Texas A&M
9-3
Houston
6-5
Naquin's Cycle Powers No. 9 Aggies over Houston, 11-4
Mar 06, 2011 | Baseball
March 6, 2011
HOUSTON - Sophomore right fielder Tyler Naquin notched the first cycle by an Aggie since 2007 and led a revival of the No. 9 Texas A&M baseball team's offense in an 11-4 victory over Houston on Sunday at Minute Maid Park in the finale of the Houston College Classic.
The 7,076 fans that were in attendance saw the Aggies collect a season-high 15 hits and Naquin become the first A&M batter to hit for the cycle since Blake Stouffer accomplished the feat on June 3, 2007, against Ohio State during NCAA Regional play at Olsen Field.
Naquin finished 4-for-6 in the contest with a career-high six RBI and joined teammate John Stilson on the Houston College Classic All-Tournament Team.
A&M wasted no time in making an impression on the scoreboard against the Cougars as the Aggies pushed across two runs in the top of the first inning. Freshman Krey Bratsen reached on a one-out walk and scored in the next at bat on a double by Naquin, who himself crossed the plate following a single off the bat of junior first baseman Jacob House.
House was also a key cog in the Aggie bats' resurgence as he enjoyed a career-best 4-for-5 night at the plate.
The Aggies made it 4-0 in the top of the second as Naquin again made an impact with a two-run triple to the right field corner. The three-bagger was his team-leading fourth of the year.
UH pulled to within a single run and knocked A&M starter Ross Hales out of the ballgame with a three-run bottom of the second that left the score 4-3.
For Hales, it was his second consecutive short outing as he lasted only 1.1 innings, allowing a single hit but walking three. The redshirt sophomore lefty threw 33 pitches and was charged with three earned runs.
The Cougars roared back in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 4-4 on an RBI single by John Cannon.
The A&M bullpen would shut the door on UH from that point forward as a Nick Fleece, Estevan Uriegas and Joaquin Hinojosa allowed just two hits during the game's final 5.2 innings. Fleece (2-1) picked up his second win this season out of the A&M bullpen as the Fort Worth native tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while logging two strikeouts.
During the top of the fifth, the Aggies recaptured the lead as freshman Jace Statum pinch hit for Brandon Wood and drove in Matt Juengel, who had walked to begin the frame, with a sacrifice fly. Senior shortstop Kenny Jackson added a run to the A&M total with an RBI single to make it 6-4 Aggies.
Naquin blasted his first home run of the year, a shot into the right field seats, with a runner on in the top of the sixth to extend the advantage to 8-4.
Adam Smith plated the first of three A&M runs in the top of the seventh with a sac fly that was followed by RBI singles from Bratsen and Naquin to give the Aggies 11 runs on the scoreboard.
Texas A&M baseball is back in action Tuesday when it hosts Centenary in a 6:35 contest at Olsen Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fleece, Nick (2-1)
L: Chase Dempsay (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Naquin, Tyler 1
3B: Naquin, Tyler 1
HR: Naquin, Tyler 1
RBI: Bratsen, Krey 1 ; Naquin, Tyler 6 ; House, Jacob 1 ; Statum, Jace 1 ; Jackson, Kenny 1 ; Smith, Adam 1
SH: Gonzalez, Kevin 1 ; Curl, Charlie 1
SF: Statum, Jace 1 ; Smith, Adam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Collazo, Andrew 2 ; Bratsen, Krey 3 ; Naquin, Tyler 2 ; Juengel, Matt 1 ; House, Jacob 1 ; Statum, Jace 1 ; Jackson, Kenny 1
SB: Collazo, Andrew 1 ; House, Jacob 1
Batting:
RBI: Landon Appling 2 ; John Cannon 2
SH: Codey Morehouse 1 ; Travis Trial 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chase Jensen 1 ; Jake Runte 1 ; Codey Morehouse 1 ; Travis Trial 1
SB: Landon Appling 1 ; Ryan Still 1
