The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Penn State
Seven-run stampede in the fourth inning leads Baseball to win
02.27.2009 | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2009
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AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 4 Texas Longhorns scored seven runs in the fourth inning and coasted to a 9-2 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in collegiate baseball action at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday afternoon.
With the scored tied 1-1, the Longhorns sent 11 men to the plate to open the floodgates in the bottom of the fourth inning. Texas hit for a team cycle in the inning and benefited from two Nittany Lions' errors in the rally.
David Hernandez bugled the troops in the fourth when rolled a one-out single up the middle followed by Connor Rowe's first career home run over the 375-foot sign in leftfield to stake the Horns to a 3-1 lead. After a pair of errors allowed Travis Tucker and Brandon Loy to reach base, Brandon Belt grounded out to the pitcher scoring Tucker. Preston Clark drew an intentional walk and Loy stole third to put runners at the corners. Kevin Keyes doubled down the leftfield line to plate Loy, inflating the cushion to 5-1. Cameron Rupp was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Tant Shepherd capped the rally with a triple into the gap in right centerfield to drive in all three runners and give UT an 8-1 advantage.
Texas broke the scoring seal in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Loy drew a walk, moved to second on a deep fly out to centerfield by Belt and scored on a single down the rightfield line by Clark.
Penn State scored an equalizer in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Michael Glantz doubled down the rightfield line and scored on a single up the middle by Jordan Steranka, knotting the score at 1-1.
Trailing 8-1, the Nittany Lions shaved a run off the lead in the top of the sixth with a one-out double by Cory Wine and a two-out RBI single by Steranka.
The Longhorns capped off the scoring in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Tucker drew a walk and scored on a double by Loy into the left centerfield gap.
Chance Ruffin (2-0) earned the win for Texas with a 6.0-inning start. He allowed two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out nine. Andrew McKirahan and Sam Stafford combined for three innings of scoreless relief. McKirahan allowed two hits and fanned one over 2.0 innings. Stafford loaded the bases in the ninth with one hit, one walk and one hit batsman but got out of the jam unscathed for a scoreless frame.
Clark spearheaded the Texas attack going 3-for-3 with one double, one run scored and one RBI. Loy went 2-for-3 with one double, two runs, one stolen base and one RBI.
Mike Lorentson (0-2) was saddled with the loss for the Nittany Lions. He yielded seven runs, three earned on six hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings.
Wine, Glantz and Steranka each logged two hits to lead the Nittany Lions' offense. Wine and Glantz each scored a run and Steranka accounted for both of Penn State RBIs.
With the win, Texas is off to a 6-0 start for the first time since 2005 when the Longhorns began the season 16-0.
The Longhorns and Nittany Lions return to UFCU Disch-Falk Field for a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for the opening game is slated for 12:30 p.m. with the second game scheduled to begin 30 minutes after the completion of the opener.
