The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oral Roberts
No. 8 Baseball triumphs over Oral Roberts, 2-1
03.29.2011 | Baseball
March 29, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - A two-run double by Kevin Lusson in the bottom of the second inning was all the scoring No. 8 Texas needed Tuesday night as the Longhorns defeated the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, 2-1, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
On a quiet offensive night where Texas managed just two runs on three hits, it was the Longhorns' pitching staff that helped them improve to 18-7 on the season. Five pitchers combined to allow one run on seven hits as Andrew McKirahan (3-0) picked up the win in relief.
Closer Corey Knebel pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk while striking out three to earn his sixth save of the season.
With one out in the bottom of the second, a walk to Lucas Kephart and a double to left field by Tant Shepherd gave the Longhorns runners on second and third. Lusson followed with a double down the right field line, just out of the reach of ORU first baseman Brandon Healy, giving Texas a 2-0 lead.
Oral Roberts (8-10) answered with a run of its own in the top of the fifth after Texas starter Sam Stafford issued a leadoff walk to Joey Winiecki. McKirahan then entered the game and allowed a single to Nick Baligod to put runners on first and second with no outs. A sacrifice bunt by Spencer Barnett advanced the runners and a groundout to McKirahan by Brandon King cut Texas' lead to 2-1. McKirahan then forced Cam Schiller to fly out to centerfield to end the inning.
The Golden Eagles threatened again in the top of the seventh inning, putting runners on the corner with two outs, but Knebel entered and quickly forced a fly out to centerfield to end the threat. ORU also had a good opportunity in the top half of the second, but Stafford forced an inning-ending groundout to escape a two-out, bases-loaded jam.
Stafford lasted 4.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits and four walks while striking out four. McKirahan totaled 1.1 innings, allowing no runs on one hit. Kendal Carrillo pitched 1.0 inning while Kirby Bellow totaled 0.1 innings in scoreless relief.
Offensively, Shepherd recorded the other two hits for the Longhorns' offense while Brandon Loy reached base twice on two walks.
The Golden Eagles were led offensively by Baligod, who finished 3-4 with one walk. Chris Elder totaled two hits while Schiller and Barnett recorded the other hits for ORU. Starting pitcher Alex Gonzalez fell to 2-4 after allowing two runs on two hits in 2.0 innings. Relief pitchers Joe spring, Dan Martony and Lars Liguori totaled six innings of scoreless relief.
The Longhorns return to conference play on Friday at 6 p.m. when they host Missouri Tigers.
