HOUSTON - Facing a four-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning, Houston put three runs on the board and had the game-winning run on base, but Texas A&M was able to escape with a 4-3 win Monday, sending the Aggies on to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Championship.

Houston needed two wins against the Aggies in order to advance to the Super Regionals, and things were not promising early as Texas A&M built an early 2-0 lead and limited the Cougars to only two singles through the first seven innings.

A solo home run by pinch-hitter Baine Schoenvogel in the top of the ninth proved to be the difference as Houston nearly came all the way back from a 4-0 deficit. Outfielder Corey Julks got the rally started with a one-out home run over the leftfield wall, and the Cougars got their next two hitters on when Grayson Padgett reached on an infield hit and Joe Davis was hit by a pitch.

A potential double-play ball that was misplayed by the Aggies loaded the bases, and Cooper Coldiron followed with a sharp base hit to left that moved everyone up 90 feet and cut the deficit to 4-2. Nick Slaughter poked a fly ball to right that made it a one-run game, and the Cougars' Connor Wong nearly ended it in dramatic fashion when he drilled the first pitch he saw over the fence in left, but just outside the foul pole. The Aggies ended it with a strikeout, however, to move on deliver Houston's second loss of the regional.

Julks finished the day 2-for-4 and was the only Cougar player with multiple hits. Pitcher Nolan Bond made his first start of the season and allowed eight hits and three runs in 6.2 innings with four strikeouts.

Houston's season ends with a 42-21 record as the Cougars finished as one of three American Athletic Conference teams to register at least 40 wins in 2017.