Aggies Cruise Past Winthrop, 12-4

Saturday, March 6

College Station

2:05 PM

Texas A&M

8-2

Winthrop

7-2

Winthrop

Texas A&M

Mar 06, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

March 6, 2010

Joe Patterson [mp3]

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M pounded out 15 hits and got another strong outing from starter Ross Stripling to down Winthrop, 12-4, on Saturday afternoon before 4,037 fans at Olsen Field.

The Aggies (8-2), who won their fifth in a row, pounced on Eagle starter Robert Lake for five runs in the first inning, capitalizing on an error and never looking back. Winthrop (7-2) got as close as three runs in the fourth, but A&M answered with a two-spot of their own in the inning and cruised to victory from there.

"It was a great day offensively for us," head coach Rob Childress said. "We got off to a great start in the first, built on that lead and had an answer for everything they did. It was a good game today."

Brodie Greene's sacrifice fly to deep right field would give A&M a lead it would not relinquish.

Joe Patterson and Joaquin Hinojosa would add run-scoring singles in the inning, and catcher Gregg Alcazar blasted a two-run double to center field to build a quick 5-0 Aggie advantage. Alcazar would add a two-out RBI single to right in the third that extended the lead to six.

A pair of A&M errors in the fourth led to three Winthrop runs, making the score 6-3, but a triple by Greene and ensuing balk put Texas A&M back ahead by five runs.

It would be more than enough offense for Stripling (3-0), who picked up his third win in as many starts this year, going a career-high 6 2/3 innings. The sophomore gave up six hits and four runs (one earned) while striking out a career-best nine. He did not walk a batter.

"Ross has been very good all three times out," Childress said. "I've been very proud of him every time. Our team knows he's going to keep us in the game, get us off to a good start and make the other team earn everything they get. I couldn't ask for more than what he's given us the last three weeks."

A&M would add three more in the seventh thanks to an RBI double by Arthur and a two-run double by Caleb Shofner, extending the lead to 12-4.

Six of the Aggies' starters would get two hits on the afternoon, led by two-RBI performances by Greene, Shofner and Joe Patterson. Alcazar and Arthur, batting in the top two spots in the lineup, combined to swipe five bases and score six runs.

Winthrop starter Robert Lake (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing seven hits and seven runs (three earned) over three-plus innings of work. He walked two and fanned a pair.

Michael Wacha, Dylan Mendoza and Denny Clement allowed just one hit and punched out three in 2 1/3 innings of relief out of the Aggie bullpen.

The series concludes on Sunday with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. Junior Nick Fleece (1-0, 2.70) will take the mound and is scheduled to face Winthrop junior Wade Newman (2-0, 3.86). Fans can listen locally on WTAW-AM 1620. Following the game, the Aggies will be signing autographs.

NOTES: Joe Patterson extended his career-long hit streak to 15 games with a first-inning single ... Texas A&M's eight stolen bases were the most by an Aggie team since June 1, 2007, when they swiped eight against Le Moyne in the first game of NCAA Regional play ... A&M's 15 hits were a season high (previous best 14, Feb. 20 vs Seton Hall).