April 25, 2003
COLUMBIA, Mo. - In a battle of the Big 12 Conference's third- and fourth-place teams, Texas A&M RF Cory Patton hit a pair of homers and had four RBI to lead the 13th-ranked Aggies to a 6-1 win over No. 19 Missouri in the Big 12 Conference series opener Friday night at Taylor Stadium. The Aggies (34-12, 13-6 Big 12) now hold a 1-1/2 game lead over Mizzou (27-14, 11-7 Big 12).
After Erik Schindewolf led the game off with a grounder to short, Cliff Pennington singled to right with one out in the first off sophomore RHP Justin James (Yukon, Okla.), and Patton hit James' next pitch over the right-field wall for a two-run homer.
James came back in the second, allowing a single by Jordy Mitchell that nearly took his head off before striking out the side in order, including the final two looking.
Back-to-back leadoff singles by junior C Brad Flanders (Smithville, Mo.) and freshman 3B Zane Taylor (Kirksville, Mo.) in the second inning put the Tigers in prime position to score, as Flanders moved to third on Taylor's bloop into left-center. Junior LF Ryan Rallo (Chesterfield, Mo.) grounded into a fielders choice to drive in Flanders.
The Aggies got three two-out runs in the fifth. Schindewolf doubled to right-center, and Pennington followed with an RBI double to left. Patton then hit his second homer of the game, a 1-1 shot to right to make it 5-1 in favor of A&M. The Aggies scored another off James in the seventh with three hits and an error.
Aggie left-hander Kyle Farcus (4-2) scattered five Tiger hits over 8-2/3 innings, allowing one run and four walks while striking out seven. Despite striking out six A&M batters and walking none, James (6-5) finished with six runs on 10 hits.
"Offensively, we need to be better," Head Coach Tim Jamieson said. "We swung at some pitches we shouldn't have. Their guy pitched well, but we helped him out a bit." Jamieson appeared unfazed at losing the opening game of the series, pointing to last weekend's series win at Baylor. "You don't like to lose on Friday, but they have something recent to remember on coming back in this situation."
The Tigers and Aggies play the middle game of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Taylor Stadium. Sophomore RHP Garrett Broshuis (Advance, Mo.) will put his 5-2 record on the line against Texas A&M's Matt Farnum (7-1). For ticket information, call the MU Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS (573-884-PAWS in mid-Missouri).