No. 8 Texas A&M nips KU, 10-9
March 18, 2007
COLLEGE STATION, Texas –
Darby Brown’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth lifted No. 8 Texas A&M past Kansas, 10-9, Sunday in the rubber game of the teams’ opening Big 12 series. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Aggies improve to 20-3 and 2-1 in the conference, while KU falls to 13-11 and 1-2 in Big 12 play.
KU led 9-6 after 7 ½ innings, but a two-run triple and a run on an error tied the game after eight. KU had a chance to cut down the tying run at the plate, but the home plate umpire ruled that senior catcher Dylan Parzyk obstructed the runner from scoring.
In the bottom of the ninth, Texas A&M third baseman Blake Stouffer led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice. That set up Brown’s run-scoring single to left.
The crazy finish came on the heels of a 17-13, 11-inning thriller on Saturday evening.
Texas A&M started the wild ride Sunday with a solo home run by catcher Craig Stinson in the top of the second.
Kansas battled back with four runs in the top of the third. Designated hitter Joe Servais started things with a one out walk and moved to second on Dylan Parzyk’s single up the middle.
After a fielder’s choice and a stolen base, freshman Robby Price put the Jayhawks on top with a two-run single through the right side of the infield with two outs. The inning continued as junior John Allman was hit by a pitch and Brock Simpson plated two runs on a ball that was misplayed by Texas A&M right fielder Brodie Greene.
The Aggies cut the lead to 4-2 on a wild pitch in the next inning, however KU stretched its lead again in the top of the fourth. After second baseman Ryne Price was hit by a pitch, KU collected four straight singles with one out. Parzyk singled to left field to score Price, then center fielder Kyle Murphy singled to right field to load the bases.
Robby Price drove in his third run of the game with a base hit through the right side, while Allman walked to drive in a run and Simpson hit a sac fly to give KU an 8-2 lead.
The Aggies came back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth on a grand slam by A&M second baseman Parker Dalton to make it 8-6.
KU added a run in the sixth on Simpson’s RBI ground out.
Robby Price led the Kansas attack, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while Murphy had a pair of hits and three runs scored. Parzyk also chipped in a 2-for-4 effort.
Robby Price extended his hitting streak to 16 straight games. He currently holds the 14th longest hitting streak in KU history.
Sophomore Andy Marks pitched 6.1 innings and struck out eight Aggies to match career highs in both categories. Marks was the only starting pitcher to go more than six innings in the series.
The Jayhawks will look to bounce back at home with a brief two-game series against Northern Colorado, beginning Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.
