April 21, 2008

College Station, TX (UWIRE) -- The Texas A&M baseball team overcame a six-run deficit against Baylor in the top of the ninth inning Sunday to help the Aggies to a 13-12 extra innings victory at the ballpark by the Brazos.

The victory completed the Aggies fourth consecutive series sweep of 2008 and twelfth consecutive conference victory, both of which match records set by the 1971 A&M baseball club.

The Bears took a commanding 6-2 lead in the fifth inning after left fielder Adam Hornung hit a three-run homer to the left of the batter's eye in center field.

The Aggies mounted a comeback effort in the seventh and eighth innings by scoring two in each inning. A&M Head Coach Rob Childress was ejected from the game in the top of the eighth inning while arguing an interference call at second base with the Aggies trailing 9-4.

"Rob got tossed trying to back his team," said A&M assistant Matt Deggs, who took over the coaching duties following the ejection.

Trailing 9-6, A&M closer Travis Starling entered the game to start the eighth inning and gave up three runs, giving the Bears a 12-6 lead.

"We said, 'Until we make the last out, we're not done here yet'," Deggs said. "They played their hearts out and believed in each other. Until we made that last out, we were still in it."

With their backs against the wall the Aggies caught fire in the ninth and scored six runs on five hits. Catcher Brian Ruggiano scored the tying run from second base with one out on right fielder Brooks Raley's single to right field. Two quick outs later and the game was headed to extra innings.

After struggling in the eighth, Starling threw the final three innings of the game without giving up a run on two hits.

Center fielder Kyle Colligan scored the go ahead run from second base with two outs in the top of the eleventh inning on second baseman Blake Stouffer's single to left field.

"I was praying that I could get another shot to win the game," Colligan said about being two of the outs in the ninth inning and coming to the plate in the eleventh. "Luckily I got a knock through the infield and came around to score."

The Aggies entered the bottom of the eleventh inning nursing a narrow one-run lead. Starling started the inning by walking Bears shortstop Beamer Weems. The next batter lined out to left.

Baylor catcher Gregg Glime then doubled to center and advanced to third on the throw, but Weems was thrown out by Colligan and Stouffer when he arrived at the plate seconds too late. The final out of the game came when Glime was caught off the bag at third, giving the Aggies the victory.

A&M improves to 33-7 and 15-3 in conference play. Thanks to a 6-3 loss Sunday by Nebraska, A&M has now stretched their Big 12 lead to two and a half games.

(C) 2008 The Battalion via UWIRE