The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Stanford
Baseball drops 6-5 decision to Stanford
03.08.2008 | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Longhorns lost a 6-5 decision to the Stanford Cardinal in collegiate baseball action Saturday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The loss dropped Texas to 9-3 on the season and Stanford improved to 7-4. Paid attendance for the game was 7,004, the second largest March crowd ever at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
With Texas leading 5-4 in the top of the seventh Brendan Domaracki hit a leadoff single off UT reliever Marcus Tackett. After Domaracki was replaced at first by Joey August on a fielder's choice groundout, Jason Castro hit a two-run home run over the fence in right centerfield to give Stanford the lead.
Stanford broke the scoring seal in the first inning. Cord Phelps hit a leadoff single, stole second base, moved to third on a single by August and scored on a groundout by Castro.
Texas knotted the game in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Jordan Danks doubled to centerfield and scored on a single by Brandon Belt.
The Longhorns took a 2-1 lead in the second. Preston Clark was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a groundout by Kyle Russell and scored on a single to the left centerfield gap by Russell Moldenhauer.
The Cardinal tied the game at 2-2. Phelps walked and moved to third on a ground-rule double by Domaracki. August hit a sacrifice fly to rightfield, plating Phelps with the equalizer.
Stanford scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Phelps was issued a walk by UT reliever Kyle Walker. After Phelps was forced out at second on a squandered sacrifice bunt attempt, the bases were loaded with a single by August and a walk by Castro. Randy Molina plated Domaracki and August with a single to centerfield, staking Stanford to a 4-2 lead.
Texas shaved a run off the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Michael Torres drew a two-out walk and scored on a triple down the leftfield line by Travis Tucker.
The Longhorns reclaimed the lead one inning later with a pair of runs in the sixth. Danks hit a leadoff double to left centerfield and Belt drew a walk. Tant Shepherd singled to centerfield to drive in Danks and Belt scored on a groundout by Moldenhauer.
Tucker and Danks each had two hits for the Longhorns. Tucker went 2-for-4 with one triple, two stolen bases and one RBI. Danks went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.
Stanford was paced by Domaracki, August, Molina and Sean Ratliff with two hits apiece. Castro went 1-for-4 with one home run and four RBI.
Tackett (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Texas. He allowed two runs on four hits while striking out one over two innings. Stayton Thomas worked two perfect innings to finish the game for Texas. Longhorns' starter Kenn Kasparek allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five over four innings.
Drew Storen (1-1) earned the win in relief for Stanford, pitching 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out four.
Texas and Stanford wrap up the series with a 1 p.m. contest at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Augie Garrido
On the game: I thought the overall infield play was much better, I thought they were sharper, we've been working hard on it and I think it showed up. This is the best range and the best timing that they have shown. I thought the pitching was okay. They hit the ball and they hit it hard, they are a good hitting team. It was just a battle all the way. It was a good college baseball game.
On if he talked to the players about having key situations with runners on first and third: In both cases they were looking for a fast ball because it was a 3-2 count and a runner on first so they had made up their mind that they were going to get a fast ball. Well, in championship baseball you better be ready for anything. It's to their credit that they threw it over the plate in key situations. It takes a lot of courage on their part to do that. You have to be ready to hit anything and not guess or sit on any pitch.
3B Travis Tucker
On his performance at the plate today: You never really know when the hits are going to come around. You always try to swing at good pitches and take good at bats and luckily today I got a couple strikes. I was trying to stay with the process and stay within ourselves at the plate and that actually helped me out a lot. I'm not worried about getting hits or walking, I'm just worried about taking good at-bats and the hits will come.
On the game: Both teams played very well. We came out swinging it today, but it's just one of those deals that if you want to win a National Championship these are the types of games you need to win at home. Hats off to Stanford though, they played a great game.
