February 23, 2008
No. 20 Texas A&M managed just five hits off Northern Colorado starter Jon Klausing as the Aggies fell to the Bears, 3-1, in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday before 4,047 fans at Olsen Field.
Klausing (1-0), a senior lefty, tossed a seven-inning complete game and walked four while striking out three in picking up his first win since the 2006 season when he played at the University of Nebraska.
UNC was leading 1-0 before opening up a tight game with a two-run sixth.
The Bears got their first two runners on in the sixth on a catcher?â„¢s interference and a single to right. After a sacrifice bunt and intentional walk loaded the bases, Aggie starter Kyle Thebeau (0-1) was relieved by Travis Starling, whose first pitch to first baseman Chad Murray went back to the screen to bring in Cody Henry and give UNC a 2-0 lead.
Later in the at-bat, Murray rolled a grounder to A&M third baseman Dane Carter, whose throw home went over the head of catcher Brian Ruggiano. Adam Symons scored on the play, but Erik Whinery was cut down at the plate trying to score from second. The error extended Northern Colorado?â„¢s lead to 3-0.
Aggie freshman Brooks Raley then entered in relief and, after a walk, retired the final batter to get out of a bases loaded jam.
Two walks to lead off the A&M half of the sixth brought up senior second baseman Blake Stouffer, who laced a 1-1 pitch into right center field. Right fielder Erik Hegstad made a diving catch, however, and doubled off Kyle Colligan at second base.
Aggie first baseman Luke Anders then stepped to the plate and tripled past the diving center fielder to bring home Dane Carter with A&M?â„¢s first run of the day. On an ensuing wild pitch, however, Anders was cut down at the plate trying to score to end the inning and the Aggie threat.
Aggie catcher Kevin Gonzalez, making his first career start, got the first two hits off Klausing?-the only two A&M could muster until the sixth. The leadoff single in the third was the first hit of Gonzalez?â„¢s career.
Texas A&M would rally with two outs in the seventh, as right fielder Brodie Greene doubled on a full count and Ruggiano drove a 3-2 pitch through the left side. But Klausing, however, would coax a grounder back to the mound off the bat of Ben Feltner to end the game.
Northern Colorado?â„¢s Andy Mees drove home the first run of the contest in the top of the third with an RBI single through the right side.
Thebeau suffered the loss, lasting 5 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and three runs (one earned) while walking three and striking out five. Raley and redshirt freshman Kevin Cravey combined for 1 1/3 innings of hitless relief.
Game two is scheduled for a full nine innings.