10 BIG 12
AM TEXAS A&M AGGIES
A&M overwhelmed by Baylor in 13-1 loss
By Brad Cox
The Battalion — Saturday, April 10
WACO, Texas — Baylor pitcher Logan Verrett struck out 13 Trees A&M batters en route to a 13-1 Bears victory Saturday at Baylor Ballpark.
Verrett controlled the game from beginning to end, throwing all nine innings and facing only five batters more than the minimum in the largest margin of victory ever in the series between the two schools.
"I just tried to stay down here and stay cool," Verrett said about his time between innings. "I didn't want to get too fired up and waste a lot of energy. It's hard not to when they're putting up numbers like that against a rival like A&M."
The Aggie offense struggled to get a read on Verrett, getting just two hits in the first seven innings. A&M coach Rob Childress said they failed to adjust to Verrett's slider.
A&M had its biggest inning in the eighth when catcher Kevin Gonzalez hit a one-out double to center field and right fielder Tyler
Naquin followed with double to right, scoring pinch runner Matt Juengel and breaking up the shutout.
Baylor coach Steve Smith said the difference was that Verrett avoided getting a high pitch count early in the game. Verrett threw 138 pitches total.
"The toughest decision I had tonight was whether to let him finish or not," Smith said. "He was so strong at the end — it's just hard to take a guy out of the game like that when he's trying to learn how to finish something."
Ross Stripling started on the mound for the Aggies, pitching three shutout innings before the Bears got to him in the fourth. Stripling was hit in the ankle by ground balls twice; once in the second and again in the fourth. Stripling was pulled in the fifth after allowing a lead-off single and a sacrifice bunt.
The Aggies fell to 20-9-1 overall and 6-4-1 in Big 12 play while Baylor improved to 18-11 and 4-5 in conference.
A&M has not lost a conference series in 2010, splitting a three-game set at Kansas last week 1-1-1.
Florian Achberger/THE BATTALION
Texas A&M pitcher Estevan Uriegas throws a pitch during a game earlier this season. After their loss to the Baylor Bears last Saturday, the Aggies have a record of 6-4-1 in Big 12 Conference play and 20-9-1 overall.
THE WAVE APRIL 14,2010
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
Kansas State hopes to rebound after road losses
The No. 20 Wildcats will look to bounce back from their first conference loss of the season after dropping two of three to the Red Raiders on April 1-3. K-State had fared well away from home entering the series, but according to coach Brad Hill, Big 12 road competition is a totally different animal.
By Justin Nutter Kansas State Collegian Friday, April 9
MANHATTAN — After struggling through a three-game series in Lubbock, Texas, last weekend, the K-State baseball team has returned to the friendly confines of the Little Apple for a trio of games against Nebraska.
"When you get on the road, sometimes it's a scramble," Hill said. "Everybody wants to protect their home turf. Tech came out really aggressively and I don't think we responded very well."
Despite ineffective pitching in each game, the Wildcats were able to mount a comeback and win the series finale
10-6. Hill, who is in his seventh season in Manhattan, said he hopes the come-frombehind victory will provide K-State with some momentum as they take the field against the Huskers.
"The way we played all weekend, we could have easily cashed our chips in and came home with our tail between our legs, but we didn't do that," he said. "It would be nice if we can come home and play good, solid baseball. Hopefully, the kids are excited to be back home and ready to play."
Nebraska, traditionally regarded as a Big 12 powerhouse, has fallen on hard times this season. The Huskers enter the weekend series having lost three of their last four contests. They have been led offensively by senior outfielders Adam Bailey and D.J. Belfonte.
Bailey, who was drafted by the Yankees in 2009 but elected to return for his senior season, is second in the conference with a.424 batting average and leads the team with 10 home runs.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN