Texas A&M
34-14, 10-9
Nebraska
30-13, 9-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
| Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Jackson Almost Perfect in Aggies' 4-2 Win Over Huskers
May 01, 2004 | Baseball
May 01, 2004
Zach Jackson fanned 11 hitters and carried a perfect game into the ninth inning to lead No. 10 Texas A&M to a 4-2 win over No. 19 Nebraska in front of 5,513 fans at Haymarket Park.
After retiring the first 24 hitters he faced and staking the Aggies to a 4-0 lead, Jackson (9-3) was unable to cleanly field a chopper hit back up the middle by Jesse Boyer. The ball caromed off Jackson's foot, allowing Boyer to reach first on what was ruled a single. Jackson's attempt to throw out Boyer at first and keep the perfecto intact sailed away from first baseman Coby Mavroulis, allowing Boyer to advance to second.
Jackson then hit Tyler Vaughn and Joe Simokaitis doubled to plate Boyer to end the shutout attempt. Colin Shockey grounded out to score Simokaitis and bring the tying run to the plate with one out. Jackson recorded strikeouts of Daniel Bruce and the Big 12's leading hitter and RBI-producer Alex Gordon to end the threat and the game.
With the win, the Aggies evened the series with the Huskers and set up the pivotal series finale on Sunday. First piutch is set for 1:05 p.m. at Haymarket Park.
A&M improved to 34-14 overall and to 10-9 in Big 12 play. Nebraska dropped to 30-13 and 9-8.
Jackson no-hit Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in his first start as an Aggie on opening day at Olsen Field earlier this season. It was the 10th no-hitter in Texas A&M history.
The Aggies used a couple Nebraska miscues to take their first lead of the series in the top of the second inning. With one out, John Infante reached on an error by Joe Simokaitis at shortstop and stole second. After a flyout by Andrew Baldwin, Travis Bartek lifted a high pop to shallow right field that was dropped by second baseman Jake Mullinax, allowing Infante to score.
The Aggies tagged Nebraska starter Phil Shirek for three runs in the top of the fifth to chase him from the game. Coby Mavroulis and Cory Patton started the inning with infield singles. Austin Boggs doubled off the wall in center to score Mavroulis and Craig Stinson singled to plate Patton. Justin Pekarek replaced Shirek and allowed a single to Infante to score the third run of the inning and earn the Aggies a 4-0 lead.
Shirek (5-1) lasted four innings, plus four hitters in the fifth. He allowed four runs - three earned - on eight hits.
Pekarek finished the game on the mound for Nebraska by allowing just two hits and striking out four over the final five innings.
Patton led the way offensively for Texas A&M by delivering four singles. Boggs contributed with two hits, including the RBI double in the fifth.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jackson, Zach (9-3)
L: Shirek, P. (5-1)
Batting:
2B: Boggs, Austin 1
RBI: Boggs, Austin 1 ; Stinson, Craig 1 ; Infante, John 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mavroulis, Coby 1 ; Patton, Cory 1 ; Boggs, Austin 1 ; Infante, John 1
SB: Infante, John 1 ; Bartek, Travis 1
Batting:
2B: Simokaitis, 1
RBI: Shockey, C. 1 ; Simokaitis, 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Boyer, J. 1 ; Vaughn, T. 1
HBP: Vaughn, T. 1
