The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Villanova
No. 7 Baseball earns 8-0 shutout over Villanova
02.24.2006 | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Adrian Alaniz struck out a career-high 10 over eight innings and Bradley Suttle drove in a career-best four runs as No. 7 Texas posted its first shutout of the 2006 season with an 8-0 win over Villanova in front of 4,543 fans at Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 24.
The shutout victory over the Wildcats (2-2) not only gave the Longhorns (7-6) seven wins in their last 10 games, but also marked UT's first shutout since June 20, 2005 (a 5-0 win over No. 1 Tulane at the College World Series). Additionally, Alaniz's 10 strikeouts were the most for a Texas hurler since June 11, 2004, when former Longhorn J.P. Howell fanned 13 against Vanderbilt during NCAA Super Regional action at Disch-Falk Field.
Following a scoreless opening frame for both sides, the Longhorns grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Kyle Russell (Magnolia, Texas) tripled with one out and scored on a safety squeeze bunt delivered by Suttle (Boerne, Texas). After each offense went quietly in the third, UT put together a rally with one out in the bottom of the fourth by placing runners on first and second via a single and a walk. Jordan Danks (Round Rock, Texas) then came up with a ground-rule double to drive in one run before Suttle singled in two more and Brett Lewis (Rockwall, Texas) doubled in another with two away to push Texas on top by a score of 5-0. Alaniz (Sinton, Texas), meanwhile, kept the Wildcat's attack in check by surrendering only three singles and striking out six over the first five innings.
Drew Stubbs (Atlanta, Texas) connected on his third home run with one out in the fifth to not only extend his current hit streak to seven games, but also up the Horns' advantage to 6-0. Villanova would threaten in the top of the sixth by placing runners on first and second with two outs on walks, but Alaniz induced his next batter to pop-up on the infield to end the inning unscathed. Texas then used a pair of hit batters and consecutive two-out, RBI-base hits from Suttle and Preston Clark (Rockwall, Texas) to pull in front 8-0 after eight innings. In the ninth, freshman Kyle Walker (The Woodlands, Texas) came on in relief of Alaniz and managed to strike out the side to complete the shutout win. Picking up his third win in four starts was Alaniz, who scattered four base hits and three walks over eight frames while fanning 10, while Villanova starter Kevin Mulvey incurred the loss despite striking out six over five innings of work.
Headlining the UT offense on the afternoon was Suttle, who went 2-for-3 with one run scored and a career-high four RBI, Russell, who scored a career-best three runs during a 1-for-2 outing, and Carson Kainer (Tomball, Texas), who singled and scored twice. The Wildcats, meanwhile, put at least one runner on in seven of their nine offensive innings and had five different players account for their five hits on the day, including right fielder James Dolbier, who went 1-for-3 with a walk.
These two teams square off in Game #2 of their three-game set at Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. Central. To purchase tickets, call 1-800-982-BEVO.
