The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
No. 5 Baseball steals a win from Oklahoma State, 1-0, in 15 innings
03.25.2011 | Baseball
March 25, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - In a duel between a pair of pitching staffs, freshman outfielder Mark Payton stole the show, swiping home for the game's only run in the 15th inning in the No. 5 Texas Longhorns' 1-0 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium on Friday evening.
Payton manufactured the sole run of the game as the leadoff hitter in the 15th inning. He drew a five-pitch walk from Oklahoma State reliever Chris Marlowe. Erich Weiss pushed Payton to second on a sacrifice bunt a groundout by Kevin Lusson advanced him to third base. With Jordan Etier up to bat, Payton broke for home on the second pitch. Marlowe rushed his delivery to the plate and his pitch sailed towards the left-handed batters box, preventing a tag at the plate and Payton
Oklahoma State threatened to win the game in the 14th inning. With Kirby Bellow on the mound for Texas, Dane Phillips hit a leadoff single to centerfield and Zach Johnson drew a walk to put a pair on. After Jared Womack pushed runners to second and third on a sacrifice bunt, Davis Duren was intentionally walked to load the bases. Kendal Carrillo came in to the game to snuff out the rally, inducing a pop out to second by Mark Ginther and a flyout to leftfield by Saulyer Saxon to end the frame.
Texas had opportunities to score with bases loaded and one out in both the fourth and ninth innings, but Etier hit into an inning-ending double play in the fourth inning and the rally was snuffed out with a strikeout by Paul Montalbano and a groundout by Tant Shepherd in the ninth.
The Longhorns also loaded the bases to no avail in the 12th when Payton struck out looking and Texas stranded a pair in scoring position with one out in the 14th.
Carrillo (2-0) earned the win with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief, fanning two of the five batters he faced. Taylor Jungmann worked 9.0 shutout innings, yielding just five hits and one walk while striking out three. Corey Knebel pitched 4.0 innings of shutout relief, allowing two hits while striking out three.
Longhorns pitchers have not given up a run in the last 30 innings.
Marlowe (1-2) was the hard-luck loser for the Cowboys. He fanned 12 batters while scattering two hits and five walks and allowed the lone run of the game in 6.2 innings.
Mike Strong worked 8.1 innings as Oklahoma State's starter, scattering four hits, two walks and two hit batters while striking out nine Longhorns.
Texas and Oklahoma State play the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m.
TEXAS POST-GAME QUOTES
Freshman outfielder Mark Payton
On his steal of home in the top of the 15th: He (OSU pitcher Chris Marlowe) was in a groove. We were looking for something to get us going. I trusted Jordan (Etier) to get the hit, but I thought if I had a chance to get the run I knew our pitchers would shut them down and we'd get the W.
Senior pitcher Kendal Carrillo
On getting out of the bases-loaded, one-out situation in the bottom of the 15th: I just came in throwing strikes. I wanted to get a ground ball from the first guy, but it was a good enough pitch that he popped it up. I just wanted to go in an pound the zone. You can live with a guy hitting your pitch to win the game, but you don't want to walk in the winning run.
Freshman pitcher Corey Knebel
On his relief performance: I didn't have all the stuff to work with that I usually have. And I got out there and there was no mound, it was flat. I just had to work with what I had. I couldn't get my curveball in the dirt, so I had to stay with the fastball.
