Texas A&M 12, Texas Tech 1

Saturday, March 15

College Station

2:00 PM

Texas A&M

15-3, 2-0

Texas Tech

8-8, 0-2

Texas Tech

Texas A&M

Mar 15, 2008 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

March 15, 2008

Texas A&M exploded for a combined 11 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to lead the 22nd-ranked Aggies to a 12-1 win over Texas Tech Saturday afternoon before 4,269 fans at Olsen Field.

The victory was the sixth in a row for A&M (15-3, 2-0 Big 12). The Red Raiders fell to 8-8 and 0-2.

The Aggies totaled just five hits in the fourth and fifth, but made them count. Of the six batters who drew walks and two who were hit by pitches, all scored. A&M finished the afternoon with 10 hits.

?Last night we had our opportunities with runners on and at times didn?™t get the big hit,? A&M coach Rob Childress said. ?As the game went along today, we got the big hits and were able to put them away, maintain our focus for nine innings and not let them creep back into it.?

With the score deadlocked at one entering the bottom of the fourth, Darby Brown cashed in one of two walks that led off the frame with a double inside the first-base line to give the Aggies the lead. It was the first of his game-high three hits on the afternoon.

One out later, a walk to Kevin Gonzalez loaded the bases for Kyle Colligan, who was hit by a pitch to drive in Ruggiano and make the score 3-1. Dane Carter then grounded out to second to drive in another run, and Blake Stouffer followed with a first-pitch single up the middle to plate two more and bump the A&M lead to five.

A six-run fifth would blow the game open. The Aggies loaded the bases to start the inning, and Brodie Greene punched a single through the left side to drive in A&M?™s seventh run. Gonzalez then drove a ball through the legs of third baseman Doug Thennis to plate two more.

After another pitching change, Carter drew a bases-loaded walk to make the score 10-1 and, one out later, a two-run single by Jose Duran gave the Aggies their final two of the day.

True freshman Barret Loux (1-0) picked up his first career victory in his fourth start of the season. He lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed four hits, one run and three walks while striking out three. After Loux hit a Red Raider batter in the second inning, he retired 12 of the next 14 he faced to give the Aggies a chance to take the lead.

Senior Blake Rampy put up 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief, while redshirt freshman Kevin Cravey worked a scoreless ninth.

Texas Tech starter Nathan Karns (1-2) was tagged with the loss, lasting 3 1/3 and giving up six runs. Karns allowed just two hits but walked six and hit two.

?It?™s easy to pat yourself on the back after a win like we had last night and not come out and ready to play,? Childress said. ?We came out ready to play today, and I was proud of that.?

The series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Aggies will send sophomore Scott Migl (1-0, 3.68 ERA) to the mound, while Tech will counter with true freshman Chad Bettis (2-0, 3.38). The game will air locally on WTAW-AM 1620.

The new ?Take Me Out to the Ballgame? ticket promotion is in effect as well, through which kids 12 and under will receive free admission with a paid adult. There is a limit of four kids per adult and all seats are general admission. Following Sunday?™s contest, all kids in attendance will be able to run the bases.

TEXAS A&M POSTGAME NOTES:

?* With victories in the first two games, the Aggies won the series with the Red Raiders for the sixth time in Big 12 play. A&M is now 6-5-1 in Big 12 series with Texas Tech.

?* Texas A&M is now 8-4 all-time in its first conference series of the year.

?* Dane Carter went 2-for-3 with two RBI on the day, extending his career hit streak to 16 games.

?* Darby Brown tied a season and career high with three hits.

?* Blake Stouffer tied a season high with three RBI.

?* Game-time weather was 78 degrees and clear, with winds blowing in from center at 10-15 miles per hour.