Aggies Even Series with No. 23 Kansas State, 10-2

Saturday, May 22

College Station

2:05 PM

Texas A&M

35-19-1, 13-12-1

Kansas State

35-17, 14-11

Kansas State

Texas A&M

May 22, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

May 22, 2010

Final Stats

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M scored seven times in its final three at-bats to blow open a tight game and defeat 23rd-ranked Kansas State, 10-2, Saturday afternoon before 3,764 fans at Olsen Field.

Ross Stripling kept the high-powered Wildcat offense in check, allowing just one run and fanning eight over seven strong innings. The victory moved the Aggies to 35-19-1 and 13-12-1 in Big 12 play, while K-State fell to 35-17, and 14-11.

"The difference between yesterday and today was finishing innings," A&M coach Rob Childress said. "They had some opportunities to get some big hits and change the game with them, but Ross Stripling rose to the occasion. He gave us seven strong innings and was just outstanding. He's been just as much a constant for us this year as Barret Loux has. Every Saturday he takes the ball and gives us a solid start. Ross was the story of the day today."

Joe Patterson got the offense rolling with a two-out, two-run double to the wall in left center off starter Kyle Hunter.

The teams traded runs in the middle innings before Aggie third baseman Andrew Collazo knocked Hunter out of the game in the sixth, launching his second homer of the weekend and third of the year - a two-run shot - over the fence in left to make the score 5-1.

A&M got the cushion it was looking for with four two-out runs in the seventh. Kevin Gonzalez singled through the left side to drive home a pair, Brandon Wood added a bad-hop single to third base and Collazo came home on a miscue to lift the lead to eight runs.

Collazo had a game-high three RBIs, while Patterson and Adam Smith added two hits apiece. Carter Jurica and Chase Graskewicz combined for seven of the Wildcats' nine hits on the day.

"It was a solid day all the way around offensively," Childress said. "Guys had some great at bats all the way up and down the lineup. Again down at the bottom of the lineup, Gonzalez got a big two-out hit and Collazo had a big two-out hit for us. That was good to see."

Stripling (6-3) allowed eight hits and three walks over the seven frames, while Michael Wacha allowed a run over the final two innings. Kyle Hunter (8-2) lost for just the second time all season, giving up six hits and five runs over 5.1 innings of work.

The series and the regular season conclude on Sunday with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. The Aggies will honor seniors Joe Patterson and manager R.L. Florance prior to the start of the game. COX Sports TV will broadcast the contest regionally.

POSTGAME NOTES: Texas A&M ran its record in the month of May to 11-3, a school record for victories in the month ... the Aggies improved to 5-8 against ranked opponents on the year ... A&M recorded double-figure hits (11) for the 11th time in 14 games in the month of May ... Brodie Greene extended his hit streak to 12 games with a fifth-inning single ... Caleb Shofner saw his first action at third base since April 23 when he came in as a defensive replacement in the fifth inning, a span of 18 games ... Rollie Fingers defeated Al Hrabosky in the championship of the "Best Moustache in Baseball" challenge, a popular feature on 12th Man TV throughout the season.

Kansas State........ 000 010 010 - 2 9 3 (35-17, 14-11 Big 12)

Texas A&M........... 200 102 41X - 10 11 0 (35-19-1, 13-12-1 Big 12)

Pitchers: Kansas State - Hunter, Kyle; Applegate, Matt(6); Daniel, Ryan(7); Sturges, Tyler(7)

and Dellasega, Daniel. Texas A&M - Stripling, Ross; Wacha, Michael(8) and Gonzalez, Kevin.

Win-Stripling, Ross(6-3) Loss-Hunter, Kyle(8-2) T-2:52 A-3764

HR KS - Jurica, Carter (11).

HR TA - Collazo, Andrew (3).

Weather: 92, partly cldy, wind S20(25)