March 14, 2009
Box Score | Quotes
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - A pair of two-run singles proved fatal for fifth-ranked Baylor in Saturday night's series opener at third-ranked Texas A&M as the Bears dropped at 6-2 decision in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams. Baylor (10-3, 0-1) saw its four-game winning streak end. Texas A&M (12-4, 1-0) has won five straight against the Bears and seven of the last eight meetings.
Brett Parsons gave Texas A&M a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second; it was a lead the Aggies never relinquished. Luke Anders walked to lead off the inning and stole second. After Kyle Colligan was hit by a pitch, Brodie Greene put both runners in scoring position. Parsons followed with a two-run single through the right side.
Baylor's Adam Hornung answered with a one-out solo homer in the fourth, but that was all the offense for the Bears until the ninth inning. Texas A&M starter Brooks Raley (4-0) allowed one run on four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts over 8.0 innings for the win.
Texas A&M pushed its lead to 4-1 in the seventh. Kyle Colligan led off with a triple just past the glove of a diving Aaron Miller in right field. After Greene was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch, Volz struck out Parsons for the first out of the inning. Kevin Gonzalez followed with a jam-shot, two-run single to center on a 3-2 pitch. Volz eventually recorded two more strikeouts to get out of the inning, but the damage had been done.
Volz (1-1) was saddled with the loss. He allowed four runs on three hits and three walks with a season-high nine strikeouts over 7.0 innings. However, Volz also hit four batters, a career high. Three of the four runs he allowed reached base by virtue of a walk or being hit by a pitch.
The Aggies added a pair of runs in the eighth off reliever Willie Kempf. Scott Arthur had an RBI groundout, and Nick Anders added an RBI single.
Baylor got a run in the top of the ninth as Joey Hainsfurther drew a full-count walk and scored on Miller's double to center.
No one for either team had a multiple-hit game, but Colligan scored three times.
Baylor and Texas A&M continue the series Sunday at Olsen Field; first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. CDT. The Bears send southpaw Aaron Miller (1-0, 3.96 ERA) to the mound, while the Aggies counter with right-hander Alex Wilson (1-2, 0.96 ERA).
NOTES: Texas A&M leads the all-time series 146-113-1, including a 71-35-1 advantage at College Station. €¦ Baylor holds a 20-17 edge in Big 12 regular-season meetings. €¦ Baylor is 24-25 against Texas A&M during head coach Steve Smith's tenure. €¦ Baylor has lost three straight Big 12 openers. Prior to this skid, the Bears had won six straight Big 12 openers. €¦ Volz has not earned a victory in a Big 12 start since April 15, 2007, at Kansas; he is 0-7 with six no decisions in that span. Baylor has averaged 2.1 runs of support in his last eight conference starts. €¦ Miller extended his career-long hitting streak to nine games with his ninth-inning double. He also has reached safely in each game this season. €¦ Raynor Campbell (four games) and Brooks Pinckard (three games) both extended hitting streaks, while Hainsfurther saw his career-long, six-game streak end.
