Print story | Email story

A&M shuts out SFA 6-0

Aggie coach praises Lumberjacks' restoration project

By RICHARD CROOME
Eagle Staff Writer

Texas A&M baseball coach Rob Childress is not shy about giving credit where credit is deserved.

Before he said one word about the Aggies' 6-0 victory over the Lumberjacks on Wednesday night, Childress brought up what a phenomenal story the Stephen F. Austin baseball program is.

"Before I get going, I just want to say how much respect and admiration I have for Donnie Watson and his staff," Childress said. "You think about less than two years ... no bats, no balls, no field, no players and no uniforms, to do what they've done and to put what they've put together, I have a lot of respect for that coach right there. And they have a good team."

Stephen F. Austin is 23-20 overall in its second year since restoring the baseball program that was disbanded because of Title IX concerns in the late 1990s. SFA is also in the middle of the Southland Conference standings at 10-8 after taking two of three from first-place Texas-San Antonio over the weekend.

A&M (33-10) bounced back from a disappointing series against Oklahoma State in which it lost two of three to fall to 9-8 in the Big 12.

"We talked about playing the game of baseball, not looking at the scoreboard," Childress said. "If we do that, we're going to win, and we pitched it great tonight and played great defense. It was good to just play the game of baseball clean."

A&M, which is last in the Big 12 in fielding percentage, did not have an error. A&M's pitchers only walked two while giving up just four hits.

Clayton Ehlert pitched five innings for his first victory of the season. He gave up three hits and did not walk a batter. Ehlert came in Saturday's game and pitched five innings against the Cowboys, allowing only one run.

"I just came out and tried to relax and throw my game," said Ehlert, who had the redshirt taken off his back late last month. "It helped me a little bit just to have a big crowd and get the feeling of having everyone watch you and trying to compete and throw strikes."

A&M did its damage by scoring five runs in the fourth inning.

Luke Anders started it with a one-out double. Josh Stinson drove him in with a single to left. Third baseman Brian Ruggiano walked, and Aaron Damon was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Leadoff hitter Brandon Hicks, who went 4 for 4, then singled in Stinson and Ruggiano. Ben Feltner finished it with a bunt single to score Damon. Hicks was thrown out at home on the play to end the inning.