The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Texas Tech
No. 6 Baseball wins series opener versus Texas Tech, 4-1
04.15.2011 | Baseball
April 15, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Longhorns offense struck early and the defense suppressed late rallies to help Taylor Jungmann remain perfect on the season and beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders 4-1 Friday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Texas (26-8, 10-3 Big 12) got on the board early with three runs in the bottom of the second. Erich Weiss drew a leadoff walk and Alex Silver singled through the middle later in the inning to put runners on the corners. Texas Tech starter David Paiz then hit Jonathan Walsh with a pitch to load the bases, before walking Jacob Felts on four pitches, plating Weiss. Brandon Loy then followed with a single to left field driving in Silver and Walsh and giving the Horns a 3-0 lead.
The Red Raiders (22-13, 5-7 Big 12) answered with their only run in the top of the fifth inning. After two quick outs, Jamodrick McGruder drew a walk. Bo Altobelli then followed with a bunt single, before Barrett Barnes hit a bloop single to left field to drive in McGruder, and cut the Longhorn lead to 3-1.
The Longhorns added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to close the scoring. After Tant Shepherd hit a ball deep down the left field line that was barely foul, he drove a pitch opposite way to deep right field, which was dropped by right fielder Andre Wheeler, allowing Shepherd to get all the way to third base. Weiss then singled through to left field to bring Shepherd home and give the Horns the 4-1 final score.
Jungmann improved to 8-0 on the season throwing 7.0 innings, allowing eight hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out eight. Kendal Carrillo and Corey Knebel shut down the Raiders in the final two innings, with Knebel earning his tenth save to become just the second freshman in school history to log 10 or more saves in a season. Huston Street set the UT freshman record with 14 in 2002.
Texas Tech got leadoff men aboard in both the sixth and eighth innings, but they were erased by a pair of sparkling defensive plays. In the sixth, the Jordan Etier ranged deep into the hole to start a 4-6-3 double play and in the eighth inning, Felts made a pin-point throw to second base to erase Altobelli on a stolen base attempt. The Horns also used a 4-6-3 double play in the seventh inning to erase the speedy McGruder.
David Paiz (3-2) was saddled with the loss after tossing 6.1 innings allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out one. Jerad McCrummen, Zach Fowler and Aaron Corwin combined to throw the remaining 1.2 innings, only giving up one hit and one unearned run for the bullpen.
Texas' offense was led by Brandon Loy's two-RBI single. Erich Weiss was 2-for-3 on the night with one walk, one run and one RBI.
Tech's only RBI was delivered by Barrett Barnes who batted 2-for-4.
Texas and Texas Tech return for the second game of the series Saturday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.
