AUSTIN – David Newmann allowed just two runs and struck out six over 6 1/3 innings, but No. 5 Texas scored an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth on Saturday night to defeat No. 9 Texas A&M, 3-2, at Disch-Falk Field.

With a runner on first and one out, reliever Kirkland Rivers got Chais Fuller to hit a sharp grounder to Brandon Hicks at Short. Hicks made a perfect feed to second baseman Parker Dalton and the relay throw to first was missed by Blake Stouffer, allowing Fuller to advance to second. The next hitter, Josh Prince, lined a single into center to score the game-winner.

“When you play a good team the winner is usually the one who makes the fewest mistakes,” A&M head coach Rob Childress said. “We made a mistake late in the game and it cost us. We did some good things tonight, but unfortunately not enough to win the game.”

With the loss, A&M dropped to 41-14 overall and 13-12 in Big 12 play. Texas improved to 41-14 and 20-6 in the league.

The Aggies started the scoring on the top of the third with a run off Texas starting pitcher Adrian Alaniz. Hicks walked and advanced to third on a two-out single to right by Luke Anders. Craig Stinson then followed with a bloop single to left to easily plate Hicks.

A&M tacked on another run in the top of the fourth and chased Alaniz in the process. Dane Carter walked with one out and stole second with two outs. Hicks delivered a two-out single to left to score Carter and make the score 2-0.

Texas scored in the bottom of the fourth off A&M starter David Newman to cut the lead to 2-1 when Chais Fuller’s two out RBI single plated Nick Peoples.

An RBI single by Chance Wheeless in the bottom of the fifth tied the game at two.

Kirkland Rivers (1-3) shouldered the loss, allowing just the unearned run in the eight. He surrendered three hits and struck out one in 1 1/3 innings.

Joseph Krebs (7-1) allowed only two hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief to earn the win. He struck out four and did not issue a free pass. Randy Boone struck out the side in the ninth to nail down his 12th save of the year.

Neither starter figured in the decision. Alaniz lasted 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on six hits, while striking out two and walking four.

The series finale will be played Sunday at 2 p.m. at Disch-Falk Field.

A&M – 001 100 000 – 2 8 2

TEX – 000 110 01x – 3 11 0

A&M: Newmann, Rivers (7) and C. Stinson; TEX: Alaniz, Krebs (4), Boone (9) and Clark.

E – A&M: Dalton (12), Stouffer (13)

SB – A&M: Feltner (28), Carter (2); TEX: Peoples (17), Demperio (4)

2B – TEX: Clark (17)

Win – Krebs (7-1) Loss – Rivers (1-3) Save – Boone (12)

T – 3:10

A – 5,097

-aTm-