Spring Break
Early runs put A&M win out of reach
By: Brad Cox
Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Sports
The No. 13-ranked Texas A&M baseball team failed to capitalize on a late rally Sunday afternoon at Texas Tech, losing 10-6 and dropping the series, 2-1.
The Aggies fell to 20-11 overall and 7-5 in Big 12 play and trail Big 12-leading Oklahoma by one game.
Aggie sophomore starter Barret Loux (1-1) struggled early, giving up two first-inning runs before being replaced by junior Clayton Ehlert in the second inning. Ehlert did worse on the mound, giving up five runs in his only inning of work.
After losing the Friday game 4-3 and winning the Saturday game 13-7, A&M was down 7-0 two innings into the rubber match of the series.
Freshman pitcher Ross Hales went to the mound to start the third inning. He pitched three scoreless innings before giving up a run in the sixth inning and being pinned with two runs in the eighth, though he did not finish the inning. Hales gave up three runs and struck out four batters in five innings.
The Aggies scored their first run in the third inning when freshman shortstop Adam Smith knocked his fifth home run of the season on a solo shot to chip away at the Red Raider lead. The hit extended a season-high five game hit streak for Smith.
A&M struck again in the fourth inning when sophomore right fielder Brett Parsons doubled to left field, scoring junior designated hitter Joe Patterson from second base.
Trailing 8-2 in the top of the eighth inning, the Aggies scored a pair of runs to make it a four-run game, but Texas Tech answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, stretch its lead to 10-4.
A&M rallied for two runs in the ninth inning when senior first baseman Luke Anders hit a two-out single to center field, scoring Smith and senior center fielder Kyle Colligan.
However the Aggies failed to keep the momentum, grounding out in the next at bat to end the game.
Tech senior pitcher Miles Morgan (2-4) started the game and threw six innings, holding the Aggies to two runs, five hits and striking out two. Red Raiders' sophomore Chad Bettis entered the game in the seventh inning, giving up four runs in three innings of work before earning the save.
Anders, Patterson and Smith paced the Aggies with two hits each and Anders and sophomore catcher Kevin Gonzalez each hit two RBIs. Gonzalez was 1-for-3 in the game. Anders led the Aggies in the series with six hits and seven RBIs.
A&M stranded eight baserunners in the game, capping a series in which the Aggies stranded 28 baserunners total.
The Aggies will return to Olsen Field Tuesday to play Houston. The previous time the two teams met, A&M escaped Minute Maid Park with a 5-3 victory in the final game of the Houston College Classic.
The Aggies fell to 20-11 overall and 7-5 in Big 12 play and trail Big 12-leading Oklahoma by one game.
Aggie sophomore starter Barret Loux (1-1) struggled early, giving up two first-inning runs before being replaced by junior Clayton Ehlert in the second inning. Ehlert did worse on the mound, giving up five runs in his only inning of work.
After losing the Friday game 4-3 and winning the Saturday game 13-7, A&M was down 7-0 two innings into the rubber match of the series.
Freshman pitcher Ross Hales went to the mound to start the third inning. He pitched three scoreless innings before giving up a run in the sixth inning and being pinned with two runs in the eighth, though he did not finish the inning. Hales gave up three runs and struck out four batters in five innings.
The Aggies scored their first run in the third inning when freshman shortstop Adam Smith knocked his fifth home run of the season on a solo shot to chip away at the Red Raider lead. The hit extended a season-high five game hit streak for Smith.
A&M struck again in the fourth inning when sophomore right fielder Brett Parsons doubled to left field, scoring junior designated hitter Joe Patterson from second base.
Trailing 8-2 in the top of the eighth inning, the Aggies scored a pair of runs to make it a four-run game, but Texas Tech answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, stretch its lead to 10-4.
A&M rallied for two runs in the ninth inning when senior first baseman Luke Anders hit a two-out single to center field, scoring Smith and senior center fielder Kyle Colligan.
However the Aggies failed to keep the momentum, grounding out in the next at bat to end the game.
Tech senior pitcher Miles Morgan (2-4) started the game and threw six innings, holding the Aggies to two runs, five hits and striking out two. Red Raiders' sophomore Chad Bettis entered the game in the seventh inning, giving up four runs in three innings of work before earning the save.
Anders, Patterson and Smith paced the Aggies with two hits each and Anders and sophomore catcher Kevin Gonzalez each hit two RBIs. Gonzalez was 1-for-3 in the game. Anders led the Aggies in the series with six hits and seven RBIs.
A&M stranded eight baserunners in the game, capping a series in which the Aggies stranded 28 baserunners total.
The Aggies will return to Olsen Field Tuesday to play Houston. The previous time the two teams met, A&M escaped Minute Maid Park with a 5-3 victory in the final game of the Houston College Classic.
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