The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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No. 8 Baseball takes series from Texas Tech with 17-5 win
03.28.2010 | Baseball
March 28, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas -- The No. 8 Texas Longhorns tallied 16 hits, including four doubles and four home runs, to post a 17-5 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Dan Law Field on Sunday.
Texas drew first blood in the top of the second. With one out, Kevin Lusson singled to the gap in left centerfield, moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt and scored when Russell Moldenhauer laced a single through the right side of the infield.
The Longhorns tacked on another run in the second. Cohl Walla reached on an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Loy and scored when Cameron Rupp hit a wall-banger to rightfield for a double.
Texas (18-6, 4-2 Big 12) created some separation with three runs in the top of the fourth. With one out, Moldenhauer launched a home run the opposite way to leftfield. Tant Shepherd followed with a walk, moved to second on a passed ball and stole third base. With two outs, Walla bounced a grounder to second base, but a throwing error allowed Shepherd to score and put Walla on second. Loy capped off the rally with a single up the middle to give the Horns a 5-0 lead.
Texas Tech (12-14, 2-4 Big 12) shaved one run off the lead in both the fourth and fifth innings. Both times a double by Scott LeJeune drove in the run.
The Longhorns blew the game open with an eight-run sixth inning. The inning featured an RBI single by Walla, two-run single by Loy, bases-loaded walk by Jonathan Walsh, RBI double by Moldenhauer and a two-run single by Shepherd, who had also doubled to start the inning. The frame was tied for UT's most productive of the season and ballooned the lead to 13-2.
Texas Tech staved off the league's 10-run rule with single runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, singles by Kevin Whitehead and Nick Popescu sandwiched around a walk by Taylor Ashby loaded the bases and Jamodrick McGruder drove in the run with a grounder. In the seventh, Barrett Barnes hit a leadoff home run to send the game to the eighth inning with Texas up 13-4.
Texas inflated the cushion back to 10 runs in the eighth. Kyle Lusson, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the seventh hit a leadoff home run over the fence in right field.
The Red Raiders once again fought off the 10-run rule with a score in the eighth. With one out, Kentworthy singled and moved to second on a fielding error by the Horns' leftfielder. Kentworthy scored on a pinch-hit double off the rightfield wall by Bonham Hough to slash the lead to 14-5.
Texas tacked on three runs in the ninth. Shepherd drew a leadoff walk and Jordan Etier followed with his sixth home run of the season into the box seats in leftfield. Walla followed with his second homer of the season as UT went back-to-back for the first time this year and the Horns held a 17-5 lead.
Walla went 4-for-6 with one home run, four runs and two RBI. Moldenhauer was 3-for-5 with two runs, one double, one home run and three RBI. Shepherd was 2-for-3 with two walks, one stolen base, one double, three runs and two RBI. Loy went 2-for-4 with two sacrifice bunts, one run and three RBI. Etier added two runs, one home run and two RBI.
LeJeune paced the Tech offense, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Jeremy Mayo went 3-for-5. Barnes and Kentworthy added two hits apiece.
Brandon Workman (4-1) earned the win for the Longhorns. He allowed three runs, two earned, on nine hits while striking out three over 5.0 innings. Chance Ruffin and Hoby Milner each worked two innings to close out the game. Ruffin allowed one earned run and saw his scoreless innings streak snapped at 22.1 frames. Milner allowed one unearned run.
Chad Bettis (3-3) was saddled with the loss for Texas Tech. He allowed five runs, two earned, on seven hits and one walk while striking out five over 4.0 innings.
Texas returns to action on Tuesday when the Longhorns host Oral Roberts in a 6:05 p.m. contest at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
