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Wildcats drop 2 to Aggies

When the Texas A&M Aggies began their season with five losses in eight games, some wondered just how good the team really was.

The speculation ended last weekend, as the Aggies took two of three games from Arizona (10-8) in College Station, Texas.

Texas A&M won Saturday's game 8-3 and continued their hot streak yesterday with a 7-3 victory.

Arizona, though, won the opening game on Friday behind a strong pitching performance from sophomore right-hander Ben Diggins, who limited A&M to one unearned run as he pitched the Wildcats' first complete game of the season.

"Ben pitched very well," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said. "He had good command and was only in trouble once."

The Wildcat ace allowed six hits - all singles - in the game.

Arizona's Ernie Durazo, Matt Abram and Erik Torres each had an RBI in the winning effort.

In Saturday afternoon's 8-3 victory, the Aggies received a solid pitching performance from freshman Todd Deininger, who allowed three runs while striking out eight Wildcats in eight innings of work.

Deininger got early offensive support from his teammates, as the Aggies touched up UA starter Brian Pemble for four runs in the first inning. Aggie freshman first baseman Travis Wong had a two-run double to highlight the inning.

The Wildcats responded with three runs in the third, but that was as close as Arizona would get.

For the first time all season, the Wildcats played in front of a large crowd. Nearly 5,400 people packed College Station's Olsen Field for Saturday's game and made it difficult for UA.

"The crowd was unusual, as always," Stitt said. "They're very hostile, very good at ragging. I'd love to have that kind of crowd at our park."

In Sunday afternoon's rubber match, A&M's Carlos Sepulveda went 2-for-4 with three RBI, as the Aggies took the finale.

"We played OK," Stitt said. "We got behind early and couldn't get runs in."