April 01, 2006
Austin Boggs went 4-for-4 with two doubles and extended his hitting streak to nine games on Saturday afternoon, but Oklahoma State scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Aggies, 4-3, at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
The Aggies owned a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth with closer Jordan Chambless (1-3) on the mound. Chambless came on in the eighth and recorded a double play to get out of a jam.
John Schindler belted his first homer of the season to start the ninth inning and tie the game at three. Ty Wright drew a walk and Adam Carr pushed a bunt to a wide-open right side of the infield that trickled into right field for a double. Chambless then intentionally walked Corey Brown to load the bases with no outs. Jordy Mercer delivered a bloop single to left to score the game-winner and guarantee the series win for the Cowboys.
?We had the lead with our short reliever in the game,? A&M head coach Rob Childress said. ?A couple things didn?â„¢t go our way in the ninth and the next thing you know OSU wins the game. Our players are fighting really hard and I am proud of the way we are competing. We have to find a way to finish these close games on the weekend.?
With the loss, Texas A&M dropped to 18-12 overall and 2-6 in Big 12 games. Oklahoma State improved to 17-7 and 2-3.
A&M scored first with a pair of runs in the top of the third off Cowboys?â„¢ starting pitcher Brae Wright. With two outs and Todd Sebek on first, Boggs singled to right to move Sebek to third. Jake Vasquez then chopped a single up the middle to plate Sebek and allow Boggs to reach third. Ryan Hill delivered a perfect bunt single to score Boggs and make the score 2-0.
The Aggies increased their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth. Sebek singled to left and scored on a double in the gap in left center by Boggs.
Mercer?â„¢s two-run homer off A&M starter Jason Meyer in the bottom of the fifth cut the A&M lead too 3-2. It was the first home run of the season for Mercer.
Meyer did not figure in the decision, lasting 6 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out five batters.
Wright (3-1) tossed a complete game for the Cowboys, allowing three runs on 11 hits. He struck out five and walked one.
The Aggies will try to avoid the series sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m.