The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas State
No. 7 Baseball blanks Texas State, 2-0
04.26.2011 | Baseball
April 26, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas -- Paul Montalbano's RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth inning broke open a scoreless game as the No. 7 Texas Longhorns went on to defeat the Texas State Bobcats 2-0 on Tuesday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Five Texas pitchers combined for Texas' ninth shutout of the season while handing the Bobcats (25-15) their first shutout loss of the season. The Longhorns allowed just four hits while and did not issue a walk while striking out 12. Relief pitcher Kendal Carrillo improved to 4-0 after pitching 1.1 inning of scoreless relief while striking out two. Closer Corey Knebel picked up his 13th save of the season after striking out the side in the ninth inning, moving within one save of the UT freshman save record.
After five scoreless frames by each team, Texas (31-10) got a leadoff single by Tant Shepherd in the bottom of the sixth to start the Texas' rally. Erich Weiss followed with a sacrifice bunt, but relief pitcher Lee Colon made a quick throw to second to get Shepherd before Weiss beat out the throw to first to avoid the double play. Montalbano then followed with a triple to the right centerfield gap to score Weiss and give the Longhorns a 1-0 lead and all the offense it would need.
Texas padded its lead two innings later as Shepherd began the inning with a single to centerfield. Weiss followed with a bunt down the first base line to advance Shepherd, but reached safely as Texas State elected to watch the ball die on the line. Montalbano followed with a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third, and pinch-hitter Cohl Walla advanced to first on an intentional walk.
With the bases loaded, Jonathan Walsh blooped a single over the first and second baseman's head and just out of the reach of the right fielder, scoring Shepherd and extending the lead to 2-0. Relief pitcher Jeff McVaney escaped further damage after forcing a double play to end the inning.
Texas' starting pitcher Sam Stafford pitched 3.0 innings, allowing two hits while striking out three. Nathan Thornhill followed with 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three. After Carrillo followed with 1.1 scoreless innings, Hoby Milner pitched a clean eighth, allowing just one hit before Knebel ended the game.
In the team's two matchups this season, Texas allowed just one run on seven hits. In a 3-1 win in the team's only other matchup on March 15, five Longhorn pitchers combined to allow one run on three hits while striking out 12.
Walsh and Shepherd led the Texas' offense, each going 2-for-4 while Walsh and Montalbano each recorded one RBI. Shepherd and Weiss, who extended his hit streak to 13 games, scored the only runs for the Longhorns.
Texas State starting pitcher Travis Ballew recorded a no decision, lasting 5.0 innings while allowing no runs on three hits while walking four and striking out five. Colon fell to 1-4 after allowing one run on two hits in 0.1 inning of work. Tyler Sibley led the Bobcats' offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
After picking up win number 1,799, head coach Augie Garrido will look for win number 1,800 as Texas hosts Oklahoma in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
