Aggies Force Rubber Match

The Florida baseball team lost the chance at a second win in College Station after falling to Texas A&M 5-4 on Saturday.

Florida claimed the series opener Friday night with a score of 5-3 in an extra-inning affair but couldn’t pull out the win Saturday afternoon.

The Aggies took advantage of sophomore righty Eric Hanhold in the second inning, scoring four runs on six hits. Gator head coach Kevin O’Sullivan stuck with his starter through four innings, bringing in freshman righty Brett Morales after Texas A&M scored their fifth run. Morales stopped the bleeding, tossing four perfect innings in relief.

Although they were rocked early in the game, Florida didn’t back down, scoring four runs on 10 hits.

Three Florida veterans contributed offensively, including sophomore Richie Martin. The shortstop laced a base-hit up the middle in the sixth for a two-run, two-out single, bringing the Gators within one of the Aggies.

But the Gators had other chances to score, especially early in the game, and they could not capitalize as the Aggies built their lead.

Sophomore righty Andrew Vinson and senior righty Jason Jester kept the lead safe for Texas A&M, forcing a rubber match for the series finale.

First pitch is set for 2:05 on Sunday. Make sure to catch live coverage of the game with Steve Russell and Jeff Cardozo.