard dash,” Jones said. “I didn’t meet my expectations at the combine. I wanted to come out here and show my skills. Improve in different areas. That’s why I came out here to do this.”

After running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash, Jones improved upon this time by .17 of a second and finished with an official time of 4.40. This time would place him eighth on the list among prospective players at his position entering the 2023 NFL Draft on April 27.

Regardless of speed, Jones’s 6-foot-2 height and above 30inch wingspan will boost his draft stock and set him up for a long and successful career, Fisher said.

“In time, you always look at corners in the back end of their careers,” Fisher said. “The guys that have size like that could go back and even be a safety on the back end of their careers because maybe they lose half a step here and there but are physical enough to do those things… I think he can be a special team guy as well because he is so long and physical. Whether you are covering a kick or blocking a kick ... Size matters.”

The Pro Day also allowed scouts and coaches to work in more one-on-one situations with the prospects and run position-specific drills they didn’t get to see in Indianapolis, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Former running back Devon Achane, the second Aggie player present, who spent some time with Dallas Cowboys run game coordinator Jeff Blasko and New York Giants running backs coach Jeff Nixon.

However, these coaches already know what Achane can bring to the table in terms of speed and quickness. In the combine, Achane finished first among running backs in the 40-yard time as he clocked in at 4.32 and finished second in the 10-yard split at 1.51.

What the coaches — especially Blasko and Nixon — want-

ed to see was his ability to catch the ball and run routes.

“In this league, you can’t just run the ball,” Achane said. “You have to be able to catch out the backfield. Thankfully, I’ve experienced playing receiver, running routes, caught from inside in the slot and outside. That feels good to show that I can do both.”

What separates Achane from other running backs in the draft, Fisher said, is his versatility on offense and his ability to play special teams as well.

“He’s a matchup problem,” Fisher said. “Not just because of his speed, but because of his athleticism and natural ball skills down the field. Devon is going to be a three-down guy and people don’t realize that. The way the NFL is now with the situations and diversity, he is going to excel in the game up there.”

The last Aggie in attendance was former Aggie defensive back Antonio Johnson who, despite finishing in the middle of drills at the combine, is as versatile as his teammate on the offensive side of the ball.

When he first arrived in Aggieland, Fisher plugged the East Saint Louis native at Nickel because of his ability to tackle and guard the quick receivers in the slot.

“Not many safeties can play the second level, what I am saying is down in the box and be physical, then have the ball skills to play on the top end in the third level,” Fisher said. “The safeties that [are drafted] high like himself, some guys are coverage guys and some are tackle guys... he has the ability to do both.”

The main difference between the Pro Day in 2022 and the Pro Day this season was that, on Tuesday, it took place outdoors and featured high-50-degree weather and cold wind.

This event started with the broad jump, vertical jump and 40-yard dash on the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band Drill Field, as well as the 5-10-5 shuttle, three-cone drill and bench press. After, the NFL personnel, players and media moved to Coolidge Practice Fields to finish the day with position drills.

However, the change of scenery and weather didn’t affect or influence the players’ performance, Johnson said. Just being able to work out with his teammates once more was all he could ask for.

“Being out here with my guys was really my dream,” Johnson said. “No matter if it’s indoors or outdoors or in the rain, sleet or snow I was able to work with my guys. We did a good job and we performed well... We play in all types of weather and field conditions. You have to be prepared for whatever.”

The three Aggies from the 2022 season were joined by three A&M graduates who one time wore maroon and white uniforms.

Connor Blumrick, a 2019 and 2020 Aggie letterman finished his career at Virginia Tech before taking part in the A&M Pro Day. Along with him was Cameron Buckley, who played in College Station from 2017-19 and finished his career at Jackson State, and Clifford Chattman, who was also an Aggie letterman in 2018 and 2019 and finished his career at UTSA.

“The transfer portal, there are some good things about it and there are some tough things about it,” Fisher said. “They left for opportunities and I am never going to deny someone opportunities ... These guys gave their heart and soul here ... I hope all those guys had a great workout here and it was great to see them all.”

Michaela Rush, Editor-in-Chief

Emma Moser, Business Manager

Dan Hung, Business Manager

Caleb Elizondo, Opinion Editor

Ryan

THE BATTALION is published Thursdays in the 2023 spring semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center.

News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com.

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Junior RB Devon Achane (6) runs for a touchdown during A&M’s game vs. LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022.

Jonathan Taffet -- THE BATTALION

A&M baseball looks for change of fortune

Aggies look to

flip script against Rebels, secure SEC series win

By Luke White @lukewhite03

The past week hasn’t been kind to the Texas A&M baseball team.

The Aggies traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee this past weekend, looking to rebound from a series loss to No. 1 LSU that began SEC play. Instead, No. 12 Tennessee trounced A&M for a sweep, setting the maroon and white back to 1-5 in the conference standings and out of the Top 25.

To make matters worse, A&M dropped a 5-2 midweek contest at home to archrival No. 21 Texas on Tuesday, March 28, the Aggies’ first loss to the Longhorns since 2018 and first in College Station since 2011.

Well, misery loves company, as Ole Miss finds itself in a similar funk as well. The Rebels one-upped the Aggies with a 0-6 mark in SEC competition after being swept by No. 6 Vanderbilt and No. 3 Florida, but they didn’t get a chance to rebound with a midweek win, as their game versus Southern Miss was declared a no contest due to poor field conditions.

After both teams spent their offseasons reminiscing on their 2022 trips to the College World Series, one that ended in a national title for Ole Miss, they’ve come crashing back to earth.

Junior RHP Jack Dougherty will look to start things on a high note for the Rebels as Friday’s expected starter, carrying a 2-2 record

albeit with a 6.07 earned run average. On the other end, junior RHP Nathan Dettmer will take the mound, aiming to shake off poor outings versus LSU and Tennessee, where he gave up a combined 13 runs on 14 hits in 11 innings. He enters with a 1-3 mark and 5.40 ERA.

Come Saturday, Ole Miss’ freshman RHP Grayson Saunier, with a 1-2 record and 7.77 ERA, will contrast A&M’s sophomore LHP Troy Wansing’s 2-1 record and 3.80 ERA. Rounding out the series for the Rebels on Sunday will be junior RHP Xavier Rivas, boasting a 4-2 record with a 4.97 ERA. For A&M, freshman LHP Justin Lamkin will get his second weekend start since replacing sophomore RHP Chris Cortez in the rotation. His record fell to 1-2 and his ERA to 3.28 after surrendering six runs in 4.1 frames to the Volunteers last Sunday.

At 15-9 this season, Ole Miss’ strengths come at the plate with a .307 team batting average and six players hitting beyond .300. The offense runs through junior UTL Kemp Alderman, one of the top hitters in the conference with a .363 average, 10 home runs and 34 runs batted in. Junior UTL TJ McCants adds seven home runs, while senior in fielder Peyton Chatagnier, a Cypress native, has six.

Junior IF Jacob Gonzalez, coming off an 18 home run season, adds power to the lineup, while senior OF Ethan Groff brings speed, having succeeded on 10 of 11 stolen base attempts this season. Junior UTL Calvin Harris leads the Rebels in average at .379.

Meanwhile, the Aggies continue to struggle to match the offensive productivity that trade-

marked last season’s team. Junior SS Hunter Haas and junior 1B Jack Moss are bright sports with respective averages of .404 and .347, but the rest of the lineup hasn’t kept up with them. Aside from Moss, senior 2B Austin Bost leads last year’s returners with a .242 mark. Freshman OF Jace LaViolette and freshman UTL Kaeden Kent have shown upside with averages of .259 and .254, respectively, while freshman OF Kasen Wells totes a .375 on-base percent-

age.

This weekend carries large implications for both teams, as the winner will pick up some sorely needed wins and momentum, while the loser will likely find itself in the basement of the SEC standings. First pitch at Olsen Field on Friday, March 31, is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday’s contests will begin at 7 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

Student athlete arrested for streaking

By Grant Gaspard @grant_gaspard

Two moons came out on the night of March 28.

One is the natural satellite for the earth, reflected by the light from the sun. The second came from the lower part of a Texas A&M cross-country runner’s body, reflected by the overhead lights from Blue Bell Park.

In the middle of A&M’s matchup against Texas, a streaker who the A&M University Police Department identified as agricultural communications and journalism freshman Spencer Blake Werner, jumped the fence near the first base foul line and streaked across Olsen Field with a sign that stated “Longhorns Suck!” and “Trump 2024” painted across his chest.

As he made his way to the infield, he flashed the stands and sprinted his way to the center field fence without a security guard in sight. When he jumped over the fence, a police officer was waiting to take him into custody.

According to an article from the Houston Chronicle, Werner, who was named the SEC’s freshman runner of the week on Sept. 20, 2022, was charged with criminal trespass, disorderly conduct/exposure and was suspended from the cross-country and track and field teams.

According to Brazos County jail records, the Wilmette, Illinois native was released on Wednesday, March 29 after his $2,800 bail was posted.

The Greening Law Group

In 2013 I came to Texas A&M University with big dreams.

I was majoring in Economics and was excited about my future in the corporate world.

All of those hopes and dreams seemed to come to screeching halt when I was arrested for possession of Adderall and Eszopiclone and charged with a felony crime.

I received both pills from a friend thinking it wasn’t a big deal.

Texas law states you must have a prescription to possess, which I did not have.

Luckily, I was given a second chance to reach my dreams. I was able to graduate from Texas A&M in 2017.

Don’t make the same mistake as me. You may not be as lucky.

Please see your doctor to get a prescription for any controlled substance.

You could go to jail just like me.

~ Zach K. Class of 2017

While wearing a Darth Maul mask, freshman Spencer Werner exposes himself on the field during Texas A&M’s game against Texas at Olsen Field on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

Freshman LHP Shane Sdao (38) pitches from the mound during Texas A&M’s game against Texas at Olsen Field on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

Robert O’Brien— THE BATTALION

A&M softball walks off Lamar 3-2

Maroon and white successfully clip Cardinal’s wings

By Eli Meschko @elimeschko

The No. 21 Texas A&M softball team bounced back from the Sunday, March 28, loss at Kentucky with a 3-2 win over Lamar on Tuesday, March 28, at Davis Diamond in College Station.

The Aggies struggled offensively with runners in scoring position, leaving six runners on base throughout the game. The pitching and defense held strong by only allowing two runs off of six hits, one walk, 11 strikeouts and not having an error in the game.

In the first, the Cardinals quickly hit backto-back singles to start the game. Senior LHP Madison Preston then struck out the next two batters and forced a groundout to sophomore SS Koko Wooley to end the top half of the inning.

After a one-out walk by senior RF Morgan Smith and a single by junior C Julia Cottrill, junior 1B Trinity Cannon grounded out to advance Cottrill and Smith to second and

third. A groundout straight to the pitcher by Wooley ended the inning with the Aggies leaving two runners in scoring position.

In the bottom of the second with one out, junior 3B Rylen Wiggins singled on a bunt, stole second and advanced to third on a wild throw on the throwdown. Wiggins was left stranded on third to close the inning after a strikeout and a lineout.

In the top of the third, after Preston walked the leadoff batter, she was replaced by sophomore LHP Emiley Kennedy. Preston ended the day allowing four hits, walking one and striking out four Cardinals. Kennedy made quick work of the next three Cardinals to end the inning.

Freshman LF Keely Williams singled to open the bottom half of the inning. After a wild pitch and a bad throw to second, Williams advanced to third base with no outs. Smith was hit by a pitch and was thrown out stealing second, but that allowed Williams to score from third. The inning ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of the Aggies.

The score remained the same until the top of the fifth. The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead off of two solo home runs from senior 3B Sam Bean and junior PH Mikaila Kenney.

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“One of the balls they hit hard was a good pitch,” coach Trisha Ford said. “Sometimes when you’re throwing 70, that’s going to happen.”

In the top of the sixth, Kennedy was relieved by sophomore RHP Emily Leavitt. Leavitt got the next two Cardinals to fly out and then struck out the last batter to close the top half of the inning.

The maroon and white picked up a much needed run to tie the game and were very close to taking the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Cottrill opened it up with a leadoff double and crossed the plate after Wooley hit a single past the shortstop. Freshman designated player Aiyana Coleman singled into right field, advancing Wooley to third base with one out.

Wooley would be thrown out at home plate after a bunt by Wiggins. Junior PH Grace Uribe was then hit by a pitch to make the bases loaded with two outs. The Aggies would leave the bases loaded to close the inning after freshman 2B Amari Harper hit a line drive that was caught by the Cardinals’ third baseman.

Lamar had a good chance to retake the lead in the top of the seventh. The Cardinals’

leadoff batter was hit by a pitch and after a sacrifice bunt, they had a runner in scoring position with one out. Leavitt struck out the next batter on three straight strikes and got the last batter to look at a strike three to head into the bottom of the seventh tied 2-2.

As the leadoff batter going into the game, Williams led off the bottom of the seventh with a hit into left center field that resulted in a double.

“I feel comfortable in [the leadoff spot],” Williams said. “I’ve been doing it quite often in certain different levels of softball.”

Smith then advanced Williams into third with a sacrifice bunt. After Cottrill was intentionally walked, Cannon stepped up big with a hit down the left foul line that landed fair to walk off a 3-2 Aggie win.

“I wouldn’t have been in that situation in the first place if Keely didn’t start off with a double,” Cannon said. “We just had to scrap that one out as a team and not play anyone too lightly during midweeks.”

The Aggies continued midweek play on Wednesday, March 29, against Incarnate Word at Davis Diamond, as A&M secured its 21st win of the season.

Sophomore LHP Emiley Kennedy (11) pitches against the Lamar Cardinals at Davis Diamond on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.