Baseball Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M broke the game open with nine runs in the middle innings in a 16-4 win over the University of South Carolina baseball team Friday night (May 6) at Blue Bell Park in the opener of a three-game SEC series.
 
Carolina struck first with a run in the first as Josiah Sightler brought in Brandt Belk with a single to left. After the Aggies scored a run in the bottom of the first, Carolina took a 2-1 lead as Andrew Eyster reached on an error, scoring Belk. Texas A&M took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and two in the sixth.
 
The Gamecock turned their first triple play since 1999 in the third inning. With runners on first and second with no one out, Jack Moss hit a line drive to Braylen Wimmer at second. He caught it, forced out the runner at second and Michael Braswell threw to first to get the final out.
 
Eyster drove in the final two runs of the game with an RBI single in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Texas A&M ended the scoring with six runs in the eighth. The Aggies had five home runs in the contest.
 
Kevin Madden had three hits to lead the Gamecock offense. Belk added a pair of hits while Eyster drove in two runs.
 
Brett Thomas took the loss on the mound, allowing three runs on four hits in 3.1 innings of work. The Carolina bullpen allowed 13 runs while Gamecock pitching had 10 walks on the night.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Carolina’s last triple play occurred on April 9, 1999 against Georgia. (Byron Jeffcoat to Marcos Rios to Jay Lambert)
• Madden tied a season high with three hits. He also had three hits last Saturday in a win over Alabama.
• The game lasted four hours and two minutes.

UP NEXT
Carolina and Texas A&M continue the series on Saturday afternoon (May 7) at 3 p.m. Eastern (2 p.m. Central) in Bryan-College Station.