Baseball

April 28, 2001

Texas A&M Rallies for 11- 8 Win Over No. 1 Nebraska

College Station, Texas - Rusty Meyer's solo home run highlighted a five-run seventh inning, as Texas A&M overcame an 8-6 deficit to down No. 1 Nebraska, 11-8, in front of a crowd of 7,331 at Olsen Field, the ninth largest crowd in stadium history, Saturday evening.

Meyer's homer, his fourth of the year, off NU reliever R.D. Spiehs broke an 8-8 tie, as the Aggies improved to 26-22 on the year and 11-12 in the Big 12. The Huskers overcame a 6-1 deficit after two innings, only to see Texas A&M score five in the seventh and hold on for the victory.

"I was proud of how we fought back," Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said. "That is what makes tonight's loss disappointing. We were down 6-1, but came back to take the lead."

NU falls to 35-11 overall and 16-5 in the league and saw its lead in the Big 12 race drop to one and a half games, as Baylor defeated Oklahoma State, 7-5, in Stillwater this evening.

A&M's Justin Moore pitched a scoreless 2.1 innings of relief to improve to 6-3 with the win. He got out of a two-on, two-out situation in the seventh and retired the final seven hitters, including Justin Seely on a strikeout for the game's final out.

Meyer went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI, while Ty Garner was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored to lead the Aggies' 16-hit attack.

The Huskers jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, loading the bases before Jeff Blevins' RBI single to left scored Will Bolt from third. John Cole, who had doubled earlier in the frame, attempted to score on the play, but was thrown out at the plate on a strong throw from A&M left fielder Eddie Lang to end the inning.

The lead would not last long, as Texas A&M touched up NU starter Jamie Rodrigue for four runs in the bottom half of the frame and added two more in the second to chase the Husker starter after just 21 pitches. In the bottom of the first, A&M strung together five consecutive hits, including RBI singles by Travis Wong and Rusty Meyer and a triple by Jason Gremminger, to give the Aggies a 4-1 advantage.

In the second, Texas A&M loaded the bases with no out on consecutive singles by Ryan Wardinsky and Lang before Dale Evans' fielder's choice filled the bases with A&M runners, ending Rodrigue's shortest outing of the season. Matt Alexander's sacrifice fly to right extended the Aggie lead to 5-1 before Ty Garner's singled up the middle off NU reliever R.D. Spiehs to give A&M a five-run lead.

Rodrigue, who had won his last three decisions entering tonight's game, allowed six runs on seven hits in one inning of work, but was bailed out, as NU scored five runs in the sixth and added another in the eight to take an 8-6 lead.

"Jamie had a bad outing tonight," Van Horn said. "All of his pitches were belt high and they were able to hit him early and often. R. D. did a good job in relief to get us back in the game. We were trying to get him through the inning and get to the left-handers they had in the bottom of the order, but they had a couple of quick hits to tie the score before the home run. After that, our bullpen didn't do a good didn't do a good job, especially against their lefties."

Nebraska cut the lead to 6-2, scoring an unearned run in the fourth. With two outs, Blevins singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored as Josh Hesse's ball deep in the hole was booted by Aggie shortstop Ryan Wardinsky, allowing the Husker third baseman to score from second.

In the sixth, the Huskers finally got to Aggie starter Chris French in the sixth, scoring five times to regain the lead at 7-6. Dan Johnson led off with a walk before Matt Hopper's sixth home run of the season, a towering two-run shot to left, made it 6-4. Jeff Blevins' single to right chased French, bringing in reliever Todd Deininger. Jed Morris' one out single put runners on first and second before Blevins moved to third on a passed ball. Adam Stern gave Nebraska a 7-6 lead, sending a full count pitch off the scoreboard in left for his sixth round tripper of the year.

Nebraska added to its lead in the seventh to 8-6, scoring a run off Deininger on Jed Morris' RBI single. Justin Seely singled with two outs, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Morris' single up the middle. The Huskers continued to threaten, putting runners on second and third with two outs, but Moore got Adam Stern to ground out to end the threat.

Spiehs, who had pitched five scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit after the second, finally ran into trouble in the seventh. Garner led with a double down the line in left and scored on Jeff Freeman's single that was misplayed by Justin Seely in left, allowing Freeman move to third. Gremminger's sacrifice fly to right tied the score at eight before Meyer's solo homer to left gave A&M a 9-8 lead. A&M extended the lead, scoring a pair of runs off NU reliever Waylon Byers on RBI singles by Lang and Ben Himes.

Spiehs allowed three runs and five hits, dropping to 5-3 on the season.

The Huskers and Aggies conclude the three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m. Senior left-hander Brian Rodaway (2-1, 4.34 ERA) will be opposed by Aggie lefty Steven Ponder (1-1, 5.74 ERA)

Source: University of Nebraska Sports Information