No. 23 Aggies Down Tech, 6-3, in Big 12 Opener

Friday, March 19

College Station

6:35 PM

Texas A&M

14-3, 1-0

Texas Tech

8-11, 0-1

Texas Tech

Texas A&M

Mar 19, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

March 19, 2010

Final Stats

Rob Childress [mp3]

Brodie Greene [mp3]

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - No. 23 Texas A&M pounded out 13 hits and got strong pitching from Barret Loux and John Stilson to down Texas Tech, 6-3, in the Big 12 opener for both teams Friday night before 4,006 fans at Olsen Field.

Tech took an early lead off Loux in the first, scoring two runs on two hits, but would be held to just four hits the rest of the way as the Red Raiders struck out a season-high 15 times.

The victory was the Aggies' 11th in their last 12 games as they improved to 14-3 and 1-0 in league play. Texas Tech, meanwhile, fell to 8-11 and 0-1.

"We took advantage of some mistakes they made," A&M coach Rob Childress said. "We had 13 hits and only scored six runs, and that shows you they did a great job matching up all game. I was proud of us though. Barret settled in and had a great performance, and overall it was a good night."

Tech shortstop Joey Kenworthy put the Red Raiders on the board in the top of the first with a two-run home run to right, his second of the season.

A&M took the lead for good with a three-run second off Tech starter John Neely. Kenny Jackson began the frame with a single up the middle and moved to second one out later on a wild pitch. Joaquin Hinojosa drove him home five pitches later with a single back through the box to pull the Aggies within one.

Following a strikeout, Brodie Greene then delivered a two-run single through the left side to put Texas A&M ahead, 3-2.

"That's what we talk about when we say to take advantage of mistakes," Childress said. "We've had some teams take advantage of the mistakes we've made, and it was nice for us to do that."

In the third, Hinojosa would deliver a two-out RBI single to left center that pushed the Aggie advantage to two.

The Aggies took advantage of another error to pad the lead in the sixth. Hinojosa reached on a miscue to begin the frame, and scored on a pinch-hit RBI double into the left field corner by Brett Parsons.

With two on and two out in the A&M seventh, a wild pitch by Brennan Stewart had both Aggie runners breaking. The throw to third by catcher Jeremy Mayo went wide of the bag and down the left field line, allowing Caleb Shofner to score easily and make the score 6-2.

The Red Raiders made some noise in the ninth off Stilson, capitalizing on a Scott LeJeune lead double to drive home a run, but the Aggie closer fanned pinch hitter Nick Popescu for the final out to nail down the victory.

"Wins in the Big 12 are hard to get," Childress said. "They don't give them out, and you have to go earn them. You have to earn all 27 outs in the Big 12, without question."

Hinojosa, Jackson and Collazo had two hits apiece for the Aggies, while Hinojosa and Greene each drove in a pair. Every spot in the Texas A&M batting order had at least one hit on the night.

Loux (3-1) picked up the win, lasting 5 2/3 innings and giving up four hits, two runs and a walk while striking out 10.

Neely (0-1) took the loss, allowing eight hits and four runs (two earned) over three innings. He walked one and fanned four. Four Tech relievers combined to allow five hits and two unearned runs over the final five innings of the game. On the night, only two of A&M's six runs were earned.

The series continues on Saturday with first pitch now at 6:35 p.m. The teams moved the game back several hours due to anticipated inclement weather (original 2:05 p.m. start). Sophomore Ross Stripling (3-1, 4.57) is scheduled to face Tech junior Bobby Doran (0-1, 4.50). The game will air locally on WTAW-AM 1620.

NOTES: Barret Loux has fanned 10 or more hitters in three consecutive outings after entering the season with just two career 10-plus strikeout games ... Kenworthy's first-inning homer snapped a streak of 16 straight innings by Loux without allowing an earned run ... Brodie Greene extended his career-high hit streak to 13 games with a second-inning single ... Caleb Shofner ran his to six games with a base hit in the seventh ... Joe Patterson's streak is now six after a first-inning single ... he has now hit safely in all but one game this year and reached safely (hit, walk or HBP) in 32 straight games dating back to last season ... the Aggies are now 8-6 all-time in Big 12 openers, and have won four in a row.