Brazos Valley pitcher Randy Mann received a text message Monday, giving him two days' notice before his first start in a Texas Collegiate League game.

Mann sent a message of his own Wednesday night, pitching a stunning complete game to lead the Bombers to a 5-2 victory over the Alexandria Aces on a hot night at Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark.

The left-hander had pitched a total of 11 2/3 innings while making five relief appearances during the Bombers' first 51 games. He carried a decent 3.86 earned run average and a 0-0 record into the game against the last-place Aces (14-36).

Mann was a freshman at Lon Morris College last season and will remain in the junior college ranks at Richland next year. He is 1-0 and his ERA dropped to 2.62 after he limited Alexandria to one earned run on an eight-hitter.

"I was pretty nervous," Mann said. "This is a little higher competition than I'm used to. This is definitely a stepping stone for me because I am obviously trying to get to the Division I level. I feel like if I can hold my own here it will give me a little confidence going into my sophomore year."

The Bombers (24-28 overall) started the night 8-14 in the second half of TCL play, five games behind the teams tied for second place. Brazos Valley returned home after dropping a two-game series at Victoria, including an extra-inning loss Tuesday night.

"We're a little bit short on the pitching staff because of injuries and some guys leaving," Bombers head coach Brent Alumbaugh said. "Randy stepped up for us tonight. Our bullpen was a little short after the Victoria trip and for him to throw a complete game was huge."

Mann zipped through nine innings on 114 pitches. Known as a control pitcher who is not overpowering, Mann recorded seven strikeouts and allowed one walk.

"I didn't expect a complete game, that's for sure," Mann said. "I was hitting my spots really well and getting guys to hit ground balls."

Mann thrived despite going against a couple of hallmarks for successful pitchers. Mann misplayed a couple of bunts and he allowed the leadoff runner to reach in six innings, but Alexandria was 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

Brazos Valley scored all the runs Mann needed in the first three innings, and first baseman Jacob House of Texas A&M was in the middle of both rallies. In the first inning House lined a single up the middle to drive in fellow Aggie Scott Arthur, who was hit by a pitch. The Bombers added two runs in the third when House doubled and Brennyn Smith had an RBI single.

Defense factored into both Alexandria runs. An error on shortstop Cameron Sherrer led to an unearned run in the third. The Aces pulled within 3-2 in the fourth when lefty-hitting Britt Gautreaux dumped an opposite-field double inside the line with the left fielder playing far into the gap.

BV center fielder Greg Olson helped Mann with a nice running catch in the seventh inning and the Bombers appeared to get a break when Jami Rachal was called out trying to advance to third on a ball in the third during the eighth. Mann allowed a one-out single in the ninth, but struck out the next two batters.