The No. 9 Texas &M Aggies defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders Friday night 4-2 in the first of a three game Big 12 Conference series in College Station. The Red Raiders (26-23, 5-14 Big 12) out-hit the Aggies 9 to 6 with all but one position player getting a base bit. Texas A&M (33-13, 12-7 Big 12) won its fourth straight Big 12 game and remain in a tie for third place with Oklahoma State. Texas Tech currently is seventh in the league standings.

Tech had its chances late in the  game to tie or take the lead. In the eighth inning they were trailing 3-2 with runners at second and third base, but the Aggie closer Kyle Martin ended the rally for the Raiders with back to back strikeouts. A&M would push an insurance run across in the bottom of the inning to put Tech in a 4-2 deficit which would remain the score.

Michael Wacha (7-0) earned the win for Texas A&M while going seven innings and allowing two runs and scattering eight hits with nine strikeouts and one walk. In the game, Wacha notched his 300th career strikeout – becoming just the third Aggie with 300 career strikeouts. Martin picked up his third save of the season pitching two scoreless innings with four strikeouts and a walk without allowing a hit.

Texas Tech starting pitcher John Neely (3-6) took the loss allowing three runs on five hits in 5.1 innings of work with three strikeouts and two walks. Tech trailed 2-0 before Hagen and Lopez each drove in a run with RBI singles – Lopez’ coming with two outs.

The Red Raiders and Aggies will continue their three-game conference series on Saturday with a 2:05 p.m. first pitch at Blue Bell Park.

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