The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
Two-run seventh propels No. 6 Baseball past No. 19 Baylor, 8-6
04.14.2006 | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Reliever Joseph Krebs tossed a career-high 5.2 innings of shutout relief and Drew Stubbs went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI to lead No. 6 Texas to an 8-6 victory over No. 19 Baylor in front of 6,373 fans at Disch-Falk Field on Friday, April 14.
While the Horns' (26-12, 11-2 Big 12) win over the Bears (22-14, 7-7 Big 12) gave them five triumphs in their last six games, it also secured them of their fourth straight league series victory.
After Texas starter Adrian Alaniz (Sinton, Texas) worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the top of the opening frame, Stubbs (Atlanta, Texas) belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to stake UT to a 2-0 lead. Answering immediately in the top of the second, the Bears used a pair of one-out walks followed by an RBI-double from Kevin Sevigny and a sac fly off the bat of Beamer Weems to knot the game at 2-2. An inning later in the bottom of the third, the Horns threatened to regain the lead after consecutive two-out walks came around a stolen base to place runners on the corners. Carson Kainer (Tomball, Texas) and Preston Clark (Rockwall, Texas) then connected on back-to-back home runs to plate four runs and establish a 6-2 UT advantage. Notably, the consecutive round-trippers marked the second time this season that two Longhorns had turned that trick, as Kainer and Stubbs delivered back-to-back home runs at Oklahoma on April 2.
Looking to respond again in their very next at bat, the Bears managed to load the bases with one down in the top of the fourth on two singles and a walk. A bases-clearing triple off the bat of Seth Fortenberry then combined with a RBI-single from Zach Dillon to deadlock the game at 6-6. Still alive in the frame, BU loaded the bases for a second time via a two-out error and an intentional walk, but Krebs (Bridgeport, Texas) induced a flyout to end the chance. While UT would produce another scoring opportunity with runners at first and third with one out in the bottom of the fifth, Baylor starter Cory VanAllen got his next batter to hit into an inning-ending double play to keep the contest tied. The Bears then threatened with one out in the top of the sixth after getting two runners on with a single and an error, but Krebs again escaped trouble with a strikeout and a groundout.
In the bottom of the seventh, Texas received a one-out double from Chais Fuller (Fairfield, Calif.) followed by consecutive run-scoring, two-out doubles off the bats of Jordan Danks (Round Rock, Texas) and Stubbs to regain the lead at 8-6. From there, Krebs worked a 1-2-3 eighth and set down three of the four batters he faced in the ninth to preserve the victory. While Krebs notched his second win of the year with a career-best six strikeouts over 5.2 shutout innings of relief, VanAllen incurred the loss despite working 6.2 frames in a starting effort.
Paving the way for the UT offense on the night were Stubbs, who connected on his team-leading ninth home run while scoring twice and tallying three RBI during a two-hit effort, and Danks, who went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and the game-winning RBI in the seventh. Baylor, meanwhile, had its offense led by Dillon, who went 2-for-3 with a RBI, Jeff Mandel, who posted two hits and scored two runs, and Kevin Sevigny, who went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Of additional note for UT, Kainer extended his current hit streak to a season-best eight games and, with three round-trippers on the night, the Horns' offense has now posted 23 home runs in the last 10 games.
The final game of this series, which is presented by State Farm Insurance and will be televised by CSTV, is set for Saturday, April 15 at Disch-Falk Field. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. Central. To purchase tickets, log on to www.TexasBoxOffice.com or call 1-800-982-BEVO.
