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STILLWATER — Oklahoma State had a chance to buy some insurance in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday when, up one run on Texas A&M, the Cowboys loaded the bases. But OSU declined the coverage as first baseman Rebel Ridling struck out to end the inning, and the Cowboys had to win a 3-2 nail-biter in the ninth with Jordy Mercer on the mound.

"It's always good to have insurance,” Mercer said. "But when it doesn't work out you gotta do what you gotta do.”

The Aggies loaded the bases on a couple of singles with one out in the top of the ninth. But Mercer struck out pinch-hitter Brooks Raley and Kyle Colligan grounded out to end the game.

"I got ahead and made some good pitches, I thought, but they got hits,” Mercer said. "Luckily it balanced out.”

After dropping the first game of the series with the Aggies on Friday, OSU is now 14-6 overall, 2-3 in the Big 12. Texas A&M and OSU wrap up their series this afternoon with the Cowboys hoping to get back to .500 in conference play.

"We needed that win,” OSU coach Frank Anderson said. "We've been scuffling a little bit and we fought back today and took it to the end.”

Texas A&M did all its scoring in the second inning when Brian Ruggiano hit a two-run home run off OSU starter Tyler Lyons. Lyons threw a solid 7 1/3 innings before Mercer relieved him. Unlike two recent starts — against the University of San Diego and last week at Baylor — where Lyons pitched well and didn't get the win, OSU provided just enough run support.

"It was kind of the opposite,” said Lyons, who is 3-2 this season. "We got some big hits when we needed them today.”

Ridling and third baseman Matt Hague provided most of the big hits. In the fourth inning, Hague doubled to right field, scoring Donnie Webb, and Ridling scored Hague with a single to right. Hague went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Ridling, who stranded five runners, had two RBIs. Neither team scored in the last five innings, and the game lasted under 2½ hours.

"This conference is so tough it can turn either way, so this was a big game,” Mercer said.