The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Rice
Baseball falls to No. 2 Rice, 7-4
04.21.2009 | Baseball
April 21, 2009
Box Score | Box Score 
AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 5 Texas Longhorns were doomed by three double plays and nine stranded runners as they lost to the No. 2 Rice Owls in non-conference baseball action at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday evening.
The Longhorns were provided opportunities to score as the Owls walked 12 batters and tossed four wild pitches, but the Burnt Orange were unable to capitalize to the fullest potential.
In the first inning, Rice starter Abe Gonzales threw nine consecutive balls to start the game, but a potential Longhorn rally was snuffed out when lead runner Travis Tucker was doubled-off at second on a fly ball by Brandon Belt.
The Owls (28-10) pounced early with two runs in the top of the second inning. Anthony Rendon, the leadoff batter, was awarded a free base after being hit by a pitch and moved to third on Diego Seastrunk's single through the left side. The next batter, Ryan Lewis, singled to centerfield to plate Rendon and the Owls tacked on another with two outs when Craig Manuel's single through the left side drove in Seastrunk.
Texas (29-9) redeemed one of those runs in the home half of the second. Kevin Keyes laced a leadoff double to centerfield and came around to score on Preston Clark's one-out double to the right centerfield gap to cut the lead to 2-1. Despite having two runners on with one out, the Longhorns were unable to muster another run.
Rice responded the next inning with two more runs to take a 4-1 lead. Brock Holt started things with a single to centerfield and moved to second on Jimmy Comerota's sacrifice bunt. Rick Hague singled through the left side to put runners on the corners and Rendon followed with a single down the leftfield line to drive in Holt. The third-inning rally was capped when Hague scored on a sacrifice fly by Seastrunk.
The Longhorns shaved a run off the rice lead in the bottom of the third. The first batter, Michael Torres worked a four-pitch walk, advanced to third on two wild pitches by reliever Travis Wright and tagged up to score on Keyes' sacrifice fly.
Rice neutralized Texas' run with one of their own in the top of the fourth to maintain a three run lead. Manuel led off with a double down the right line, advanced to third on Brandon Loy's throwing error and was pushed home by Comerota's ground out to third base.
The Owls extended their lead to 6-2 in the top of the fifth when pinch-hitter Jeremy Rathjen looped a two-out double to left center and trotted home on Michael Fuda's triple to the wall in left center.
Texas scored two runs on two wild pitches to pull within two in the bottom of the fifth. Brandon Belt drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on Shepherd's double to centerfield. Both runners advanced one base on Jordan Rodgers' first wild pitch of the inning, allowing Belt to score. The Horns brought another run across the next at-bat when Shepherd scored on another wild pitch and make the score 6-4.
Rice added an insurance run in the top of the eight. Fuda led off with a single up the middle and came around to score on Steven Sultzbaugh's one-out single to centerfield for the final run of the night.
Texas starter Cole Green (3-1) was saddled with the loss. He allowed two runs on three hits and struck out one over 2.0 innings.
Rice reliever Travis Wright (3-0) earned the win, yielding one run on one hit and three walks while striking out one over 1.2 innings. Taylor Wall earned his first save of the season, allowing just one walk in 2.0 shutout innings.
Preston Clark paced the Texas offense going 2-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI.
Holt, Fuda, Manuel and Sultzbugh churned the Rice offensive engine with two hits apiece.
Texas returns to action on Friday with a 6 p.m. game against No. 23 Kansas State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The game starts a three-game series with Saturday's game at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
