(#1) Texas A&M 8, Wright State 5

Sunday, February 22

College Station

12:05 PM

Texas A&M

4-0

Wright State

0-4

Wright State

Texas A&M

Feb 22, 2009 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

Feb. 22, 2009

Final Stats

Post Game Audio [mp3]:
Head Coach Childress
INF Shofner
OF Raley
RHP Minks

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Sophomores Caleb Shofner and Brooks Raley had four hits each on Sunday afternoon as No. 1 Texas A&M rallied for an 8-5 win over Wright State and a series sweep before 3,207 fans at Olsen Field.

"It's tough to beat anyone four games in a row in three days," A&M coach Rob Childress said. "For us to respond after giving up that four-spot in the sixth was impressive. We had an opportunity to fail twice this weekend and we responded both times."

Shofner finished the weekend hitting .900 (9-for-10) and scoring 11 of the Aggies' 42 runs. He reached base safely his final seven times of the weekend.

A&M (4-0) took an early 1-0 lead in the third. After singles by Shofner and Raley earlier in the frame, a pair of two out walks--the latter to Dylan Petrich--forced Shofner home to make the score 1-0.

The Raiders would tie the game in the fourth inning. R.J. Gundolff led off the inning with a single to left and was caught trying to steal second, but the throw down to second was dropped and the error allowed the Raider shortstop to move into scoring position. Following a strikeout, Quentin Cate lined a base hit to left to make the score 1-1.

WSU batted around in a four-run sixth that gave the Raiders their largest lead of the weekend at 5-1.

With a run home already in the frame and a runner at first, a double and intentional walk would load the bases and chase Aggie starter Clayton Ehlert. The next batter, Casey McGrew, lined the first offering from reliever Nick Fleece through the right side to drive home Gundolff and make the score 3-1. Fleece then fanned the next batter and went to a full-count against Aaron Fields. With all three runners breaking on the pitch, Fields chopped the ball to Adam Smith, who tried to beat Jeff Mercer to second for a force out but was unable to do so. Two runs scored on the play to extend the WSU lead to four.

As they had most of the weekend, the Aggies (4-0) would make a statement in their half of the sixth inning. A&M sent 13 men to the plate and scored five times to take back the lead at 6-5.

A leadoff single by Petrich followed by a Brooks Raley and Luke Anders followed with consecutive RBI singles, putting the Aggies back on top.

Texas A&M would extend the lead to 8-5 in the eighth, as Raley doubled in Shofner, stole third and scored moments later on a balk.

Travis Starling would work a three-up, three-down ninth inning for his first save of the season and 12th of his career.

Besides Shofner's 4-for-4 day, A&M also picked up a four-hit outing from Raley, who drove in two. Petrich was a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored as well.

Tyler Dyer and Shane Minks both picked up their first holds of the year, combining for two innings of one-hit shutout work out of the pen.

Ehlert went 5 1/3 in his first start of the year, allowing four hits, five runs (four earned) and one walk while striking out five.

"Clayton Ehlert gave us a solid start," Childress said. "He was efficient, about as efficient as you could be, and he deserved better. Our bullpen was outstanding...Tyler Dyer, Travis Starling were as good as you can be."

Schum (0-2) was saddled with his second loss of the weekend, giving up four hits and three earned runs in just 1/3 of an inning of work. Woytek also did not earn a decision, giving up seven hits, three runs and two walks in five-plus innings of work. He fanned four batters on the afternoon.

Texas A&M will return to action on Tuesday when the Aggies open a mid-week series with Centenary (0-0). First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. and the game will air locally on Sports Radio 1150 The Zone. True freshman Ross Hales (0-0, 0.00) is slated to make the first start of his A&M career. The series will conclude on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m.

"These games are huge," Childress said. "Centenary's got a good club. They played us well twice last year, and they didn't open up this weekend. So we'll be facing their best pitching. They are locked and loaded and it's their opener on Tuesday night."