Walk-offs. Pitcher’s duels. Slugfests.
Texas A&M’s series against Dallas Baptist had it all.
With an 8-2 win Saturday at Olsen Field, the No. 17 Aggies took a 2-1 lead in the three-game series against the Patriots, winning their third consecutive series. A&M improved to 31-16 overall.
In the Thursday game, the Aggies took 1-0 lead in the first inning before falling behind 3-1.
Sophomore Brooks Raley started on the mound for A&M. The southpaw pitched 7.2 innings, giving up seven hits, three runs and striking out nine batters.
The Aggies started to rally in the seventh inning with one run. A&M scored another run in the eighth to tie the game 3-3.
In the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded, junior second baseman Brodie Greene knocked a single to left center field, scoring a runner from third base to give the Aggies a walk-off win.
“It’s not how you start, its how you finish,” A&M Head Coach Rob Childress said. “We’ve said that about our season and tonight’s game was typical of that.”
A&M failed to keep the momentum in the second game of the series. After a scoreless first inning on Friday, the game turned into a home run derby. The two teams combined for seven home runs as the Aggies lost 11-10.
“We gave them free baserunners, and they definitely took advantage of it,” Childress said. “Give them credit. They have a good lineup, and what they did tonight is no surprise to me.”
DBU started the scoring with a run in the second inning and a pair of runs in the third inning. A&M answered with a three-run home run by sophomore third baseman Caleb Shofner in the bottom of the third inning.
The Aggies took a 6-3 lead in the fourth inning with a three-run home run by Greene.
In the sixth inning with the bases loaded, DBU junior shortstop Ryan Goins connected on the third pitch he saw, hitting long fly ball over the centerfield fence for a grand slam and giving the Patriots a 9-4 lead.
After the Patriots hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to take a 10-4 lead, senior first baseman Luke Anders hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Greene from third base. Junior designated hitter Joe Patterson then hit a three-run home run to tie the game 10-10.
The Aggies failed to take the lead in the final innings after DBU sophomore designated hitter Jason Krizan hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, giving the Patriots an 11-10 lead.
The A&M pitching staff was in control on Saturday.
Sophomore Barret Loux and junior Alex Wilson combined on the mound to beat DBU 8-2.
Loux started the game, pitching six innings, allowing one run, four hits and striking out three batters. Wilson replaced Loux in the seventh inning and gave up four hits, one run and struck out three batters.
Loux has had sporadic starts because of a minor injury, but said he felt fine Sunday.
Greene led the Aggies with a pair of home runs in the game. He hit one in the fifth inning and one in the seventh inning.
A&M returns to Olsen Field Tuesday to play Sam Houston State and former Aggie Head Coach Mark Johnson. He is in his third season with the Bearkats.