April 28, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- A four-run second inning proved to be the difference for No. 18 Texas A&M as the Aggies defeated Baylor 5-3 in Big 12 Conference action Saturday at Olsen Field. Baylor (24-21, 7-13) has lost four of its last five in conference play, while Texas A&M (35-10, 11-8) clinched the three-game series win with the victory.

Texas A&M vies for the series sweep in Sunday's series finale. The Bears have not been swept by the Aggies since the 1996 season. Baylor has two sweeps of Texas A&M since then (2002 and 2005).

Craig Stinson got the second inning started with a solo home run to left-center. Later in the frame, Blake Stouffer delivered a two-out, two-run single to center. Texas A&M plated another run on a first-and-third stolen base attempt as Ben Feltner scored from third before Stouffer was tagged out in a rundown between first and second.

Matt Czimskey pulled the Bears back to within one run in the third, scoring Beamer Weems and Raynor Campbell on a three-run home run to left-center. It was Czimskey's fourth round-tripper of the season, all coming since March 25 and all coming in Big 12 play.

However, that was as close as the Bears would get. Parker Dalton pushed the Aggies' lead to 5-3 with a solo home run in the fourth. Texas A&M starter David Newmann allowed just one hit and faced two over the minimum after Czimskey's home run before leaving the game following a Weems' walk with one out in the eighth.

Newmann (7-1) earned the victory, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over 7.1 innings. Kyle Thebeau retired the game's final five batters in order with one strikeout for his fifth save of the season.

Baylor starter Randall Linebaugh (2-5) lasted just 2.0 innings and allowed four runs on five hits and one walk with two strikeouts. Willie Kempf worked 4.1 innings in relief, surrendering one run on four hits and four walks with five strikeouts. Tim Matthews worked the final 1.1 innings perfectly with one strikeout.

The series concludes Sunday at Olsen Field with a 1 p.m. CDT first pitch. It will be a duel of freshman right-handers as Baylor sends Kendal Volz (5-1, 4.98 ERA) to the mound and Texas A&M turns to Clayton Ehlert (1-0, 1.50 ERA).

NOTES:  Texas A&M leads the all-time series 141-112-1, including a 70-34-1 advantage in games played at College Station. The Bears are 20-14 against the Aggies since the start of the Big 12, including a 19-13 advantage in regular-season Big 12 meetings. Baylor is 23-17 against Texas A&M during head coach Steve Smith's tenure. ... Czimskey extended his career-long hitting streak to six games. Campbell (three games) and Matt Sodolak (three games) also extended hitting streaks. ... Chase Gerdes saw his career-long 12-game hitting streak end. Gerdes' nine-game streak in Big 12 play also was snapped. ... Paul Miles saw his career-long five-game hitting streak end. ... Gerdes played in the 91^st Big 12 game of his career, passing Josh Ford (2002-05) for sole possession of seventh place on Baylor's all-time list.