Aggies Rally for 4-3 Win Over No. 25 Cougars

Friday, March 12

College Station

6:35 PM

Texas A&M

12-2

Washington State

9-2

Washington State

Texas A&M

Mar 12, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

March 12, 2010

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Kevin Gonzalez hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh and John Stilson struck out the final two batters of the game with the tying run at third as Texas A&M rallied for a 4-3 win over No. 25 Washington State Friday night before 2,796 fans at Olsen Field.

The win was the Aggies' ninth in a row as they improved to 12-2 on the season. The Cougars, meanwhile, fell to 9-2, while striking out 18 times on the night--the most by an A&M staff since 2001.

"It was a great Friday night game and it was what both teams expected," A&M coach Rob Childress said. "Both starters did an outstanding job. Washington State has a very good club. We were the first one to crack, we made a mistake in the sixth inning and they took advantage of it. But we did what we have done all year long, answered right back."

A scoreless pitcher's duel through five, Washington State struck first off Barret Loux in the top of the sixth. After a one-out error put catcher Jay Ponciano on base, right fielder Derek Jones put a double on the chalk down the left-field line that moved two into scoring position.

Loux walked the next batter to load the bases and gave way to reliever Shane Minks, who induced a double-play ball, but A&M was unable to turn it as the back end bounced away from first baseman Caleb Shofner to push home the game's first run. Matt Fannelli would follow with a line single to center to make the score 2-0.

A&M cut the lead in half in the last of the frame, as Joe Patterson delivered a two-out double into the left-center field gap to make the score 2-1.

The Aggies would take their first lead of the night in the seventh. Kenny Jackson began the frame with a line-drive to center, and Kevin Gonzalez followed by blasting a 1-2 offering from starter Chad Arnold over the fence in left to put Texas A&M ahead at 3-2. Later in the inning, A&M tried a double-steal with runners at the corners, where Andrew Collazo was thrown out at second but Adam Smith came home safely on the play to extend the lead to two.

Childress went to Stilson with two outs and a runner at second in the seventh, and the Aggie closer struck out Ponciano to preserve the lead, then sat down the Cougars in order in the eighth. Fanelli would begin the ninth, however, with a home run to right field to put the score at 4-3. Brett Jacobs followed with a double to deep center field, placing the tying run in scoring position with nobody out.

"I walked out there after the double and said, `Congratulations, you have an ERA now, and you're going to have to work for this one,'" Childress said. "He settled down and did a nice job."

Stilson retired the next hitter on an athletic play by Collazo at second, who dove into the 3-4 hole to stop a grounder then threw across his body to Stilson--who was covering at first. With the tying run now at third, the sophomore struck out pinch hitter Patrick Claussen and center fielder Garry Kuykendall to end the game. Loux did not factor in the decision but was once again strong on the mound. The junior allowed five hits, two unearned runs and a pair of walks over 5 1/3 innings while punching out 11.

"I thought Barret was really good," Childress said. "They pitch-counted him early and made him throw strike one, but I thought he settled in nicely. What he's learned to do now is pitch instead of just throw, and he just keeps getting better every time out."

Arnold (2-1) took the loss, going 6 2/3 and giving up seven hits, four runs (three earned) and three walks while punching out six.

A&M got a 2-for-3, two-RBI effort from Gonzalez, while Fanelli (3-for-4) led the Cougar offensive attack.

The series continues on Saturday with first pitch set for 2:05 p.m. Aggie sophomore Spencer Jackson (2-0, 2.08). The game will air locally on WTAW-AM 1620.

NOTES: The pitching staff's 18 combined strikeouts were the most by an Aggie team since March 30, 2001 (18 Ks vs Texas-Pan American) ... the Aggie pitching corps has fanned 10 or more batters in eight of the 14 games this season ... Barret Loux's 11 strikeouts were one shy of his career high of 12, set last week against Winthrop ... it was Loux's fourth career 10-plus punchout effort and the first time in his career he has done so in back-to-back games ... Joe Patterson has now hit safely in all but one game this year and reached safely (hit, walk or HBP) in 29 straight games dating back to last season.