The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
San Diego State
Baseball sweeps San Diego State with 7-0 win
02.06.2005 | Baseball
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Buck Cody (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Clayton Stewart (Angelton, Texas) and J. Brent Cox (Bay City, Texas) combined on a seven-hit shutout and Will Crouch (Austin, Texas) scored two runs and drove in a pair to lead No. 1 Texas (3-0) to a 7-0 victory over San Diego State (0-3) during the finale of a three-game series in front of 1,129 fans at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 6. Notably, with the win, the Horns not only swept the three-game set with the Aztecs, but also notched their first since May 2, 2004, at Missouri (16-0 win).
Following a scoreless first, the Longhorns jumped out in front 1-0 in the second as Crouch came through with a one-out double and eventually scored off a fielder's choice groundout that combined with a throwing error. The Aztecs attempted to tie the game in the bottom of the frame by placing runners on the corners with a pair of two-out singles, but Cody induced the next batter he faced to fly out to right to end the inning. After two more scoreless frames, San Diego State again threatened to knot the game at 1-1 by placing runners on first and second with two down in the fifth via a single and a walk, but Cody again held strong by getting a liner to Seth Johnston (Boerne, Texas) to keep UT on top.
In the sixth, Texas upped its advantage to 3-0 as Crouch connected on his second home run in as many days with one runner on and one out in the frame. SDSU then looked to cut into the UT lead in the bottom of the sixth by placing runners on first and second with one out, but Stewart came out of the bullpen and retired the next two Aztecs he faced to maintain the Horns' three-run advantage. In the top of the next inning, Texas doubled its lead with a three-run, two-out rally to make it a 6-0 game as the Longhorns loaded the bases on an error, a hit and walk before Carson Kainer (Tomball, Texas) delivered a two-run, pinch-hit single and another error brought in a third run. After neither side scored in the eighth, the game moved to the ninth where a Johnston triple and Taylor Teagarden (Carrollton, Texas) sac fly gave UT a 7-0 lead before Cox came on in the bottom of the inning and set the Aztecs down in order to seal the shutout victory. While Cody, who made his first career start, fanned three over a career-best 5.1 shutout innings en route to picking up the win, SDSU starter Andres Esquibel incurred the loss.
Highlighting the Texas offense on the afternoon were Crouch, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two runs scored and two RBI, Kainer, who turned in a perfect 2-for-2 day with two RBI, Johnston, who posted three hits while scoring twice, and Drew Stubbs (Atlanta, Texas), who collected a pair of hits and also scored once. The Aztecs, meanwhile, were led by Grant Desme, who went 3-for-3 from the leadoff spot in the lineup.
The Longhorns now return home to Disch-Falk Field for their home opener on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 2:30 p.m. Central against UT-Pan American. For tickets, call (512) 471-3333 or 1-800-982-BEVO.
