Aggies Fall in 11 to No. 3 Texas

Friday, April 16

Austin, Texas

6:05 PM

Texas A&M

20-12-1, 6-6-1

Texas

28-7, 11-2

Texas A&M

Texas

Apr 16, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

April 16, 2010

Final Stats

Rob Childress [mp3]

Barret Loux [mp3]

Adam Smith [mp3]

AUSTIN - Sam Stafford scored on a fielding error in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift No. 3 Texas to a 4-3 win over Texas A&M Friday evening before 7,876 fans at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

The Longhorns (28-7, 11-2 Big 12) loaded the bases to start the inning on two singles and a walk, but reliever Estevan Uriegas induced a shallow pop to right and a pop out to shortstop. Pinch hitter Jonathan Walsh then chopped a ball at third, where it was misplayed as Stafford scored the game-winner. The Aggies lost their fourth in a row and fell to 20-12-1 and 6-6-1.

"It's a disappointing loss to say the least, and that's an understatement," A&M coach Rob Childress said. "I think we were 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position, so we definitely had our opportunities. Give Texas credit though, their relievers came in and did a good job and kept us there."

The game was a pitcher's duel for the majority of the evening between A&M's Barret Loux and Texas' Taylor Jungmann. Loux allowed a solo home run to Tant Shepherd in the first and a two-run shot on a 12-pitch at-bat to Kevin Lusson in the seventh, and that was all the scoring for either team until the Aggies began to rally in the eighth.

Adam Smith doubled off UT closer Chance Ruffin to begin the frame, and Andrew Collazo brought him home two pitches later on an RBI single up the middle. A&M would load the bases with two outs but Ruffin got a strikeout to get out of the jam.

In the ninth, an error and a Matt Juengel double put the tying run at second base with no outs. Smith once again cashed in off Ruffin, lining a double to the wall in right center to tie the game at three. After a walk and a fielder's choice, Ruffin again got two big outs to prevent A&M from taking its first lead of the evening.

Texas loaded the bases off Aggie closer John Stilson in the ninth on a one-out hit batter and two two-out walks, but Stilson got a groundout to force the game to extras.

Texas A&M left two on in the 10th in the Aggies' last scoring chance of the evening. On the night, A&M left 12 on base, seven in scoring position.

Two great defensive efforts highlighted the early innings of the game. In the third, A&M right fielder Joaquin Hinojosa robbed Jordan Etier of a double with a tremendous over-the-shoulder running catch near the wall in right.

The Aggies had a chance to score in the fourth, taking advantage of an error, sacrifice and hit by pitch to put the go-ahead run on base. Kenny Jackson flared a pitch into shallow center field, but a diving catch by Connor Rowe kept A&M off the board.

Loux scattered five hits and three walks over seven innings of work. He gave up three earned runs and punched out eight Texas hitters. Shane Minks (1-1) suffered the loss in relief, as he was charged with the unearned run that ended the game.

Jungmann tossed seven shutout innings allowing two hits and two walks on the night while fanning 11. Stayton Thomas (3-0) earned the victory with 1.2 shutout innings.

"(Barret and Taylor) both pitched a great, great game," Childress said. "Their hitter Lusson had a great at-bat there against Barret, and I thought he made a good pitch. But Lusson didn't miss it. Those two guys did a great job and they pitched like they were supposed to tonight."

Shepherd recorded three of Texas' eight hits on the night while driving in a run. Smith was a team-best 2-for-5 with two RBIs to pace the Aggie offense.

The series now shifts to College Station with first pitch on Saturday at Olsen Field set for 5:35 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on FOX Sports Net (check local listings).