COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Aggie offense pounded out 16 hits Tuesday night on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park as the No. 5 Texas A&M baseball team extended its winning streak to seven games with a 10-1 victory over Prairie View A&M.
Sophomore outfielder Jace Statum led the way as he tied his career high with four hits during a 4-for-5 evening at the plate for the Aggies, who saw every starter in their line-up hit safely.
“Corey Ray wasn’t as sharp as he was last week, but he had a good start and left with the lead,” Texas A&M head coach Rob Childress said. “I was proud of him and our bullpen. I thought we played well offensively even though their starting pitcher did a nice job early. We got some big hits, and got some guys in the game tonight that hadn’t been out there in a while. They did a great job, namely Jace Statum filling in for Brandon Wood.”
Senior first baseman Jacob House made the night’s first impression on the scoreboard as his first of two RBI singles on the night came in the bottom of the first and put the Aggies up 1-0.
Rookie second baseman Blake Allemand continued his hot hitting at the bottom of the Texas A&M line-up, hitting safely to right field in the second inning to extend the lead to 2-0. The Boerne, Texas, product has started each of the last seven games for the Aggies at second base producing a .500 average (10-for-20) during the span.
The Panthers pushed across a run during the top of the fifth, chasing A&M starter Corey Ray, who was replaced by sophomore reliever Derrick Hadley (1-0). The Navasota, Texas, native got the Aggies out of the inning without further damage, in the process picking up his first win of the season.
Texas A&M (12-1) took complete control of the contest in the home half of the fifth as the Aggies were able to plate four runs on four hits to take a 6-1 advantage. House notched his second RBI of the night before freshman catcher Mitchell Nau brought two more runs home with a single to right.
Statum gave the frame its final tally as he collected his second double of the season, a shot that eluded the glove of the third baseman and skipped down the left field line allowing Chance Bolcerek to score.
Four more A&M runs came home during the bottom of the seventh as Bolcerek and Krey Bratsen collected RBI singles before a two-run base knock from senior Scott Arthur.
“We’ve got to be able to do well on Tuesday nights,” Childress added. “A few years ago we had a great record on midweek games but the last two years we haven’t been so great. We realize the importance of doing well on Tuesday nights; especially the older guys who know that it’s a great way for us to get a national seed and host a regional and Super Regional. The opponents on Tuesday nights are going to continue to grow and get tougher and tougher.”
On the mound, the Aggies used seven pitchers with the bullpen contributing 4.2 scoreless frames to the winning effort.
The Aggies are back in action this weekend when they host No. 11 Cal State Fullerton during a three-game series on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
