Lamkin tosses five scoreless at Rice as No. 15 A&M extends win streak
Game #13: No. 15 Texas A&M 6, Rice 1
Records: Texas A&M (9-4), Rice (5-8)
WP: Justin Lamkin (1-1)
LP: JD McCracken (0-1)
Box Score
HOUSTON — For the second time in five nights, Texas A&M has beaten Rice.
For the third time in four games, Justin Lamkin pitched for the Maroon & White.
On Wednesday night at Reckling Park, the 15th-ranked Aggies defeated the home-standing Owls, 6-1, in front of 3,103 at Houston’s Reckling Park.
“I thought it was good,” A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said of the road trip. “I thought Lamkin did a real nice job. I thought we faced a really good lefty, as good a lefty as we’ve seen all year to this point.
“We put together some good at-bats in the one inning, had some balls fall in, and I thought Bost’s hit (in the eighth) was really big.”
Making his first career start, the left-handed Lamkin tossed five scoreless innings, fanning seven Owls while allowing just three hits and two walks.
“He showed me things I already knew,” Schlossnagle said of Lamkin. “He’s super competitive. He’s a strike thrower. You’ve got to remember he’s pitched in three of our last four games, and so I felt almost bad. ... I didn’t feel bad. He wanted the ball, and he was rested enough.
“He’s got a bright future for us, and to see him pitch on full rest, I’m going to be pretty excited to see that next Tuesday night.”
Lamkin’s five previous appearances were all out of the bullpen, including a scoreless inning vs. Rice on Saturday night.
The Corpus Christi Calallen product also recorded a save in Sunday night’s 16-inning marathon vs. Texas Tech.
“It felt great to get the start,” Lamkin said. “Finally getting the nod, it was a really cool experience. My arm and body feel good.”
A four-run second was more than enough run support for Lamkin and the two Aggie relievers behind him.
“I know those guys are going to put the ball in play and get me some runs out there,” Lamkin said. “Any pitcher who goes out there, you feel good having them behind your back to get ahead and attack them first.”
Facing Rice starter JD McCracken, A&M’s started with back-to-back singles from Austin Bost and Ryan Targac. With the bases loaded, Jordan Thompson’s single drove in the game’s first run. Jace LaViolette immediately followed up with a single of his own that was good for two RBIs.
“He’s had a few balls fall in, and he’s starting to get some confidence,” Schlossnagle said of Bost. “He’s swinging at good pitches and stayed on the ball to right field a couple of times, which is a big sign for him.
“Austin is an experienced hitter, and we just need to add a few more guys with him.”
After gifting Rice an unearned marker in the seventh, A&M added two more on a Bost double as #12 extended his hitting streak to six games, a tear that includes five multi-hit outings.
“Nothing has really changed; it was just getting unlucky at the beginning of the year,” Bost said. “I’m sticking to the routine and not changing anything, sticking to the process. Good things happen when you’re making good swings. It has been good.”
That hit off Owl closer Justin Long put the game out of reach.
“It was really important,” Bost said. “I was glad. We got a couple of good base hits to start the inning.
“It was good that I was able to come up and put a good swing on it to give the momentum to the pitchers in the eighth.”
Brandyn Garcia relieved Lamkin, striking out three in as many innings and allowing the unearned run. Will Johnston hurled a scoreless ninth.
“Garcia has been a guy that has shown elite stuff in his career,” Schlossnagle said. “If he starts to throw enough strikes, he’s got a wipe-out breaking ball. He’s a weapon out of the bullpen.”
The victory extends A&M’s modest winning streak to four games with Northern Kentucky coming to College Station this weekend.
“It’s awesome,” Lamkin said of the hot stretch. “Let’s keep it rolling.”
First pitch between the Aggies and Norse at Blue Bell Park is set for 6:02 p.m. CT on Friday.
