(#25) Oklahoma State 4, (#16) Texas A&M 1

Friday, April 24

College Station

6:35 PM

Texas A&M

26-15, 11-8

Oklahoma State

28-15, 6-9

Oklahoma State

Texas A&M

Apr 24, 2009 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

April 24, 2009

Post Game Audio:
Head Coach Childress
LHP Raley

Final Stats

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Oklahoma State scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to break up a tie ballgame and lift the 25th-ranked Cowboys to a 4-1 win over No. 16 Texas A&M Friday night before 4,011 fans at Olsen Field.

OSU would get four of their eight hits on the night in the decisive ninth frame, leading off the inning against reliever Alex Wilson with a Kevin David single and Neil Medchill double. A wild pitch, RBI single and sacrifice fly would account for the three runs. A&M would bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the frame, but a hard grounder to short by Kyle Colligan forced Luke Anders at second to end the game.

The loss snapped a five game win streak for the Aggies (26-15, 11-8 Big 12) and also marked A&M's first defeat at home in league play. Oklahoma State improved to 28-15 and 6-9 in the league. Despite the loss, Texas A&M remained in second place in the Big 12 standings after losses by Texas and Baylor, as four of the five road teams in conference action picked up wins on Friday.

The game was a classic Friday night pitcher's duel through seven scoreless innings, as Aggie starter Brooks Raley and OSU hurler Andrew Oliver combined to strike out 20 batters on the night.

Raley, who had allowed two hits entering the eighth, was finally touched for a run as Thomas Belza put OSU on the board. With one out and facing a 1-2 count, the Cowboy shortstop launched his second home run of the year over the fence in right to give OSU a 1-0 lead.

Oliver threw one pitch in the bottom of the eighth before OSU went to the bullpen for closer Randy McCurry. Kyle Colligan drew back-to-back walks off the Cowboy right-hander and, after a bunt attempt retired Colligan at second, the Aggies had runners at the corners and one out.

Pinch-hitter Joe Patterson stepped to the plate and chopped the first pitch he saw high over the head of first baseman Dean Green and into right field to tie the game at one. OSU was able to gun down Caleb Shofner for the second out, and an ensuing strikeout ended the threat and kept the game deadlocked heading to the ninth.

Luke Anders (2-for-2) and Adam Smith (2-for-4) accounted for seven of the Aggies' eight hits on Friday. Belza (2-for-4, HR, RBI) was the lone Cowboy with two hits on the night.

Wilson (3-5) suffered the loss, giving up the four hits and three runs in the ninth. He did not walk a batter and struck out one. McCurry (2-1) picked up the win in relief, allowing three hits, one run and two walks while striking out a pair over two innings.

Neither starter factored in the decision. Raley went eight innings and allowed four hits, one run (earned) and a walk. He struck out 10 on the night. Oliver lasted seven complete, giving up five hits and four walks while striking out 10.

The series continues Saturday, as Aggie freshman Ross Hales (4-1, 3.46 ERA) will take the mound against Cowboy junior Tyler Lyons (5-3, 3.79). First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Brooks Raley tallied his fourth career 10-strikeout game on Friday.

• Friday's crowd of 4,011 put Texas A&M over 100,000 in home attendance...the Aggies have drawn 102,710 fans through the Olsen Field gates so far in 2009.

• Luke Anders extended his hit streak to a season-high seven games...Brodie Greene (nine games) and David Alleman (six games) saw hit streaks come to an end.

• Game-time temperature was 76 degrees with cloudy skies and winds blowing out to left center at 11 miles an hour (gusting to 34).

POSTGAME QUOTES

HEAD COACH Rob Childress: "What a game. For eight innings on a Friday night you couldn't ask for anything more. Two outstanding pitchers going at it, and we cracked in the ninth and weren't able to come back. We gave ourselves a chance though and got the tying run to the plate. There's no quit in our team. Our guys competed all night long. We had our opportunities early and just weren't able to get a big hit."

(on coming out tomorrow) "We have to come out tomorrow with that same swagger and with a chip on our shoulder and do our best to even the series. We're at home and we have to protect the home field. Give them credit, they did a great job tonight coming and taking it from one of the best pitchers in the country in Alex Wilson."

(on Brooks Raley) "I thought he was outstanding. I thought he got better as he went. But so did (Oliver)."

SOPHOMORE P Brooks Raley: "That was a good one, until the ninth. One hundred percent of the time we're going to put Wilson out there and put it on the line. It's tough to lose, but it gives you something to go on tomorrow. We've got to come out and even the series. We've got a good pitcher going, and we're going to lay it on the line tomorrow."

(on Andrew Oliver) "I played with him some this summer, and I know the guy is a competitor. He just pitches in a whole different way, and he's going to go right after you."