(#16) Texas A&M 6, (#25) Oklahoma State 4

Sunday, April 26

College Station

1:05 PM

Texas A&M

28-15, 13-8

Oklahoma State

28-17, 6-11

Oklahoma State

Texas A&M

Apr 26, 2009 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

April 26, 2009

Final Stats

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Kyle Colligan and Joe Patterson each hit home runs, and Brodie Greene added a key two-run double, to lead No. 16 Texas A&M to a 6-4 win over No. 25 Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon before 4,287 fans at Olsen Field.

The Aggies (28-15, 13-8 Big 12) took over sole possession of first place in the conference standings with their fourth league series win of the year. Oklahoma State (28-17, 6-11) dropped its second game in a row after claiming Friday night's series opener.

A&M scored in the first off OSU starter Tyler Blandford. The Aggies led off the frame with back-to-back singles, and loaded the bases one out later on a walk. Blandford was called for a balk on a pitch to the next batter, Kevin Gonzalez, and Greene trotted home with the game's first run.

Kyle Colligan extended the lead in the third. With one out, and following a Joe Patterson put a 2-0 pitch off the batter's eye in center field to push the lead to four.

Alex Wilson, who entered in relief one batter into the third inning, kept OSU at bay until allowing a run on a Jared Womack sacrifice fly in the sixth. It would be in the bottom of the frame where Greene would come up huge at the plate.

Caleb Shofner drew a walk to start the inning and moved to second on a base hit by David Alleman. Adam Smith then followed with a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Greene stepped to the plate, worked the count full, and then laced an offering from Blandford just inside the bag at third. Shofner and Alleman both scored easily on the double, extending the lead to 6-1.

A Kevin David RBI single in the seventh, and a two-run home run by Womack in the eighth, would pull Oklahoma State within striking distance heading into the game's final inning.

The Cowboys threatened off closer Nick Fleece in the ninth, as Micheal Dabbs led off the inning with a double off the top of the fence in left center and Kevin Davis moved him to third with a flare into shallow right field. Fleece struck out Neil Medchill, then got cleanup hitter Tyrone Hambly to ground into a game-ending double play to clinch the series for the Aggies.

Wilson (4-5) earned his fourth win of the year, allowing nine hits and four runs in five innings of work. He did not walk a batter and punched out seven on the day. Fleece picked up his team-leading fifth save of the year with a scoreless ninth.

Blandford (6-3) suffered the loss, giving up nine hits and six runs over six innings. He walked three and struck out nine.

Aggie starter Barret Loux was lifted early in the third. He allowed no hits and one walk, while fanning four, in 2 1/3 innings of work.

Greene and Anders each tallied two hits, while Greene and Colligan both drove in a pair. David went a game-high 4-for-5 to pace Oklahoma State's offensive attack while Womack drove in three of his team's four runs.

Texas A&M continues its homestand on Tuesday when the Aggies host No. 16 TCU at Olsen Field. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Over 20 members of the 1989 Southwest Conference Co-Champion Texas A&M baseball team were in attendance for Sunday's game as part of its 20th reunion festivities...among those at Olsen were Eric Albright, Ronnie Allen, Jeff Bernet, John Byington, Scott Centala, Deron Dacus, Scott Daniels, Andy Duke, Mike Easley, Kerry Freudenberg, Brent Gilbert, Dewayne Grimes, Tim Hermann, Tim Holt, Keith Langston, Jim Neumann, Randy Pryor, Blake Pyle, Terry Taylor, Kirk Thompson, Travis Williams, Trey Witte III and John Wood.

• Texas A&M improved to 22-7 at home in '09...the Aggies are also an impressive 10-1 at home in conference play, with one game remaining (Texas, May 8)...A&M will play its final five Big 12 games away from Olsen Field.

• Kyle Colligan played in the 200th game of his Aggie career on Sunday...the senior from Houston has started 196 games for A&M and made his 92nd consecutive start in center field in the game against the Cowboys.

• Caleb Shofner extended his hit streak to a career-high eight games...Luke Anders has now hit safely in nine straight games, a season high.

• Kyle Colligan third-inning home run was the 36th of his career, which ranks fifth on the school's all time chart.

• Nick Fleece's save was the Aggies' 10th of the season, marking the seventh straight year that A&M has tallied 10 or more saves.

• Aggie pitching fanned 10 or more batters (13) in a game for the third straight day and 25th time this year...the Aggie staff has punched out 429 hitters so far this year, 107 shy of the school record (set in 1991 and 1999) with 12 regular-season games remaining.

• Game-time temperature was 78 degrees with partly sunny skies and strong winds blowing out to left center at 23 miles per hour (gusting to 30).

POSTGAME QUOTES

HEAD COACH Alex Wilson came off short notice to pick us up and gave us a bridge, Esty (Uriegas) came in and got the guys he's supposed to get, and (Nick) Fleece shut it down. It was a great weekend for us, responding after Friday's game. Things are going our way a little bit. Ever since we came back from Manhattan we have been playing the way we are capable of. I think we can continue to do that."

(on the game tightening up and Nick Fleece's outing) "We weren't able to build on our big lead. They got back in the game with some big hits with two outs, and they had the opportunity to win it in the ninth. I was proud for Nick, that after getting himself in trouble he was able to get out of it without giving up any runs. He struck out their big guy and then got the ground ball out of Hambly."

(on the series win) "They were ahead of us (RPI), and that was huge. They're all huge from an RPI standpoint, from here on out. Everyone we play from here on out has a great RPI. Tuesday night's going to be a war, and this weekend against Dallas Baptist is going to be another tough one. This was a big weekend for us, especially since we have one more conference game at home from here on out. We have to protect Olsen Field, we only get 12 (Big 12 games). We need to take care of our business at home because we haven't done a very good job of it on the road."

(on OSU's standing and the league in general) "It's incredible, for them to be where they are (ninth place). They are one of the most talented teams we've faced this year. It's a war every time you take the field in the Big 12, and this is as good as it's ever been. The records reflect that. I know there's been teams across the country in different leagues that don't make their conference tournament and get to go to a regional--the Big 12 is no different than any other league across the country. You're seeing a commitment to winning, and everyone in our league is really good. Across the country, I would hate to hear them say the Big 12 is average, because it's not. It's as good as it's ever been, it's an unforgiving league, and it's as good as the Pac-10, the SEC, the ACC...hopefully the NCAA will respect that come postseason time."