Aggies Fall, 7-5, to No. 25 Washington State

Saturday, March 13

College Station

2:05 PM

Texas A&M

12-3

Washington State

10-2

Washington State

Texas A&M

Mar 13, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

March 13, 2010

Final Stats

Rob Childress [mp3]

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - No. 25 Washington State snapped Texas A&M's nine-game win streak with a 7-5 victory Saturday afternoon before 3,347 fans at Olsen Field.

The game was delayed for 18 minutes in the bottom of the ninth when Cougar center fielder Kyle Johnson collided with right fielder Derek Jones, as both tried to make a play on a Joe Patterson leadoff double. Johnson was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher, but was responsive and was taken to College Station Medical Center for precautionary measures.

"That was scary, and it makes you understand that this is just a game," A&M coach Rob Childress said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and I think he's going to be fine, without question."

Once the game resumed, WSU closer Adam Conley got Caleb Shofner to foul out to right field, then after an error, induced a game-ending double play ball to end the game and even the series.

"You have to give their closer credit," Childress said. "He was able to keep his composure, come back out there and after getting down 2-0 to Caleb, retire him and then get the big double play ball. Give him credit for sitting over there for 20 minutes, with the game on the line and on the road...to come back out and do what he did, I thought he did a really nice job."

With the loss, the Aggies fell to 12-3, while Washington State improved to 10-2.

A&M fell into a 7-0 hole, as the Cougars scored five runs off Aggie starter Ross Stripling in the second and tacked on single runs in the fourth and sixth frames. The A&M offense put together a five-spot in the sixth to pull within two but could get no closer.

"We were playing catch-up from the word go," Childress said. "I thought Ross settled in and gave us a shot to get back in it. When we did come back we made the game close, and Michael Wacha gave us an opportunity to come back and win it, but we just weren't able to do it."

The Cougars sent eight to the plate in the decisive second inning to take the big early lead. After a base hit and walk got the first two runners on base, Matt Fanelli dropped a bunt to the left side of the mound. Stripling got to the ball and tried to go to third as Matt Juengel was back-pedaling to cover the bag, but the throw went high over his head. One run scored and two moved into scoring position, giving WSU an early 1-0 lead. Brett Jacobs would make it 2-0 as he drove a run home on a groundout to short. Following a single to put two on, Cody Bartlett launched a home run over the right center field fence, his first of the season, to make the score 5-0.

"We tried to get the lead out instead of just taking an out," Childress said. "That was probably my fault, I put a different play on than maybe I should have, and when you don't get an out on a bunt play you're usually looking at a big inning. They did a good job behind that bunt of getting the big hits."

The Cougars took advantage of a two-out error to plate another run in the fourth, as an RBI single by Garry Kuykendall pushed the lead to 6-0.

Back-to-back hits for Washington State to start the sixth set up another scoring chance with runners at the corners. Following a pitching change, Brett Jacobs beat out a double-play ball to second to pick up an RBI and extend the Cougar advantage to seven.

Texas A&M rallied back in a big way, however, in the sixth, pushing home five runs to pull back within two.

Joe Patterson began the inning with consecutive singles, and Shofner followed with a home run to right--his team-best fifth of the year--to make the score 7-3. Three batters and a pitching change later, Brandon Wood lined a single to center to plate Kevin Gonzalez to cut the lead to three. After John Stilson traded places with Wood on a fielder's choice and promptly swiped second, Andrew Collazo chopped a ground ball up the middle. Shortstop Shea Vucinich got to it and tried to make a strong throw across his body, but on a bang-bang play the ball skipped in to first allowing Collazo to reach safely. Stilson, running all the way, scored easily and cut the Cougar lead to 7-5.

Washington State had a great chance to pad the lead in the top of the ninth, loading the bases to start the inning off reliever Michael Wacha. The freshman then stepped up in a big way, punching out the next two hitters and coaxing a lazy infield pop to second to send the Aggies into their final at-bat.

On the afternoon, A&M out-hit WSU, 15-11, and was led by Collazo's second four-hit effort of the year. Shofner was 3-for-5 with the three RBIs while Greene, Patterson and Juengel had two hits apiece.

For Washington State, Vucinich had a team-high three hits and Bartlett finished the day 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Stripling (3-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing seven runs (six earned) over five-plus innings. He walked two and struck out three. Jake Feckley tossed an inning of shutout relief and Wacha gave up three hits and punched out three over three shutout innings.

Spencer Jackson (3-0) earned the win, going five-plus and allowing eight hits, four runs and two walks while punching out four. Conley earned his third save of the year by giving up three hits over the final two innings.

The series concludes Sunday with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. Aggie junior Nick Fleece (1-0, 2.40) will face Washington State junior James Wise (1-0, 5.59).

NOTES: Joe Patterson has now hit safely in all but one game this year and reached safely (hit, walk or HBP) in 30 straight games dating back to last season ... A&M is now 11-2 on the year when out-hitting an opponent.