If No. 13 Texas A&M baseball fans had any doubts going into the Aggies’ series against Big 12 leader Kansas, sophomore pitcher/outfielder Brooks Raley helped dispel them Friday night at Olsen Field.
In a 3-0 win, Raley struck out a career-high 12 batters while batting 2-3 at the plate and scoring one run.
Since A&M Head Coach Rob Childress started Raley on the mound and in the lineup against Utah on March 6, the southpaw has been an everyday player, starting either on the mound or in the outfield.
He has played in 22 of the Aggies’ 25 games and leads the team with a 5-0 record, 1.80 ERA and a .405 batting average.
“It was a good one tonight, we needed that one bad,” Raley said. “This week has been a big bounce back for us. We had some big plays and big hits tonight. All the little things we did right today.”
Raley’s biggest highlight came in the sixth inning when the Aggies were leading 1-0.
Facing a 2-2 count from Kansas starter Shaeffer Hall, Raley led the inning off with what was officially scored a double. But when Jayhawks’ centerfielder Jason Brunansky misplayed the ball, Raley kept going.
He rounded third base and slid into home, popping up and pumping his fist after giving A&M a 2-0 lead.
“When you see coach [Matt] Deggs over there jumping up and down waving his arm, you know its time to go,” Raley said. “I was [surprised]. I didn’t know where the ball was.”
On the mound, Raley cruised for seven innings, holding Kansas to three hits, walking two and striking out 12. The Jayhawks never got past second base.
The Aggies’ first run was unearned in the third inning. Freshman right fielder Randall Thorpe, starting his third consecutive game, led the inning off with a single. Raley later hit a single to left field moving Thorpe to second base.
Kansas left fielder Nick Faunce misplayed the ball and Thorpe rounded second and third base to score on the error.
A&M’s third run was the only earned run of the game. In the seven inning, junior third baseman Nick Anders led off with a double to right field. Thorpe hit a sac bunt to move Anders to third base and Anders scored when senior center fielder Kyle Colligan hit an infield single.
Sophomore reliever Nick Fleece made his argument to be the Aggies closer in the final 1.2 innings of the game. While earning his second save of the season, Fleece struck out three batters and did not allow a hit. In eight appearances and 7.1 innings of work, Fleece has not allowed a run.
“It was an outstanding game with two outstanding pitchers going at it,” Childress said. “Brooks was magnificent, not only on the mound but at the plate as well. He created havoc on the bases. Nick Fleece came in and slammed the door for us. I was proud of everything we did tonight.”
GAME NOTES:
*Junior shortstop Brodie Greene made a return to the lineup after being hit in the face by a pitch against New Mexico on March 18. He went 0-4 at the plate.
*Kansas had three hits in the game. The Jayhawks combined for 28 hits in a three-game sweep of No. 1 Texas in their previous series.
*Thorpe’s single in the third inning was his second of his career. Thorpe sat out the first 40 percent of the season because of a NCAA rules violation.
*The Aggie pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts, marking the third time they have struck out at least 16. Junior Alex Wilson and freshman Ross Hales combined for 17 against Wright State on Feb. 21.
*Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, were in attendance.