The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Iowa
No. 3 Baseball soars to 18-0 win over Iowa to complete four-game sweep
03.14.2010 | Baseball
March 14, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas -- Keyed by a five-RBI performance by Cohl Walla and five pitchers who combined on a four-hit shutout, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns coasted to an 18-0 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field to complete a four-game sweep.
The Longhorns matched their record for most home runs at UFCU Disch-Falk Field with five taters on the afternoon. Jordan Etier, Kevin Keyes, Kevin Lusson, Connor Rowe and Walla each went deep for Texas.
Texas pounded out season highs for runs and hits (16) in the win. Walla led the hit parade, going 3-for-4 with one run, one home run, one sacrifice hit, one stolen base and five RBI. Tant Shepherd went 3-for-6 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI. Etier, Keyes, Lusson and Jonathan Walsh each added two hits. Brandon Loy scored four runs and tallied two RBI. Lusson, Keyes and Rowe each recorded two RBI.
The Longhorns broke the scoring seal in the bottom of the first inning. With one out in the frame, Etier deposited a 1-1 offering over the `375' sign in leftfield for the 1-0 lead.
The Longhorns inflated the cushion to 2-0 in the bottom of the second. Loy drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lusson and scored when Walla laced a single up the middle.
Shepherd sparked a rally in the third inning. The first baseman roped a double down the leftfield line, moved to third on a single to rightfield by Etier and scored on a wild pitch to give Texas a 3-0 lead.
The cavalcade of runs continued in the fourth for the Longhorns. Lusson bounced a single up the middle, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Walla and Rowe followed with a two-run tater near the scoreboard in left centerfield.
Loy manufactured a run in the fifth. With two outs, he walked, stole second base and scored on a single through the left side of the infield by Walla.
Any thoughts of a Hawkeyes' comeback was snuff out with an eight-run seventh inning. The frame included two-run home runs by Lusson and Keyes, a two-run single by Loy, an RBI double by Walsh and an RBI single by Shepherd.
Texas completed the scoring with four runs in the eighth with a three-run homer by Walla and an RBI double by Shepherrd.
Hoby Milner worked 4.1 scoreless innings as the Longhorns starter. He yielded four hits and three walks while striking out five. Stayton Thomas (2-0) earned the win, pitching 1.2 perfect innings, including striking out four of the five batters he faced. Sam Stafford, Kendal Carrillo and Josh Urban each worked one hitless shutout inning to close out the game.
Zach Robertson (2-2) was saddled with the loss. He allowed five runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out six over 3.1 innings.
Texas returns to action on Tuesday when the Longhorns travel to Reckling Park in Houston for a 6:30 p.m. game against the Rice Owls.
