Texas A&M Baseball outmatched in game two against Florida, 6-1

Game #47: Florida 6, Texas A&M 1
Records: Florida (38-10, 18-5 SEC), Texas A&M (33-14, 11-12 SEC)
WP: Jackson Kowar (8-2)
LP: John Doxakis (6-3)
Box Score

The No. 21 Aggie baseball team (33-14, 11-12 SEC) dropped the second game of its weekend series, 6-1, to No. 1 Florida on Saturday afternoon at Olsen Field. The Aggies were out-dueled on the mound and couldn’t muster enough offensively.

Florida drew first blood in the top of the third. After the Gators loaded the bases thanks to two walks and a HBP, Jonathan India reached base on an RBI fielder’s choice.

The Gators added three more runs in the sixth inning. JJ Schawarz started the scoring by lining an RBI single up the middle after his teammates reached on a walk, a fielder’s choice and a throwing error. A few batters later, Blake Reese hit an RBI sac fly to right field with the bases loaded.

The Aggies answered in the bottom of the sixth. After they loaded the bases on two walks and a HBP, Cam Blake raced home and scored on a wild pitch.

Florida scratched across another run in the top of the seventh as India plated another run with an RBI sac fly to left field, scoring Deacon Liput.

The Gators finished the scoring in the top of the eighth. Brady Smith drove in a run with an RBI sac fly.

John Doxakis (6-3, 3.04 ERA) got the nod on the mound for A&M and pitched well at times but gave up too many free bases. Dox worked five innings while recording five strikeouts and surrendering four runs, three of which were earned. Additionally, he issued four walks, which were key to Florida putting runs on the board.

Asa Lacy took over on the mound in relief in the sixth inning. Lacy tossed four innings and gave up two runs, one of which was earned.

“There were some good parts, and there were some bad parts,” Doxakis said of his performance today. “Obviously, too many free bases. That’s going to kill you, and that’s where most of their runs came from. We always hang our hat on throwing strikes, and I didn’t do my best at that today and we’re going to get better at that.”

Head coach Rob Childress said he liked what he saw from the pitchers.

“I thought (Doxakis) was super good, and the things we didn’t do was we gave them some free base runners and didn’t field our position in that one shot,” Childress said. “But all-in-all, Dox continues to get better and continues to get better on the job.”

Childress said the Aggies will need to be at their best to avoid a sweep tomorrow afternoon.

“It’s not going to get any easier tomorrow,” Childress said. “We’ve got to show up with a great attitude and great intensity, just a bounce in our step and find a way to put ourselves in those same positions to get some key hits and expect to get those tomorrow.”

A&M will wrap up the series against Florida tomorrow. First pitch is set for noon. The game can be seen on ESPN2.