Baseball 2/24/2006 7:00:00 PM UNCGSpartans.com

Timely hitting lifts Texas A&M past UNCG 5-1 in baseball action

Box Score

COLLEGE STATION, TX Texas A&M starting pitcher Kyle Nicholson allowed one run on three hits in 6-1/3 innings on the hill as UNC Greensboro dropped a 5-1 contest to the Aggies Friday night at Olsen Field in the second game of the Domino's Pizza Aggie Baseball Classic.

Nicholson struck out the first four batters he faced and retired the first seven en route to his second win of the season. He finished the contest with six total punchouts and one walk.

True freshman Clinton McKinney (0-1) suffered the loss for the Spartans despite allowing just two runs on two hits in 3-1/3 innings on the hill. The Greenville, SC native struckout two and walked but one.

Texas A&M (9-0) pushed across the game's first three runs in the bottom half on the fourth as the Aggies collected three hits in the inning. Keith Stein led off with a bunt single on the infield and later stole second before cleanup hitter Austin Boggs drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Both runners then advanced one base on a wild pitch and Spencer Jackson followed with a double down the rightfield line to clear the bases. Adam Hale then added an RBI single up the middle to score Jackson from second.

Spartan designated hitter Greg Matson produced UNCG's (1-4) first run of the game in top of the seventh when he laced a double to the rightfield wall to score Guy Welsh who walked to start the inning.

The Aggies picked up a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eight to take a 5-1 lead into the ninth as Texas A&M perfected a suicide squeeze to score both runs. With runners on second and third with only one out, pinch hitter Ryan Hill laid down a bunt to score Blake Stouffer who was breaking on the pitch. In an attempt to throw out Hill at first, Spartan pitcher Brandon Harvey was charged with an error on the play, allowing Jose Salazar to score from third as well.

Sophomore second baseman Greg Feltes led UNCG at the plate as the Rocky River, OH product was 2-for-3 on the night. Five different Aggies accounted for each of their five hits.

UNCG continues its participation in the Aggie Baseball Classic when the Spartans return to Olsen Field to take on Missouri State Saturday at 2 pm. Freshman Greg Martin (0-0, 0.00) is expected to start the game for the Spartans while Missouri State has yet to determine who their starter will be.