March 22, 2009

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - - Texas A&M avoided being swept by Missouri by scoring a run in the top of the ninth inning to take a 6-5 win on Sunday at Taylor Stadium in Columbia. It was the second-straight Sunday in which the Tigers lost after the go-ahead run was scored in the ninth inning.

Mizzou (11-11, 3-3 Big 12) jumped out to an early lead after putting two runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning. After the first two Tigers to the plate flew out, junior Trevor Coleman doubled and junior Aaron Senne drew a walk. Coleman and Senne would both score when junior Greg Folgia doubled into center.

Senior Ryan Lollis led off the third inning with a triple and later scored when Folgia reached on an error by the Texas A&M third baseman.

A pair of home runs by the Aggies in the fifth and sixth innings gave them the lead. Randall Thorpe hit a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at three. Then in the sixth, Kevin Gonzalez connected on a solo home run to give Texas A&M its first lead of the weekend. The Aggies added a run in the seventh to give them a two-run advantage.

Missouri tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, which included an RBI single by senior Kyle Mach. Senior Austin Holt, in the game as a pinch runner, scored the tying run on an Aggies error.

Lollis and Mach each had two hits on the afternoon.

Texas A&M (14-9, 3-3) Brooks Raley singled to open the ninth and stole second base. He scored all the way from second when the throw on the steal attempt bounced into left field.

Sophomore Nick Tepesch struck out nine in 5.2 innings pitched, allowing four runs on seven hits and taking a no decision.

The Tigers will conclude its six-game home stand with a pair of games against Illinois-Chicago this week at Taylor Stadium. Game one is set for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, with game to scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday.