April 15, 2008
Rice used a six-run fifth to open up a close game and lift the seventh-ranked Owls to an 11-2 victory over No. 8 Texas A&M Tuesday night before 5,570 fans at Olsen Field.
The loss ended a 13-game win streak for the Aggies, who fell to 30-7. Rice won its eighth straight and moved to 28-10.
?You?â„¢ve got to give Rice credit,? A&M coach Rob Childress said. ?Mike Ojala pitched a great game, and they took advantage of every mistake we made. One team showed up ready to play tonight, and one team showed up and was just okay. We?â„¢ve got to come out and try to get better tomorrow and focus on Baylor this weekend.?
Both teams hit solo home runs in the first inning, as the Owls?â„¢ Jared Gayhart led off the contest with his third long ball of the year. Aggie second baseman Blake Stouffer answered with a one-out blast to right, his fourth of the season.
Rice would tack on three more off A&M starter Scott Migl in the third, as cleanup hitter Aaron Luna sent a one-out, three-run shot over the fence in left to make the score 4-1.
The Owls pushed their lead to nine with a six-run fifth. Aggie pitching walked three batters and hit one in the frame, all of which came around to score. Catcher Adam Zornes?â„¢ three-run double to right center and a two-run single by pinch-hitter Derek Myers accounted for most of the damage.
Kyle Colligan hit his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to left, leading off the eighth.
Migl (2-2) suffered the loss, allowing six hits and six runs (five earned) while walking one and fanning five.
Ojala improved to 3-0, going six innings and allowing four hits, one run and one walk while striking out six.
Texas A&M returns to Big 12 play this weekend when the Aggies face Baylor in a split series. Friday?â„¢s game will be played at Olsen Field with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. The series then moves to Waco and Baylor Ballpark, as Saturday?â„¢s game will begin at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday?â„¢s series finale at 2 p.m.
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME NOTES:
?* The 5,570 in attendance marked the largest non-conference regular-season crowd at Olsen Field since April 5, 2005 (5,575 vs Sam Houston State).
?* Blake Stouffer extended his hit streak to 13 games, a new career high, with his first inning home run.
?* Jose Duran extended his hit streak to seven games.
?* The loss snapped a 23-game, mid-week non-conference win streak for A&M?...the last team to beat the Aggies in a mid-week contest was Houston on April 19, 2006.
?* Rice?â„¢s 11-run output was the most by an Aggie opponent this season.
?* Texas A&M fell to 1-1 on the year against ranked opponents.
?* Texas A&M now leads the all-time series, 175-89-2?...Rice has won the last five meetings at Olsen Field.
?* Game-time temperature was 76 degrees with clear skies and winds blowing out to left center at seven miles per hour.