The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas State
No. 9 Baseball sweeps series at Kansas State behind 10-9 victory in 10 innings
04.09.2006 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Carson Kainer matched career-bests with four hits and five RBI to help rally the Longhorns from behind three times as No. 9 Texas earned a 10-9 victory in 10 innings over Kansas State in front of 1,315 fans at Tointon Stadium on Sunday, April 9.
With the win over the Wildcats (21-8, 2-7 Big 12), the Horns (24-11, 9-2 Big 12) not only sweep their second league series of the season, but also extend their current winning streak to three games as they have won five of their last six games all on the road.
A two-out base hit from Kainer (Tomball, Texas) with Nick Peoples (Round Rock, Texas) on second with a leadoff double staked UT to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. While the Horns managed to also load the bases in the frame via a walk and an error, Kansas State starter Chase Bayuk worked out of the jam with a flyout to left. Three consecutive singles from the Wildcats to start the bottom of the first then combined with two fielding errors and a RBI-base hit from Barrett Rice to score three runs and put KSU on top 3-1. After a scoreless second for both sides, a two-out single from Preston Clark (Rockwall, Texas) in the third followed by a run-scoring double off the bat of Brett Lewis (Rockwall, Texas) cut the deficit to 3-2. Lewis then delivered a one-out, safety-squeeze bunt with runners on the corners via a single and an error in the fifth to knot the score at 3-3.
Answering right back in the bottom of the fifth, KSU loaded the bases on a leadoff walk, an error and a base hit with one down before pinch-hitter Brandon Farr delivered a RBI-single and to reclaim the lead at 4-3. A sacrifice fly from Cris Tapia followed by a two-run double by Eli Rumler then extended the Wildcats' advantage to 7-3. Countering immediately in the top of the sixth, the Horns sent eight men to the plate and scored four times to deadlock the game at 7-7. While back-to-back doubles from Kyle Russell (Tomball, Texas) and Chais Fuller (Fairfield, Calif.) brought in one run to start the sixth, a walk, an RBI-groundout and a run-scoring single from Drew Stubbs (Atlanta, Texas) pulled UT within one. Kainer then came through with a RBI-double to score Stubbs and tie the contest. Although Texas was still threatening in the frame with runners on the corners and one down, reliever Ben Hornbeck induced a hard-hit, double-play grounder to end the rally.
A two-out round-tripper from Jared Goedert in the seventh would again put the Wildcats on top, but a double from Stubbs and a single from Kainer with two outs in the eighth made it an 8-8 ballgame. Following a scoreless bottom of the eighth and both ends of the ninth, the tilt moved to extra innings. In the top of the 10th, the Horns put two on with two out via a fielder's choice and a walk before Kainer delivered a two-run double to give Texas its first lead since the first inning at 10-8. Failing to go quietly, Kansas State put the tying runs on base with one out via a walk and an error. A double from Rumler then scored one run before an intentional walk loaded the bases for KSU. With the winning run now 90 feet away and the go-ahead run at second, Randy Boone (Yoakum, Texas), who entered the game in the fifth, got his next batter to ground into a game-ending double play to preserve the one-run triumph. While Boone, who worked a season-best 5.2 innings during which he allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out five, picked up the win in relief, KSU reliever Bryan Peterson shouldered the loss.
Leading the way for Texas' 14-hit attack were Kainer, who went 4-for-6 with five RBI, including four with two outs, and Stubbs, who set a career-high with four hits in six at bats while scoring four runs and driving in one. On the other side of the ledger, Kansas State's offense was paced by Rice, who went 3-for-5 with one run scored and one RBI, Rumler, who drove in three runs during a two-hit afternoon, and Goedert, who went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.
Up next, the Horns return home to Disch-Falk Field to face the Mavericks of UT-Arlington in a 6:15 p.m. Central game on Tuesday, April 11.
