CORVALLIS, Ore. – Cole Lankford helped get Texas A&M off to a dynamite start, doubling in a run in the first inning, and Parker Ray was dominant on the mound for 8 2/3 innings as the Aggies defeated UT San Antonio 6-1 in an elimination game at the Corvallis Regional.
Lankford finished the game 5-for-5, scored a run and drove in two to lead a 12-hit assault that the Roadrunners were unable to match.
For a team that entered the regional with the highest batting average and having scored more runs than any of the four, it was a sobering finish for the Roadrunners (35-25), who got in the tournament after winning the WAC and seven-straight to end the regular season. They were poised to knock off No. 3 national seed Oregon State on Friday night, only to lose on a double to right center in the bottom of the ninth.
“Yeah, last night was devastating, we had our chances to win, but I don’t think that it changed anything today,” UTSA left fielder Riley Good said. “It’s just how it fell.”
Ray kept the Roadrunners behind in the count by locating quickly and efficiently.
“He’s a lot of fun to call pitches for right now,” coach Rob Childress said.
UTSA hung around for four innings before a two-run double by Daniel Mengden – Friday’s losing pitcher for the Aggies (33-28) – stayed just fair up the left field line. That chased Roadrunner starter Brock Hartson and took the contest from 2-1 after four to 5-1 after five.
Hartson, a freshman, gave up nine hits and walked two in 4 1/3. Releiver Wesley Cox allowed three hits and another run in the sixth to close out the contest.
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