Anteaters lose to top-ranked Aggies

HOUSTON — The No. 1-ranked Texas A&M; baseball team erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and take command on its way to a 9-2 victory over No. 5-ranked UCI in the first game of the Houston College Classic Friday at Minute Maid Park.

UCI (3-2) was held to six hits by two pitchers, as the Aggies improved to 6-1.

Junior left fielder Sean Madigan went two for four with a run batted in for UCI, for which junior second baseman Casey Stevenson drove in the other run.

UCI junior left-hander Danny Bibona, who had a no-hitter through seven innings in his previous start at Hawaii, gave up seven hits and five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings to absorb his first loss of the season.

Francis Larson, Eric Deragisch and Maverick Olivares also had hits for the Anteaters, who have lost two straight.

Sophomore Cory Hamilton allowed one hit and one run in two innings of relief for the Anteaters.

Brooks Raley gave up two earned runs and five hits in six innings to improve to 2-0 for the Aggies.

UCI continues play in the vent today, when it faces Houston at 10 a.m.

Houston College Classic

Texas A&M; 9, UC Irvine 2

SCORE BY INNINGS

Raley, Thebeau (7) and Gonzalez; Bibona, Dufour (6), Hamilton (7), Hoover (9) and Larson. W – Rale, 2-0. L – Bibona, 1-1. Sv – Thebeau (1). 2B – Green (A&M;), Petrick (A&M;), L. Anders (A&M;) Shofner (A&M;). Gonzalez (A&M;), Madigan (UCI), Olivares (UCI). HR – L. Anders (A&M;).