March 20, 2009

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - - For the second-straight week, Missouri junior Kyle Gibson picked up a complete game victory, as he struck out a career-high 16 batters in the Tigers' 3-2 win over Texas A&M on Friday night at Taylor Stadium.

Gibson, who was the Big 12 Conference and National Pitcher of the Week last week, made a bid to repeat those honors, as he gave up just two runs on five hits. His only walk allowed on the night was an intentional pass in the eighth inning.

Gibson retired the first 10 batters to the plate and 18 of the first 19 he faced. He improved to 4-1 on the year and has 54 strikeouts in 39.0 innings pitched this season. He has struck out 40 in his last three starts. Gibson moved into the top-10 in career strikeouts at Missouri on Friday night. He has 227, which puts him in a tie for eighth place all-time.

Last week, Gibson recorded the first shutout of his career against Texas, striking out 11 and allowing just six hits in that game.

Mizzou (10-10, 2-2 Big 12) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as juniors Ryan Lollis and Trevor Coleman each singled and scored.

The score remained 2-0 until the Aggies (13-8, 2-2) plated a pair of run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at two.

After a fly out to open the bottom of the eighth for Mizzou, junior Greg Folgia and freshman Conner Mach delivered back-to-back singles. Folgia scored when pinch hitter Steve Gray beat out a possible double play, reaching on a fielders' choice and allowing Folgia to score from third base with the go-ahead run.

Folgia was 3-for-4 on the night, adding singles in the first and sixth innings.

Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday at Taylor Stadium.