FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Texas A&M Aggies were unable to notch the timely hit on Sunday and dropped the series finale to the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks, 2-1, at Baum Stadium.
The Razorbacks jumped on the Aggies early for a home run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Matt Vinson drew a five-pitch walk and Tyler Spoon followed with a single to the gap in right centerfield. Brandon Wood gunned Vinson down out at third base on the play, but Spoon advanced to second on the throw. Brian Anderson laced a single through the right side of the infield to knock in Spoon for the 1-0 lead.
Texas A&M (22-19, 7-11 SEC) offered an immediate response to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning. Troy Stein launched a 1-0 pitch over the leftfield fence for a leadoff home run.
Arkansas (27-15, 11-7 SEC) reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Brett McAfee lashed a single into rightfield to start the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Joe Serrano. Vinson followed with a single to right field and after Spoon drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases, Anderson plated McAfee with a sacrifice fly to rightfield for the 2-1 lead.
The Aggies got two runners on board with one out in both the sixth and seventh innings but were not able to notch an equalizer with double plays ending both frames. Krey Bratsen reached on a two-out walk in the eighth, but the Aggies were once again unable to tie the contest.
Rafael Pineda (3-4) was strapped with the loss for Texas A&M. He allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks over 4.0 innings. Parker Ray pitched 3.1 innings of shutout relief, scattering three hits while striking out two.
Randall Fant (3-1) earned the win for Arkansas. He yielded one run on two hits and three walks while striking out eight over 6.0 innings. Colby Suggs retired all three batters he faced in the ninth, including two strikeouts to earn his ninth save of the season.
Stein logged two of the Aggies’ three hits in the game, gong 2-for-4 with one home run.
Serrano, Vinson and McAfee each had two hits for Arkansas.
The Aggies continue their eight-game road swing on Tuesday, traveling to San Marcos for a 6:30 pm contest against the Texas State Bobcats.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics