The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
No. 3 Baseball sweeps fourth consecutive weekend series, drops OSU 9-3
04.25.2010 | Baseball
April 25, 2010
Box Score | 
| Quotes | Standings
AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 3 Texas Longhorns completed their fourth straight weekend series sweep with a 9-3 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sunday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
It was the 16th consecutive victory for Texas, equaling the Longhorns' longest win streak since 2005. It was also the Longhorns' 14th straight Big 12 triumph, the second-longest win streak in league history, behind Texas A&M's 16 in 2008.
Texas ignited a two-out rally in the bottom of the first to give the Longhorns an early 1-0 lead. With two outs, Tant Shepherd advanced to first from a bean ball and came around to score when Cameron Rupp continued his first-at-bat power display in the series by crushing a double off the left centerfield wall.
The Longhorns kept the pressure on in the second. Kevin Lusson led off the inning by beating out a bunt to third and advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Connor Rowe. After Lusson stole third base with two outs, Cohl Walla doubled to left center to increase the Longhorn lead to 2-0.
Texas tacked on two more insurance runs in the third. Shepherd began the inning with a triple off the centerfield wall, then tagged up and scored on a Rupp sac fly to left. Kevin Keyes followed suit by shooting a one-out single up the middle and advanced to second on a Russell Moldenhauer sac bunt. Keyes stole third on a Lusson walk, and came home when the errant throw to third bounced out to leftfield.
The Longhorns manufactured a run in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead. Jordan Etier doubled to right center then advanced to third on a deep fly from Walla. Etier tagged up again and scored on a Brandon Loy sacrifice fly to left.
Texas took advantage of the sun in the fifth to add another run. Keyes led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Moldenhauer popped up to second, but Oklahoma State's Davis Duren lost the ball in the sun and Moldenhauer made it safely to first, putting runners on the corners. Lusson proceeded to smack a single through the right side, scoring Keyes.
Oklahoma State put an end to the shutout in the sixth. Duren singled through the right side and advanced to second when Tom Belza grounded out. Duren rounded third to score the Cowboys' first run of the game when Kevin David doubled up the middle to cut the Texas lead to 6-1.
Oklahoma State rallied in the seventh to put two more runs on the board. Nico Rosthenhausler smoked a ball through the right side for a one-out single. With the hit-and-run on, Josh Botts cracked a triple just out of the reach of a diving Rowe to bring Rosthenhausler around to score. Duren doubled down the right field line to score Botts and put the Cowboys within three.
Texas answered with a run of their own in the seventh when Lusson launched a two-out home run over the Wendy's sign in rightfield to extend the lead to 7-3 lead.
The Longhorns logged two more runs in the eighth to distance themselves from the Cowboys 9-3. Loy beat out a grounder up the middle for a single and advanced to second on a Shepherd frozen rope to left. Rupp would walk to load the bases. With two-outs, Keyes singled to right centerfield scoring both Loy and Shepherd.
Texas' Brandon Workman (8-1) registered the win working 6.2 innings. He allowed three earned runs on eight hits while striking out nine. Andrew McKirahan pitched to one hitter and struck him out. Chance Ruffin retired all six batters he faced over the last 2.0 innings, fanning three.
Oklahoma State's Andrew Heaney (3-1) was saddled with his first loss of the season, working 3.0 innings and allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits and one walk while striking out two. Ian McCarthy worked 4.2 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and one walk, striking out four. Kevin Chambers got Jonathan Walsh to ground out to short to end the eighth and retire the only batter he faced.
Lusson led the Longhorns' offensive arsenal going 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, a stolen base, and a solo home run. Keyes batted 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, and a stolen base. Rupp added two RBI and Shepherd went 2-for-3, was hit by two pitches, scored three runs and added a triple.
Duren inflicted the most offensive damage for the Cowboys, batting 3-for-4 with one double, an RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored. Botts, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter and remained in the game on defense, went 1-for-2 with a triple, one run and one RBI.
Texas looks to continue their win streak Tuesday when the Longhorns host the UTSA Roadrunners in a 6:05 p.m. game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Head Coach Augie Garrido
On today's performance: I think that when you look at the entire series we have stayed focused. I thought we handled the mental game really well. I didn't think we got off balance by our bad at-bats and I didn't see us having significantly different at-bats with runners in scoring position. I think we made good adjustments with two strikes. We extended rallies with two outs and we responded to the other team. We had wobbly sixth and seventh innings and got out of balance, but we refocused and came right back. I think they are keeping their minds between the lines.
P Brandon Workman
On his game performance: I was throwing the ball and locating my pitches pretty well. Later I think I just got a few balls up and they got hit hard. But early in the game I was throwing pretty well.
On the run support: They have been clicking for the past couple of weeks and have been doing real well. It is easy to pitch when they are hitting like that. You don't have to worry about giving up a couple of runs, because they are going to have your back and score runs and give you a lead. It is nice to pitch like that.
C Cameron Rupp
On his first at-bat: I was happy with the way I took my at-bat and had a lot of confidence up there. I was looking for a pitch I can drive and I did that. It worked out for me.
3B Kevin Lusson
On stopping the momentum: It was huge. They started to figure out Workman a little but then Andrew (McKirahan) came in and did and awesome job of getting the batter out and getting us out of the inning. Then the home run the next inning. After that it was like an exclamation point and we knew we had it in the box.
On a productive day at the plate: It is a huge confidence booster for me. I had a little slump going. I came up for my first at-bat and saw the third baseman was playing back so I figured I would lay one down and it went on from there. It was a good feeling to get back in the swing of things.
BIG 12 STANDINGS (thru 4/25)
Big 12 Overall
Texas 16-2-0 .889 34-7
Kansas State 9-5-0 .643 27-10
Texas Tech 10-8-0 .556 24-20
Oklahoma 8-8-0 .500 29-11
Baylor 7-9-0 .438 24-16
Kansas 6-8-1 .433 25-16-1
Missouri 6-8-0 .429 21-17
Texas A&M 7-10-1 .417 22-16-1
Oklahoma State 5-10-0 .333 23-16
Nebraska 6-12-0 .333 19-21
* - Kansas State and Missouri game was not completed at time of publishing)
