May 24, 2009

Final Stats |  Notes

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Texas Tech's Big 12 Championship hopes came to an end tonight as No. 19 Texas A&M scored nine runs in the first three innings and went on to notch an 11-4 win over the Red Raiders on Saturday night at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.

The loss eliminates Texas Tech from the Big 12 Championship as the Missouri Tigers will advance from pool two to face the Texas Longhorns on Sunday afternoon. Texas Tech ends its season with an overall record of 25-32.

Texas A&M first baseman Luke Anders set the tone for the game in the top of the first when he blasted a two-out solo home run over the right field wall to stake the Aggies to an early 1-0 lead. The home run was his 13th of the season and his third against the Red Raiders this season.

The Aggies then went on to score four runs in the top of the second to build a 5-0 advantage. Texas A&M center fielder Kyle Colligan dropped the biggest blow in the inning with a two-RBI single to left.

The Red Raiders came firing back in the bottom of the second as Tech mounted a two-out rally and cut the A&M lead to three runs. After getting two quick outs, junior left fielder Michael Reed kept Tech alive with a walk and then moved to third on a single by freshman right fielder Garrett Totten. Sophomore catcher Jeremy Mayo drove in the first of his two RBIs on the night with a single that just went over the head of A&M pitcher Ross Hales and allowed Reed to score from third. Totten scored the final run of the frame on a passed ball by A&M catcher Kevin Gonzalez.

Texas A&M answered the Tech rally with four more runs in the top of the third. The four-run outburst ultimately put the game away as Tech managed single runs in the third and fourth but were held scoreless over the final five frames.

Senior first baseman Chris Richburg, playing his final game as a Red Raider, added one final home run to his total when he blasted a solo shot off the wall of the Hampton Inn & Suites in deep left-center field. The home run was his 14th of the season, a team-high.