The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas State
No. 5 Baseball wins 10-inning affair against Kansas State, 4-3
03.19.2011 | Baseball
March 19, 2011
Box Score | Quotes | Box Scores 
AUSTIN, Texas - The No. 5 Texas Longhorns snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to post a 4-3 win over the Kansas State Wildcats in 10 innings on Saturday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The Texas comeback started in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out and the Horns trailing 3-1, Mark Payton reached on an infield single and Erich Weiss walked to put a pair on. Lucas Kephart hit what appeared to be a three-run home run, but the strong winds at UFCU Disch-Falk Field resulted into a double off the wall, plating Payton to cut the lead to 3-2. Cohl Walla walked to load the bases, but Jacob Felts chopped into a 5-3 double play to end the inning.
The Longhorns (14-5, 2-0 Big 12) knotted the game in the ninth inning. The Wildcats called on James Allen to close out the game, but he started the inning by hitting Walla on the helmet. Felts laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to move Walla into scoring position. Allen then issued walks to Tant Shepherd and Paul Montalbano to load the bases and Tim Maitland walked on four straight pitches to tie the game. The Horns still had bases loaded in the ninth, but Brandon Loy struck out looking and Payton flied out to centerfield to end the inning.
Texas' 10th inning began with Erich Weiss hitting a roping line drive double down the leftfield line to start the inning. Kephart advanced Weiss to third with a ground out and Kansas State opted to intentionally walk Walla and Felts, loading the bases for Shepherd with still one out. Gerardo Esquivel came in from the bullpen to face Shepherd for the Wildcats. Shepherd took the count to 2-2 before striking out swinging, leaving the bases loaded for pinch-hitter Kevin Lusson with two outs. Esquivel walked Lusson in five pitches to end the game for the Longhorns.
The Longhorns struck first in the bottom of the second. Kephart hit a one-out double over the center fielders head. A throwing error in attempt to throw Cohl Walla out at first by Kansas State third baseman Jason King brought Kephart into score for the Longhorns' first run.
Kansas State (12-6, 0-2 Big 12) scored all three of its runs in the top of the third. Jake Brown started the inning by bouncing a bunt over the glove of Texas pitcher Hoby Milner for a single. Tanner Witt followed with a single to right field and Nick Martini was hit by pitch to load the bases. Consecutive groundouts by Jason King and Mike Kindel gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead and Kansas State tacked on another run with a Jared King single to centerfield.
Milner rebounded from the three-run inning and retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced. He allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six over 7.0 innings. Kirby Bellow worked 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit in the five batters he faced. Kendal Carrillo retired a pair of batters with a runner on first to end the ninth inning. Corey Knebel (2-1) worked a scoreless 10th inning to earn the win.
Kansas State starter Matt Applegate yielded two runs, one earned, on five hits and one walk while striking out three over 5.1 innings. Evan Marshall worked 2.0 shutout innings with no hits or walks. James Allen (1-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing two runs on one hit and five walks while striking out one over 1.1 innings.
Texas' Kephart and Kansas State's Witt were the lone players to log multiple hits on Saturday. Kephart went 2-for-5 with two doubles, one run and one RBI. Witt went 2-for-5 with one run.
The Longhorns drew eight walks and were hit by one pitch to go along with their six hits for the game.
Texas and Kansas State will finish off their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
TEXAS POST-GAME QUOTES
Head Coach Augie Garrido
Opening statement: This is one where the fans played a huge part. The home field advantage was very evident because unlike football or basketball players, baseball players are not use to playing in this environment. They don't play high school in this environment, and they don't play summer leagues in this environment. You take young players and put them in different environments it has a huge effect on them.
Sophomore pitcher Hoby Milner
On his performance: In the third inning Kansas State was able to get everything to go their way. It shows you how important it is to win each inning because one inning can almost lose you the game.
On throwing 102 pitches: I felt like I could've kept going. I did throw 102 pitches and since it was my second start in a while he didn't want to push me any farther. I felt fine, but that one inning (the third) just killed my pitch count.
Junior designated hitter Lucas Kephart
On his double to right field: I'm not going to lie. Off the bat I stood there and looked. Then I saw it hit the fence and thought 'Oh great.' I thought it was gone, but I was wrong.
On the comeback win: We just kept competing every inning. If you do that good things are going to happen. We had some stuff that didn't go our way early on, but we stuck with it and got the win.
Freshman third baseman Erich Weiss
On the morale of the team: Well all of us are very confident right now. We're very hopeful whenever we're down that we can still get on base. Coach Garrido says to never quit at the plate. I think we're at a good level of confidence as a team.
