No. 4 Aggies down Hofstra, 15-4, to move to 2-0

GAME #2: Texas A&M 15, Hofstra 4
RECORDS: Texas A&M 2-0, Hofstra 0-2
WP: Corbin Martin (1-0)
LP: Chris Weiss (0-1)
SAVE: None
BOX SCORE

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A huge offensive performance, capped by a monster day from first baseman Hunter Melton, led the Texas A&M Aggies to a 15-4 victory over the Hofstra Pride on Saturday afternoon at Olsen Field.

Melton went 5-5 with two home runs and six RBI, and Ronnie Gideon hit a grand slam to lead the fourth-ranked Aggies (2-0) over the Pride (0-2). The Aggies hit four total home runs in the game.

In the bottom of the first, a fielder's choice and a wild pitch moved center fielder Nick Banks into scoring position. Melton's single down the left field line got the scoring started and put the Aggies on top, 1-0.

Hofstra fired back in the top of the second with a solo shot over the left field fence to tie the game 1-1. The Pride would tack on two more runs in the frame to take a 3-1 lead. Both teams threatened to add to the scoring, with Hofstra leaving the bases loaded and the Aggies stranding runners at first and third to end the second.

The Aggies' bats came alive in the third.

Third baseman Boomer White, coming off of a stellar Aggie debut on Friday, started the inning with a base hit up the middle. He then scored standing up on a screaming triple down the first base line from Banks. One pitch later, the Ags had retook the lead on a two-run Melton moonshot to straightaway center.

Not to be outdone, Barash took the first pitch he saw deep to left, and just like that, the Aggies were up 5-3.

"Credit the guys in front of me - Boomer White, getting a pitch he can handle and hitting the ball up the middle, and Banks, taking pitches away from the pitcher," said Melton. "I'm grateful to have those two in front of me."

The runs kept pouring in in the fifth inning as a series of singles and two hit-by-pitches scored two runs and loaded the bases for Gideon. With the wind blowing out, he bombed one over the left field wall to make it 11-3 Ags.

Melton's second home run of the day came on a solo shot in the sixth, and he drove in two morewith a seventh-inning double before scoring on a double by catcher Cole Bedford.

"We knew [Melton] was going to be our guy to hit in the four-hole," said Coach Rob Childress after the game. "He's got strength, he's got power, and he's got a great approach. He's tough to pitch to."

Corbin Martin, making his first career start for the Aggies, shook off a shaky second inning to turn in a strong performance, allowing five hits and striking out nine over five innings.

Jace Vines, Cason Sherrod and Kaylor Chafin combined to allow one run over the final three innings to preserve the win. The Aggies recorded 15 total strikeouts in the game.

The Aggies and the Pride will play the final game of their three game series on Sunday at noon at Olsen Field.