Four-run third by the Aggies proved the difference in game two of the series
4/14/2017
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Alabama baseball suffered an 8-2 loss to Texas A&M on Friday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide moves to 14-21 overall and 2-12 in Southeastern Conference play after tonight's game, while the Aggies claim the series victory.
"Their guy (Corbin Martin) was very good tonight," said Alabama head coach Greg Goff. "He was dominant, and his fastball was coming out of his hand pretty good – that's the kind of guy that this league is full of. There are going to be nights where you run into those guys, and I thought he had really good stuff. I just thought that he beat us tonight."
Texas A&M starter Corbin Martin (4-2) picked up his fourth win of the season with 7.0 innings of one-run baseball. The Aggie right-hander allowed four hits and issued a pair of walks while striking out five. Crimson Tide starter Dylan Duarte (2-3) was chased early after 4.1 innings pitched for the loss, handing the ball over to his bullpen. The threesome of Zac Rogers, Mike Oczypok and Sam Finnerty combined to hold the Aggie offense to just one run over the final 4.2 frames.
The Aggies struck first on Friday, scoring one in the top of the first. A leadoff single followed by a groundout placed a runner in scoring position for A&M, before a two-out single brought across the game's first run to give A&M a 1-0 lead after the first half inning. In the top of the third, the Aggies put up four runs on a pair of hits, including a three-run home run, to move their advantage to 5-0.
Texas A&M made it a 7-0 game in the fifth, putting together a pair of runs to widen the margin. The Aggies used a leadoff single and a wild pitch to put a man in scoring position before a single in the next at-bat allowed one run to cross. After a walk and a single loaded the bases for the Aggies, a sacrifice fly scored the inning's second run, pushing the A&M advantage to seven.
The Crimson Tide was able to strike for one in the sixth to trim the deficit. Walker McCleney began inning with a leadoff single before stealing second and advancing to third on an errant throw by the A&M catcher. Chandler Avant followed with a sac fly to right to plate McCleney, placing the Tide in the scoring column and making it a 7-1 game after six full.
A pair of hits for A&M in the top of the eighth added the Aggies' final tally, before the Tide crossed a run of its own in the home half of the inning. After drawing a one-out walk, Avant moved into scoring position on a groundout. One out later, Cobie Vance collected his second hit of the day with a RBI-double to right to score Avant and make it 8-2 game, the eventual final.
Vance led Crimson Tide in hitting, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI. Avant, Chandler Taylor and McCleney each contributed one hit apiece, with Avant adding an RBI to the team totals. Avant and Vance each extended their hitting streaks, with Avant now sitting at nine consecutive with a knock and Vance right behind with a hit in eight straight contests.
Tomorrow's series finale is set for a 2 p.m. CT start at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama will look to senior right-hander Nick Eicholtz, while Texas A&M calls on sophomore righty Stephen Kolek. Fans can catch all of the action Saturday on SEC Network+.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
4/14/2017
TUSCALOOSA, AL – Alabama baseball suffered an 8-2 loss to Texas A&M on Friday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide moves to 14-21 overall and 2-12 in Southeastern Conference play after tonight's game, while the Aggies claim the series victory.
"Their guy (Corbin Martin) was very good tonight," said Alabama head coach Greg Goff. "He was dominant, and his fastball was coming out of his hand pretty good – that's the kind of guy that this league is full of. There are going to be nights where you run into those guys, and I thought he had really good stuff. I just thought that he beat us tonight."
Texas A&M starter Corbin Martin (4-2) picked up his fourth win of the season with 7.0 innings of one-run baseball. The Aggie right-hander allowed four hits and issued a pair of walks while striking out five. Crimson Tide starter Dylan Duarte (2-3) was chased early after 4.1 innings pitched for the loss, handing the ball over to his bullpen. The threesome of Zac Rogers, Mike Oczypok and Sam Finnerty combined to hold the Aggie offense to just one run over the final 4.2 frames.
The Aggies struck first on Friday, scoring one in the top of the first. A leadoff single followed by a groundout placed a runner in scoring position for A&M, before a two-out single brought across the game's first run to give A&M a 1-0 lead after the first half inning. In the top of the third, the Aggies put up four runs on a pair of hits, including a three-run home run, to move their advantage to 5-0.
Texas A&M made it a 7-0 game in the fifth, putting together a pair of runs to widen the margin. The Aggies used a leadoff single and a wild pitch to put a man in scoring position before a single in the next at-bat allowed one run to cross. After a walk and a single loaded the bases for the Aggies, a sacrifice fly scored the inning's second run, pushing the A&M advantage to seven.
The Crimson Tide was able to strike for one in the sixth to trim the deficit. Walker McCleney began inning with a leadoff single before stealing second and advancing to third on an errant throw by the A&M catcher. Chandler Avant followed with a sac fly to right to plate McCleney, placing the Tide in the scoring column and making it a 7-1 game after six full.
A pair of hits for A&M in the top of the eighth added the Aggies' final tally, before the Tide crossed a run of its own in the home half of the inning. After drawing a one-out walk, Avant moved into scoring position on a groundout. One out later, Cobie Vance collected his second hit of the day with a RBI-double to right to score Avant and make it 8-2 game, the eventual final.
Vance led Crimson Tide in hitting, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI. Avant, Chandler Taylor and McCleney each contributed one hit apiece, with Avant adding an RBI to the team totals. Avant and Vance each extended their hitting streaks, with Avant now sitting at nine consecutive with a knock and Vance right behind with a hit in eight straight contests.
Tomorrow's series finale is set for a 2 p.m. CT start at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama will look to senior right-hander Nick Eicholtz, while Texas A&M calls on sophomore righty Stephen Kolek. Fans can catch all of the action Saturday on SEC Network+.
-UA-
RTR,
Diamond Tide :biga:
