The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Stanford
No. 3 Baseball topples No. 18 Stanford, 6-3
02.27.2010 | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas -- Brandon Loy and Tant Shepherd combined to drive in four of the Texas Longhorns' six runs in a 6-3 win over the Stanford Cardinal in collegiate baseball action on Saturday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The Longhorns' bats came alive early as Shepherd hit a towering home run to rightfield landing just short of the Wendy's Free Frosty sign to lead off the first inning.
The Texas scoring continued in the bottom of the second. Connor Rowe singled to left and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Lusson. Kyle Lusson reached on an error by Stanford's first baseman on the toss to the pitcher covering the bag, putting runners on the corners. Jordan Etier laid down a squeeze bunt to push Rowe across and Shepherd singled to left, scoring Kyle Lusson for the 3-0 lead.
Stanford responded with a run in the third. Kenny Diekroeger singled to left to lead off the inning and with one out moved to second when Zach Jones was hit by a pitch. With runners on first and second, Colin Walsh singled to left to load the bases. Stephen Piscotty grounded to third base but the Horns weren't able to convert the double play, making just the force play at second, allowing Diekroeger to score.
Texas (4-2) put pressure on Stanford again in the fourth. With two outs, Kevin Lusson flared a ball just past the second baseman's reach and Kyle Lusson singled to centerfield. Stanford starter Scott Snodgress found himself in more trouble after walking Etier to load the bases. Snodgress then balked on a fake pickoff attempt to first base with no one covering, advancing all runners and scoring Kevin Lusson.
Stanford (4-2) pegged on another run in the top of the fifth. Jake Stewart doubled off the centerfield wall and stole third. With one out, Walsh walked to put runners on first and third. Stewart tagged from third on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Piscotty to trim the UT lead to 4-2.
Stanford cut the Texas lead to 4-3 in the top of the sixth. With Andrew McKirahan starting the frame in relief of starter Brandon Workman, pinch-hitter Tyler Gaffney walked and advanced to third on Christian Griffiths' single to rightfield. Griffiths moved to second on UT rightfielder Kevin Keyes' throw to third to put a pair in scoring position. Jonathan Kaskow grounded out to shortstop, allowing Gaffney to score. Ruffin came in to snuff out the rally, striking out Diekroeger on three pitches and forcing a bouncer back to the pitcher by Stewart.
Texas put the game away with a two-run rally in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Etier and Shepherd drew walks from reliever Danny Sandbrick to put two runners on. Stanford brought in Brian Busick to put an end to the inning, but Loy ripped a double down the leftfield line scoring driving in both runners for the 6-3 lead.
Brandon Workman (1-0) got the win holding Stanford to just two runs in 5.0 innings pitched. Workman scattered six hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. McKirahan gave a third of an inning allowing one run on one hit and one walk. Ruffin earned his first save of the season going 3.2 innings allowing only one hit and striking out four.
Snodgress (0-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and four walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings.
Shepherd led the Longhorns going 2-for-2 with three walks, one home run, two runs and two RBI. Loy went 1-for-4 with one double and two RBI. The Horns drew nine walks to give them 17 in the first two games of the series.
Piscotty inflicted most of the damage for the Cardinal with two RBIs. Colin Walsh went 3-for-3 with one double.
Texas and Stanford play their final game of the series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
