AGGIES EDGE BRONCS, 2-1 IN 12 INNINGS

COLLEGE STATION, TX –Sixteenth-ranked Texas A&M scored a run in the bottom of the 12^th to edge The University of Texas-Pan American baseball team, 2-1, at Olsen Field Friday night.

The Aggies began their winning rally with two out against the second Bronc pitcher, senior Jacob Pierce (Longview, TX/Longview HS/Navarro JC). Left fielder David Evans drew a walk and stole second. Center fielder Eddie Lang, who had entered the game as a pinch-runner in the bottom of the eighth.

The Broncs took the lead in the top of the first inning. Junior second baseman Jerome McCoy (Fort Worth, TX/Eastern Hills HS/Northeast Texas CC) led off by being hit by a pitch and stole second. One out later, sophomore third baseman Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) doubled down the left field line to score McCoy with the first run of the game.

Texas A&M tied the game in the sixth. With two out, third baseman Tim Petru was hit by a pitch and stole second. Designated hitter Erik Schindewolf singled to center to tie the score.

Both starting pitchers pitched well. Junior righthander Travis Parker (Brownsville, TX/Hanna HS/UT-Brownsville HS) pitched nine innings, allowed nine hits, walked three and struck out eight. The Aggies’ Justin Moore went 11 innings, allowed nine hits, walked one and fanned four.

“Travis pitched as well as he’s pitched since he’s been here,” said UTPA Assistant Coach Johnny Johnson. “He did a real good job of changing speeds, threw everything for strikes, and kept them off balance all night. He had eight strikeouts, and got them all in big situations. Their pitcher did a good job as well. We had him on the ropes a few times, but we couldn’t come up with the big hit. Jacob Pierce threw very well, also. He dominated them for 2 2/3 innings. They got a single up the middle with two outs that just got by the infield, and then they got the big hit that neither team could get for most of the night.”

Pierce, who pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, took the loss and fell to 0-2. Reliever Zach Dixon, who pitched the 12^th for the Aggies, earned the win and improved to 2-0.

Texas A&M won their sixth game in a row and improved to 25-10 with the win, while UTPA dropped to 8-24 with the defeat. The Broncs and Aggies, who were originally scheduled to play a single game Saturday and a single game Sunday, will instead play a doubleheader Saturday at 3 p.m. due to forecasts of inclement weather Sunday.

BASETAMU1040502