The Battalion ORTS XI L kJ Page 7 Tuesday • February 1 8, 1 997 ggies pick up win in grand fashion, 9-5 By Chris Ferrell The Battalion there is no crying in baseball, n Texas A&M Baseball Coach rk Johnson was fighting back the s during an afternoon double- der at Olsen Field. The Aggies (8-4) lost the first ae to the University of Nevada- Jio Wolf Pack (7-5) 10-4, and led 5-4 in the second game go- into the bottom of the ninth. That was when the tears changed from tears of frustration to tears of joy as senior Johnny Hunter came out of a slump and hit the game-winning grand slam to lead A&M to a 9-5 win in Game two. “I had a good feeling for some reason all daylong,” Hunter said. “I knew I was going to do something good, but I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t get down on myself. I just stayed positive and believed.” Hunter sat out the first game of Rony Angkriwan, The Battalion Freshman Steven Truitt bunts to advance the runners to second and third with one out in the second inning of the first game at Olsen Field. irm the twin bill and was 0 for 4 in Game two, before his grand slam. “I told the guys, and Johnny Hunter is a prime example of this,” Johnson said. “You can go from a bum to a hero in just one day, and that’s what he did.” Sophomore outfielder Steve Leonard led off the ninth inning with a base hit. The Nevada pitch ers had retired seven straight Aggie batters prior to his hit. “Steve Leonard did a great job with a 2-2 curve ball — that’s what really got us going,” Hunter said. “Then (sophomore outfielder Ja son) Tyner got his little hit.” Senior second baseman Brian Benefield moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt and only one out. Then Nevada intentionally walked junior designated hitter Scott Sandusky to load the bases for senior shortstop Rich Petru. Petru, the team leader in RBIs with 12, delivered with a bloop single over the outstretched arm of Nevada shortstop Joe Inglett to score Leonard. That set up Hunter’s grand slam. “It was high energy,” Johnson said. “I think the thing that really happened was that we got some back-to-back hits.” Nevada looked primed for an other big win, jumping out to a 5- 1 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning. But the Aggies put together a two-out rally which was sparked by junior catcher Matt Garrick’s solo home run. After Garrick’s home run, fresh man Steve Scarborough singled and then Nevada gave up walks to sophomore first baseman John Scheschuk, playing for the injured Jason Stephens, and Leonard. Tyner then hit a two-run double Tim Moog, The Battalion Sophomore outfielder Jason Tyner retreats to first base after Nevada pitcher Ryan Church tries to pick him off in the first inning of the first game yesterday at Olsen Field. that cut the lead to one. A&M junior pitcher Robert Keens (2-0) came in to relieve an unstable pitching staff that struggled all afternoon. He gave up one hit in three innings of work to get the win. “He’s the one that gave us a breath of fresh air,” Johnson said. “Our start ing pitching didn’t give us any in nings. So we got in our bullpen deep.” The Aggies used nine different pitchers during the doubleheader. Neither starter, freshman Chris Ful- bright in Game one or junior John Sneed in Game two, made it out of the second inning. Fulbright did not give up any runs or hits, but walked four of the nine batters he faced. Sneed struck out three, but gave up four earned runs on four hits in 1.2 innings. A&M jumped out to a 2-0 lead in Game one, then watched as the Wolf Pack rallied to score 10 runs. A seven-run fifth inning, keyed by a grand slam by Nevada third base- man Andy Dominique, was all the offense they would need. “We just didn’t really come out ready to play,” Hunter said. “Some times we get out into that big trap of playing a weekday series. We just have to pick it up.” •OLOGIE5 TVlWi After four years, all he wants is the 'ring' Team-oriented co-captain Rich Petru has eyes set on conference title :areer Tim Moog, The Battalion enior shortstop Rich Petru waits for the pitch in Tuesday's doubleheader gainst the University of Nevada-Reno. By Chris Ferrell The Battalion very team needs a Rich Petru. A guy who does the I little things. A player who gives his all prac tice and in games and drives his teammates to do the same. The Texas A&M Baseball Team is glad to have Rich Petru. The Aggie senior shortstop has been a major contributor to the team’s success over the past three seasons. He comes into 1997 with a career batting average of .304 and has continued to perform at the plate this season. He is batting .316, and has knocked in a team high-12 runs. His work in the field has been important to the seventh ranked Aggies as well. “Rich has done an excellent job,” senior second baseman Brian Benefield said. “He’s been solid of fensively and defensively.” But “solid” players do not grab headlines. “He’s a very consistent player,” A&M Head Coach Mark Johnson said. “And I think that goes unno ticed sometimes.” That’s the beauty of a guy like Rich Petru. The senior co-cap- tain has become one of the Ag gies most valuable assets by do ing the things that do not show up in the box score. “I try to lead by example,” Petru said. “I guess that’s the kind of leader I want to be, one that everyone sees play hard and makes them want to play hard too.” Johnson agreed, saying, “He’s a 100 percent effort guy.” IBIIIWMWWHM Another impor tant aspect of Petru’s game is the experience he brings to the team. Since starting the season opener his freshman year, Petru has been a key component of the Aggie lineup. “He brings a lot of experience,” Johnson said. “He’s been in our line up off and on for four years now. He’s been in the hunt and experi ence — you can’t teach that.” Despite being an integral part of one of college baseball’s elite programs, there is one thing Petru has not been a part of — a cham pionship team. “Everything you want representing your team, your university, is in Rich Petru.” Mark Johnson A&M head coach “We haven’t won a ring since I’ve been here,” he said. “That’s the only thing I’m looking for. I would really like to go out with a ring.” Petru’s team-first mentality is due in part to his maturity, an as pect the coaches have noticed. “He’s not a problem to me at all,” Johnson said. “I could take those kinds of guys every year. He’s going to get his degree. Everything you want representing your team, your university, is in Rich Petru.” For Petru, who won a GTE Acad emic Achievement Award last sea son, getting his diploma will be one of his proudest moments. While most baseball players spent- the off-season in summer leagues, Petru stayed in College Station. “Over the summer, I didn’t go anywhere,” he said. “I stayed here and went to summer school so that I will be able to graduate in May.” Petru was still able to improve his game. With the help of A&M coaches, he was able to fine tune his swing. He also spent time working on his speed and strength. Petru’s commitment to hard work and improvement has set him apart in the eyes of his coaches. “The thing that I would hitch to his game,” Johnson said, “is that Rich Petru came to practice hard; he came to play hard. I’ve never seen a day where he hasn’t done either of those.” Every team can use a Rich Petru. OPEN FORUM TO EXPLAIN Texas A&M University Residence Hall and University Apartments RENT INCREASE FOR 1997-1998 ^eYvtcTResi^c. -e / . tv ^ A(SdvJ WHEN:THURSDAY, FEBRUARY20,1997 • 6:00 RM. WHERE: RUDDER TOWER 302 ALL STUDENTS IN RESIDENCE HALLS AND UNIVERSITY APARTMENTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. FOR INFORMATION, CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF RESIDENCE LIFE 862-3158 OR SEND AN E-MAIL MESSAGE TO or visit us on the web at http://reslife.tamu.edu/ FLYING TOWARD YOUR FUTURE: CO-OP, INTERNSHIPS & SUMMER JOBS The TAMCi Career Center invites you to attend a Panel Discussion on the “other” education. 601 Rudder Tuesday, February 18 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.