|
|
Austin Jones was 2-for-5 with three RBI for the Utes.
|
March 8, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Despite overcoming a four-run deficit to take an 11-10 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Utah baseball team dropped a 12-11 heartbreaker to No. 4 Texas A&M in the final game of the series on Sunday.
Down 10-6 going into the ninth inning, the Utes (6-6) staged a rally beginning with a leadoff walk by Zach Jones. Michael Beltran reached on an error by the shortstop and pinch hitter Tyler Yagi walked to load the bases. Corey Shimada then walked to bring the first run in. Still with no outs, C.J. Cron hit a two RBI single to left field, sending in both Yagi and Beltran while moving Shimada over to third. Austin Jones reached base on the Aggie shortstop's second error of the inning, allowing Shimada to score and tie the game, 10-10. Josh Reed, who had come in to pinch run for Cron, scored the go-ahead run when Cooper Blanc grounded out to the second baseman to put Utah up 11-10, its first lead since a 1-0 advantage in the first inning.
The Aggies (11-3) came back in the bottom of the inning as Brett Parsons and Adam Smith led off with back-to-back singles. Kevin Gonzalez moved both runners over on a sacrifice bunt for the first out of the inning. Brodie Green was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a potential double play. Utah reliever Robert Chimpky forced Kyle Colligan to pop up in foul territory with Austin Jones making the catch for the second out, but Brooks Raley and Dylan Petrich each walked to score the game tying and winning runs.
|
|
 |
Utah, which had nine hits on the day and took advantage of six A&M errors, was led by Shimada's 2-for-4 effort with a walk and four runs scored. Cron and Austin Jones were each 2-for-5 with three RBI. Cron hit his third home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning. Blanc also had three RBI on the afternoon, including a two-run homer to left center in the top of the eighth inning.
Texas A&M was buoyed by the long ball, hitting six home runs on the day. Petrich was one of several Aggies with multiple hits and RBI, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, including one home run.
Both squads struggled on the mound, using 18 pitchers between them. Utah starter Bryn Card went 2.1 innings for Utah, allowing five runs on seven hits. Joe Pond, who relieved Card in the third, had a solid outing, pitching 2.2 innings with two strikeouts and two hits. Chimpky, who entered the game in the bottom of the ninth, picked up his first loss of the year. Bennett Askew and Greg Krause also saw time on the mound. Aggie starter Barret Loux went five innings, allowing one earned run and striking out 10. A&M used six different pitchers in the final two innings, with Ross Stripling getting his first win of the season.
Utah went 2-2 over four games in Texas, starting with a win over Sam Houston State on Thursday before going 1-2 to Texas A&M.
"We came down here and played well," Kinneberg said. "We are ready for conference play now. We have seen good pitching and hitting and are ready for the challenge that lies ahead."
Utah plays its first home game of the season on Thursday, March 12, against Brigham Young at 3:00 p.m. at Franklin Covey Field.
