The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
Baseball falls in Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship opener
05.20.2009 | Baseball
May 20, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The No. 5 Texas Longhorns appeared to be cruising to a win but were doomed by an eight-run sixth inning and fell to the Baylor Bears, 14-9, in their opening game of the 2009 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.
Texas owned a 7-3 lead after five innings, but the Bears, who had lost 10 games in a row to end Big 12 play, woke up from hibernation to score eight runs in the top of the sixth inning. Austin Dicharry came out of the bullpen to relieve UT starter Cole Green in the top of the sixth. He hit Raynor Campbell with a pitch and allowed a double to Shaver Hansen to put two runners in scoring position. Aaron Miller drew a walk to fill the den with Bears. Dicharry fanned Dan Evatt, but allowed an RBI single to Ben Booker, cutting the lead to 7-4. Austin Wood entered the game with a 2-2 count on Don Lambert and walked in a run. Pinch-hitter Brooks Kimmey cut the lead to 7-6 with a sacrifice fly. The bases were reloaded when Joey Hainsfurther was issued a walk. Dustin Dickerson gave Baylor the lead with a two-run double to left centerfield. Campbell hit an RBI single to plate Hainsfurther and the rally was capped with a two-run double to rightfield by Hansen for the 11-7 advantage.
Baylor tacked on two runs in the seventh with an RBI single by Kimmey and an error by Texas third baseman Michael Torres and claimed a 13-7 lead.
Brandon Belt launched a two-run home run in the home half of the seventh to cut the lead to 13-9, but the Horns would draw no closer.
The Bears scored an insurance run in the ninth on a solo home run by Evatt.
Texas had entered the game allowing just five first-inning runs in 51 contests, but Baylor (28-23) drew first blood in the top of the opening frame. With one out, Campbell doubled to the wall in right centerfield and Miller hit a two-run dinger to the sidewalk over '377' sign in rightfield.
Texas (38-13-1) responded with a three-run home half of the first. With one out, Travis Tucker drew a walk and Belt singled to centerfield to put runners on the corners. The Longhorns broke the scoring seal when Evatt, Baylor's first baseman made a bad fielder's choice on a grounder by Kevin Lusson and his throw home was late to retire Tucker. A wild pitch put two runners in scoring position to set up an RBI grounder by Cameron Rupp and a single by Kevin Keyes to plate Lusson and give UT a 3-2 lead.
The Longhorns inflated the cushion to 5-2 with a pair in the bottom of the second. Michael Torres laced a leadoff single through the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tucker. Belt reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners and the bases reached maximum density when Lusson drew a walk. Craig Fritsch came in to relieve Baylor starter Logan Verrett and allowed a two-run single by Keyes.
Despite scoring five runs in the first two innings, Texas would later be haunted by the six runners it left on base in the first two frames.
Baylor shaved a run off the lead with a leadoff triple by Hainsfurther and an RBI grounder by Dickerson.
The Texas margin widened to 7-3 with two more runs in the bottom of the third. Connor Rowe hit a leadoff triple to right field and scored on a sacrifice fly by Torres. Tucker reached on a catcher's interference and scored on a double down the rightfield line by Belt.
Belt led the Longhorns hit parade, going 4-for-6 with one double, one home run, three runs and three RBI. Brandon Loy went 4-for-4 with one stolen base. Keyes went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
Baylor had five players with multiple hits paced by Booker who went 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Dickerson, Campbell, Hansen and Evatt each had two hits.
Dicharry (6-2) was saddled with the loss for the Longhorns. He yielded five runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one over 0.1 innings. Green started for the Horns and allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out seven over 5.0 innings.
Fritsch (3-5) earned the win in relief for Baylor. He allowed two runs, one earned on five hits and two walks while striking out nine over 4.2 innings. Kendal Volz earned his first career save. He allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 3.0 innings.
Texas returns to action with a 3 p.m. game against the Kansas Jayhawks on Thursday at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.
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