March 26, 2004

Box Score

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas A&M's Jason Meyer struckout a career-high 11 batters and the tenth-ranked Aggies scored four runs in the second to defeat Texas Tech 5-2 on Friday night at Olsen Field in what was the Big 12 opener for the Red Raiders.

Texas A&M (22-5; 2-2) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single from catcher Craig Stinson. Stinson's single up the middle scored third baseman Austin Boggs who reached on a two-out single.

The Aggies took a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second as they mounted a four-run two out inning. Shortstop Cliff Pennington kept A&M alive when he punched a 2-2 single into left field that plated Andrew Baldwin who reached on a leadoff walk. Boggs delivered the big blow of the inning when he belted a three-run home run over the wall in left-center field.

A&M left-hander hurler Jason Meyer allowed the first hit of the game in the top of the fifth when Madison Edwards singled to right-center field. Despite allowing the hit, Meyer recorded two strikeouts in the inning to end any potential threat. Meyer reached 10 strikeouts in the inning and became the first opposing pitcher since Wade Townsend of Rice (at Minute Maid Classic on Feb. 13) to strikeout 10 or more Tech players in a game.

Texas Tech (16-8; 0-1) finally got on the board in the top of the sixth as center fielder Michael Mask hit a one-out double to right field and Josh Brady brought him home with a single to left field making the score 5-1.

Brady led off the top of the ninth with a triple to center field and then scored as Josh Haney recorded a sacrifice fly to right field. That would be as close as Tech would get as the Aggies got base running interference call and reliever Austin Creps struckout Madison Edwards to end the game.

Jason Meyer earned the win for Texas A&M and moved to 5-0 on the year as he struckout a career-high 11 batters and allowed just three hits and one earned run in seven innings of work. Dallas Braden fell to 1-2 on the year as he surrendered five earned runs on nine hits and but struckout seven in six innings of work.

Texas Tech and Texas A&M will play again on Saturday evening as first pitch from Olsen Field is scheduled for 7 p.m. Senior right hander Steven Thomas will get the start for Texas Tech while Texas A&M will counter with junior left hander Zach Jackson. The Red Raiders and the Aggies will conclude the three-game series at 1 p.m. on Sunday.