Aggies Drop Series Finale to Texas Tech, 13-7

Sunday, March 21

College Station

1:05 PM

Texas A&M

15-4, 2-1

Texas Tech

9-12, 1-2

Texas Tech

Texas A&M

Mar 21, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

March 21, 2010

Final Stats

Texas Tech batted around in both the fifth and sixth innings as the Red Raiders downed No. 23 Texas A&M, 13-7, Sunday afternoon before 2,937 fans at Olsen Field.

The Aggies led, 1-0, entering the fifth, but Tech scored six in that frame and five more in the sixth to build an 11-2 lead. The loss dropped A&M to 15-4 and 2-1 in Big 12 play, while Texas Tech improved to 9-12 and 1-2 and snapped a seven-game skid.

"It was a tough afternoon for us," head coach Rob Childress said. "We had some opportunities--I felt we had some very, very good at-bats against Chad Bettis. But in those fifth and sixth innings we made some mistakes that don't show up as errors on the scoreboard and Tech cashed in with big hits when they needed them."

Consecutive doubles by Brodie Greene and Joe Patterson in the first staked A&M to an early 1-0 lead off Bettis, but the score would remain the same until the fifth.

Kevin Whitehead began the decisive inning with a line drive just past the glove of Brodie Greene at short. One out later, Bo Altobelli dropped a bunt single on the infield and Jamodrick McGruder followed with a sharp bad-hop single past first base to load the bases. A walk to Joey Kenworthy tied the game and chased Aggie starter Clayton Ehlert.

After the wind killed a potential foul out off the bat of Michael Reed in front of the third-base dugout, the Red Raider right fielder cashed in with a high-chop single on the right side of the infield that gave Tech a 2-1 lead. Barrett Barnes followed with a bases-clearing triple to the base of the wall in center, and Scott LeJeune tacked on an RBI single to make the score 6-1.

An RBI groundout by Greene in the fifth pulled the Aggies back within four, but Tech would answer by batting around for the second straight inning.

Reliever Shane Minks got two quick outs before hitting a batter and allowing a double inside the bag at first to Jamodrick McGruder, giving way to Tyler Dyer. Joey Kenworthy followed with a double just over the glove of Scott Arthur in center to score two more runs. Barrett Barnes would add an RBI single one batter later and Scott LeJeune followed with a two-run double down the left field line to make the score 11-2.

The offensive outburst turned out to be more than enough for Bettis (3-2), who tossed eight-plus innings on the day to earn the victory.

A&M scored twice in the sixth on an RBI single by Brett Parsons and a bases-loaded hit by pitch of Andrew Collazo, cutting the deficit to 11-4.

Two more would come home in the last of the seventh on a dropped line drive to left off the bat of Joaquin Hinojosa, pulling the Aggies to within five runs, but they would get no closer. Texas Tech got the runs back in the eighth on a single by Ashby. A&M loaded the bases to start the ninth, scoring once on a fielder's choice, but Colt Farrar got the final two outs of the inning to seal the win.

The Aggie offense totaled 13 hits on the day, with two apiece coming from Greene, Patterson and Gregg Alcazar. Barnes was 3-for-5 with four RBIs to pace a 15-hit Red Raider attack.

Ehlert was saddled with the loss, allowing five hits and four runs over 4 1/3 innings of work. He walked two and struck out two. The Aggie bullpen had its first rough outing of the season, as six relievers combined to allow nine runs and 10 hits over the remainder of the afternoon.

Bettis picked up the win after going eight-plus and allowing 11 hits, seven runs (three earned) and four walks while punching out seven.

Texas A&M returns to action on Tuesday when the Aggies host Northwestern State in a single game at Olsen Field. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

NOTES: Despite the loss, A&M took the series over Tech, pushing the Aggies' all-time series record against the Red Raiders in College Station (Southwest Conference and Big 12) to 18-0-2 ... Brodie Greene extended his career-high hit streak to 15 games ... Joe Patterson ran theirs to eight games ... Patterson has now hit safely in all but one game this year and reached safely (hit, walk or HBP) in 33 straight games dating back to last season ... Texas Tech's 13 runs and 15 hits were both season highs by an Aggie opponent ... the Aggie offense has now had 10 or more hits in 13 of 19 games this season ... game time temperature was 50 degrees with clear skies ... swirling winds blew at a steady 30 miles per hour in from center and from the left to right field corner.