The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Missouri
Baseball drops series opener against Missouri, 7-6
05.04.2007 | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas -- No. 5 Texas lost the series opener to Missouri, 7-6, in 11 innings Friday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The loss for Texas overshadowed Kyle Russell hitting his 25th and 26th home runs of the season, both opposite field leadoff homers.
Texas (37-13, 17-5) scored single runs in each of the first three innings. In the first inning, Russell drew a walk moved to third on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt and scored on a groundout by Bradley Suttle. In the second inning, Jordan Danks singled moved to second on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt and scored on a single up the middle by Preston Clark. Russell led off the third inning with a solo home run.
Missouri (32-12, 13-6) shaved two runs off the lead with back-to-back solo home runs. Jacob Priday and Trevor Coleman each hit solo shots down the leftfield line.
Russell hit his second home run of the game to start the bottom of the fifth. It marked the sixth time on the season he smacked two homers in a game.
The Tigers put up four runs in the top of the seventh. Joseph Krebs started the inning in relief of James Russell. With one out, John McKee and Even Frey sandwiched singles around a walk by Gary Arndt to load the bases. Randy Boone came in to spell Krebs and issued a walk to Brock Bond to force in a run. Ryan Lollis followed with a two-run single down the rightfield line, to give Missouri its first lead of the game at 5-4. Priday hit a sacrifice fly to inflate the cushion to 6-4.
Texas knotted the score in the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, Chance Wheeless and Suttle each reached on singles. With two outs, Danks walked to load the bases, setting up a two run single by Clark tying the score at 6-6 and forcing extra innings.
Missouri scored the game winning run in the top of the 11th. McKee led off with a single. Kurt Calvert pinch ran for McKee, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a ground out. Calvert scored when the Longhorns' catcher's throw back to the pitcher's mound was errant.
Russell went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two home runs and two RBI. With his two home runs, Russell moved into a tie with Casey Bookout (1998) of Oklahoma for fifth place on the Big 12 Conference single-season home run list.
Clark led the UT hitters, going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Danks went 3-for-5 with one run scored. Suttle went 2-for-5 with one RBI.
Frey, Priday, Coleman and McKee each logged two hits for Missouri.
Boone (2-6) was the hard-luck loser for Texas, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits and two walks, while striking out three over 4.2 innings.
Folgia (5-3) earned the win as he was tough on UT hitters down the stretch. He allowed just one hit while striking out three over 2.1 innings.
Texas and Missouri resume the three-game series on Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
