LUBBOCK, Texas – Junior third baseman Adam Smith homered for the second straight day while the No. 5 Texas A&M baseball team’s offense pounded out 21 hits en route to a 14-8 victory over Texas Tech in the rubber match of a three-game Big 12 series at Dan Law Field.
The win ensured the Aggies (24-8; 9-3 Big 12) remain in a tie atop the Big 12 standings with Texas and gave them their first series win in Lubbock since 1997. It also marked the first time A&M has claimed four straight series victories to start Big 12 play.
“This week started off pretty bad, losing two one-run games in a row, but for us to respond and find a way to win yesterday as well as get our offense going today, it was good to see,” head coach Rob Childress said. “Tech came storming back against Stripling but he was able to get us through six innings and that was important because he wasn’t able to do that last weekend. After that we were able to run away from them offensively and we hadn’t been able to do that in a while.”
Smith’s team-high four RBI highlighted an outstanding day by the Aggie offensive which featured four players (Krey Bratsen, Jacob House, Kenny Jackson and Charlie Curl) with three hits.
The Aggies, who entered the day leading the Big 12 in fielding percentage, were able to overcome a season-high four errors by cracking the 20-hit mark for the second time this season.
For the third consecutive game in the series, the Aggies took an early lead by scoring in the top of the first inning. Right fielder Tyler Naquin and Bratsen led off the frame with back-to-back singles. After a fielder’s choice left runners on the corners, Naquin stole home as House took a big lead off first and drew the attention of the Tech defense.
An RBI single to right center by Curl later in the inning made it 2-0 Texas A&M.
Texas Tech struck back in the home half of the first as it plated a pair of runs. The Red Raiders were aided by two Aggie errors and a strikeout wild pitch in the frame as they tied the game at 2-2.
During the top of the second, the A&M offense remained hot as the Aggies batted around in the frame to plate four runs and regain the advantage at 6-2. Senior catcher Gregg Alcazar, who went 2-for-2 in the contest before being lifted for a defensive replacement, began the inning off by doubling down the left field line. Three straight singles followed to drive in a pair of runs and Jackson made it 6-2 Aggies with a two-run double.
Another Aggie error paved the way for two unearned runs to come across in the home half of the second and Tech was later able to climb within a run at 6-5 on a RBI single by shortstop Kelby Tomlinson in the bottom of the third.
For the second game in the row, Smith made an impression on the scoreboard as he connected on a three-run home run in the top of the fourth off Tech reliever Duke von Schamann.
Sophomore outfielder Brandon Wood led off the top of the fifth with his first long ball of the season and the Aggies plated three more runs in the inning which featured run-scoring at bats by House, Matt Juengel and Smith to make the score 13-5.
Tomlinson singled home two runs in the bottom of the fifth as the scrappy Tech squad cut the Aggie lead to 13-7.
Texas A&M starter Ross Stripling (6-2) notched his team-leading sixth win on the mound with a gritty six inning performance that featured a season-high nine strikeouts.
House, who scored a career-high four runs, made the score 14-7 in favor of the visitors with a RBI single in the top of the eighth.
Aggie relievers Nick Fleece and Joaquin Hinojosa combined to pitch the final three innings, allowing Tech just one run in the bottom of the ninth.
Texas Tech starter Robbie Kilcrease (3-2) took the loss on the mound for the Red Raiders, who fell to 20-13 on the year with a 5-7 mark in Big 12 play.
The Aggies are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Houston to face No. 22 Rice in a 6:30 p.m. match up at Reckling Park. The game will be televised on Comcast Sports Southwest – check with your cable provider for availability in your area.