Spring Break
Raley leads Aggies to 5-2 win
By: Brad Cox
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Sports
It was the Brooks Raley Show on Friday night at Olsen Field.
In a 7-2 win against Utah, the sophomore pitcher started on the mound, batted in the third spot of the lineup, played as the designated hitter for two innings and played right field for one inning.
At the plate, Raley was 4-for-4 with three singles and a triple, scoring three runs. On the mound, the right-hander threw six innings, striking out eight batters and giving up two runs on five hits.
"I was kind of nervous before the game," Raley said. "It's hard going from pitching to hitting, but it worked out."
It was an offensive game for the Aggies. After a 2-1 win against Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday, A&M Head Coach Rob Childress said his team was still trying to find its identity offensively. After scoring seven runs on ten hits against Utah, Childress said there is still work to be done.
"Tonight was a pretty good performance," Childress said. "But our expectations as coaching staff and an offense, we know we're a lot better than we've played. We're 10-2 and we still feel like we have room for improvement. That's a good feeling."
The Aggies struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Junior second baseman Brodie Greene was hit by a pitch then Raley single to right-center field. Utah center fielder Cooper Blanc bobbled the ball, allowing Greene to score and Raley to reach second.
Raley was then scored from second when senior first baseman Luke Anders singled to right field.
The Utes answered in the top of the second when first baseman Austin Jones was scored from third base on a one-out grounder. Utah's other run of the game was in the top of the sixth inning when catcher C.J. Cron hit a home run over the left-center field wall on the first pitch he saw.
Sophomore third baseman Caleb Shofner hit his second home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning. However it was his only hit of the game, dropping his batting average to .500.
Raley's big hit of the game was a triple to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning. The right fielder bobbled the ball and Raley turned at third base to go home. He scored on the play at the plate, giving the Aggies a 5-2 lead.
A&M put two more runs on the board in the sixth and seventh inning to complete the score.
Senior reliever Kyle Thebeau relieved Raley in the top of the seventh inning. He faced six batters in two complete innings pitched, striking out two.
Freshman Ross Stripling, who had struck out all six batters he faced in 2009, closed the game in the ninth inning without giving up a run.
The Aggies play Utah against on Saturday.
In a 7-2 win against Utah, the sophomore pitcher started on the mound, batted in the third spot of the lineup, played as the designated hitter for two innings and played right field for one inning.
At the plate, Raley was 4-for-4 with three singles and a triple, scoring three runs. On the mound, the right-hander threw six innings, striking out eight batters and giving up two runs on five hits.
"I was kind of nervous before the game," Raley said. "It's hard going from pitching to hitting, but it worked out."
It was an offensive game for the Aggies. After a 2-1 win against Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday, A&M Head Coach Rob Childress said his team was still trying to find its identity offensively. After scoring seven runs on ten hits against Utah, Childress said there is still work to be done.
"Tonight was a pretty good performance," Childress said. "But our expectations as coaching staff and an offense, we know we're a lot better than we've played. We're 10-2 and we still feel like we have room for improvement. That's a good feeling."
The Aggies struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Junior second baseman Brodie Greene was hit by a pitch then Raley single to right-center field. Utah center fielder Cooper Blanc bobbled the ball, allowing Greene to score and Raley to reach second.
Raley was then scored from second when senior first baseman Luke Anders singled to right field.
The Utes answered in the top of the second when first baseman Austin Jones was scored from third base on a one-out grounder. Utah's other run of the game was in the top of the sixth inning when catcher C.J. Cron hit a home run over the left-center field wall on the first pitch he saw.
Sophomore third baseman Caleb Shofner hit his second home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning. However it was his only hit of the game, dropping his batting average to .500.
Raley's big hit of the game was a triple to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning. The right fielder bobbled the ball and Raley turned at third base to go home. He scored on the play at the plate, giving the Aggies a 5-2 lead.
A&M put two more runs on the board in the sixth and seventh inning to complete the score.
Senior reliever Kyle Thebeau relieved Raley in the top of the seventh inning. He faced six batters in two complete innings pitched, striking out two.
Freshman Ross Stripling, who had struck out all six batters he faced in 2009, closed the game in the ninth inning without giving up a run.
The Aggies play Utah against on Saturday.
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