Aggies Drop Finale to DBU, 8-6

Saturday, May 8

College Station

2:05 PM

Texas A&M

28-18-1

Dallas Baptist

25-22

Dallas Baptist

Texas A&M

May 08, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

May 8, 2010

Final Stats

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Ryan Enos' grand slam fueled a five-run fifth as Dallas Baptist salvaged the final game of the series with an 8-6 win over Texas A&M Saturday afternoon before 3,659 fans at Olsen Field on Military Appreciation Day.

The Aggies (28-18-1), who got three hits apiece from Joe Patterson, still claimed the series after wins on Thursday (10-6) and Friday (4-2). The Patriots snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 25-22.

"Our inability to finish in game three is extremely disappointing," A&M coach Rob Childress said. "We had our opportunities today, but we didn't get it done."

Trailing 3-2 entering the fifth, DBU got three singles wrapped around a fly-ball out to load the bases for Enos. The senior drove a 1-1 pitch from Clayton Ehlert the opposite way and over the fence in left for his team-leading 16th home run of the season.

"That's what great hitters do, they get big hits when it matters," Childress said. "We threw him a change-up, and it was up, and he didn't miss it."

The Patriots tacked on another run in the frame to open up a four-run lead, but Alcazar would get the run back in the Aggie half of the sixth with a 2-out RBI single to left.

DBU cashed in a huge insurance run in the eighth, loading the bases with two outs on a walk, single and intentional walk and then scoring on a full-count hit by pitch to make the score 8-6.

A&M responded with two in their half of the inning, as Adam Smith scored on a balk and Joaquin Hinojosa drove home Patterson to cut the deficit to two and chase reliever Jared Stafford from the game. Aaron Gilbreath entered and, after giving up a single and a double steal, fanned the final batter of the inning with the tying run at second to hold the two-run lead. Gilbreath then induced a game-ending double play one inning later to nail down the save.

Besides Patterson and Alcazar, Hinojosa had two hits and an RBI for the Aggies, who matched Dallas Baptist with 12 hits on the afternoon. Enos had a game-high four RBIs while Jason Krizan went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Tyler Robbins and Austin Elkins added two hits apiece for DBU.

Ehlert (2-6) suffered the loss, allowing eight hits and seven runs over 4.1 innings He walked a batter and did not strike anyone out. Shane Minks retired the final four Patriot batters in order.

Stafford improved to 4-1 with the win, giving up three runs and four hits over three innings of relief. Gilbreath allowed one hit and punched out two over 1.2 frames of work for his second save of the season.

Texas A&M returns to action on Tuesday when the Aggies hit the road to battle Houston. First pitch at Cougar Field on the UH campus is set for 6:30 p.m.

"It's a busy week," Childress said. "We go down to Houston on Tuesday, who's playing very well, then we have Centenary here, who's fighting to win their league. On Thursday, we take off for Stillwater. We've got nine regular-season games left and none are more important than Tuesday's game."

POSTGAME NOTES: With a third-inning triple, Joe Patterson extended his hit streak to nine games with a third-inning single ... Patterson now has six straight multi-hit games ... Joaquin Hinojosa's second-inning single extended his career-high hit streak to six ... Gregg Alcazar's three hits matched a career high ... Dallas Baptist coach Dan Heefner picked up his 100th career win on Saturday ... just under 100 veterans and active duty servicemen and women were honored in a pregame on-field ceremony as part of Military Appreciation Day.