The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
Baseball drops 13-10 decision to Oklahoma State
04.20.2008 | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 20 Texas Longhorns lost despite getting a pair of home runs from Kyle Russell and four extra-base hits from Jordan Danks in a 13-10 loss to the No. 20 Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Russell hit two home runs in a game for the fourth time in the last three weekends, raising his season total to 11 and his career total to 49. His first home run, a two-run blast to centerfield gave Texas a 3-1 lead in the first inning. His second dinger tamed the centerfield Monster, the 38th time since 1975 that the famed wall was cleared, in the fifth inning. The two-run home run inflated Texas' cushion to 8-2. Russell went 2-for-4 with two home runs, two runs and four RBI.
Danks went 4-for-4 with three doubles, one triple, four runs and two RBI. Danks' doubles came in the first, third and fifth inning and he tacked on a triple in the ninth.
Michael Torres' school-record hit streak was snapped at 25 games. He went 0-for-3 with one walk and a sacrifice fly.
Oklahoma State (27-11, 11-7) was paced by Rebel Ridling who went 3-for-5 with three runs, two home runs, one triple and five RBI. Ridling also cleared the Monster with a three run shot in the sixth inning. Thomas Belza went 2-for-5 with two triples, two runs scored and two RBI. Neil Medchill and Matt Hague each added two hits.
Robbie Weinhardt (3-0) earned his second win of the series, going three shutout innings, allowing just one walk while striking out three. Jordy Mercer earned his seventh save of the season, pitching the eighth and ninth innings.
The Cowboys manufactured a run in the first inning. Donnie Webb drew a walk, stole second base, moved to third on a fly out and scored on a ground ball.
Texas (23-16, 8-10) claimed the lead in the first inning. Torres walked and stole second base. Jordan Danks chased him home with a double and Russell staked the Horns to a 3-1 advantage with his homer.
The Longhorns tacked on a run in the home half of the second. Preston Clark walked, moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Cameron Rupp, advanced to third on a single by David Hernandez and scored on a sacrifice fly by Torres, giving Texas a 4-1 lead.
Danks led off the third with a double, moved to third on a groundout by Russell Moldenhauer and scored on a wild pitch to balloon the Longhorn advantage to 5-1.
Oklahoma State trimmed a run off the gap in the top of the fifth. Belza tripled and scored on a grounder by Tyrone Hambly.
In the home half of the fifth, Danks doubled and scored on a single by Moldenhauer. Russell followed with his second tater, giving Texas an 8-2 lead.
Ridling closed the gap to 8-5 with his three run shot in the sixth and the Cowboys followed with five runs in the eighth and three in the ninth to take a 13-8 lead and put the game out of reach.
It marked the first time since March of 1996 that the Longhorns were swept in a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Texas returns to action Tuesday, traveling to Waco, Texas for a 7 p.m. non-conference game against the Baylor Bears.
