The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas State
Baseball takes Kansas State series with 7-4 win
04.27.2008 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. -- The Texas Longhorns scored four runs in the first inning and held on for a 7-4 win over the Kansas State Wildcats in Big 12 Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.
Texas (26-18, 10-11) jumped on the Wildcats for four runs in the top of the first inning. Travis Tucker reached on catcher's interference and was replaced at first by Michael Torres on a fielder's choice groundout. Jordan Danks doubled down the leftfield line to put runners at first and second and Preston Clark doubled to rightfield to drive in a pair. Tant Shepherd kept the rally going with a single through the right side to plate Clark and Kyle Lusson capped the scoring with a single up the middle allowing Shepherd to touch home.
The Wildcats cut the lead to 4-1 in the home half of the first. With one out, Brett Scott singled to rightfield and stole second base after the Horns recorded the second out. Justin Bloxom pushed Scott across for the run with a single to leftfield.
The Longhorns responded with a run in the second to establish a 5-1 advantage. Tucker walked, stole second base, moved to third on a groundout by Torres and scored on a groundout by to short by Clark.
Kansas State (20-23, 6-12) used a pair of balks to score a run in the third inning. Jordan Cruz singled down the rightfield line and was replaced at first by pinch-runner Dane Yelovich. The two balks, sandwiched around a fly out by Scott, put Yelovich on third and he scored on a groundout by Nate Tenbrink.
The lead shrank to 5-3 with a Wildcat run in the fourth. Jason King reached base when Shepherd dropped a throw at first base from shortstop David Hernandez. King stole second base and scored on a single to leftfield by Daniel Dellasega.
The Longhorns added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning. Brandon Belt hit a leadoff double down the leftfield line. Kyle Russell pushed Belt to third with a deep fly out and he scored on a pinch-hit double by Russell Moldenhauer down the leftfield line. Runey Davis pinch ran for Moldenhauer and scored on a single to rightfield by Lusson.
The Wildcats tacked on a final run in the eighth inning when King singled down the leftfield line to plate Brett Scott who walked.
Austin Wood (3-2) threw a career-high 138 pitches to earn the win. He allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 7.1 innings.
Lance Hoge (1-5) was saddled with the loss, giving up five runs, four earned on five hits and one walk while striking out two over one inning and one batter.
Clark led the Texas offense going 2-for-4 with one double, one run scored and three RBI. Danks went 2-for-3 with one double and one stolen base. Lusson went 2-fofr-4 with two RBI.
Texas returns to action Tuesday hosting the Texas State Bobcats in a 6:05 p.m. contest at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
