The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Southern
No. 5 Baseball takes nightcap from Texas Southern, 11-0
05.14.2011 | Baseball
May 14, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - After a thirty minute break from the first leg of a doubleheader, the No. 5 Texas Longhorns overpowered the Texas Southern Tigers on Saturday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The Longhorns were aggressive early as Brandon Loy singled and Mark Payton reached first base after a bunt down the third base line. After a fielder's choice grounder, Erich Weiss tripled to the gap in left centerfield to break the scoring seal with a pair of runs. Paul Montalbano grounded out to first to drive in Weiss for the 3-0 lead. With the bases empty, Jonathan Walsh and Kevin Lusson hit back-to-back doubles to drive the margin up to 4-0.
Texas (38-12) took a 5-0 lead in the second. Loy singled to leftfield and Payton reached on a bunt single to start the inning. A wild pitch moved runners to second and third and Weiss plated Loy with a sacrifice fly.
The Longhorns took control of the game with three runs in the third. Christian Summers hit a two-run triple and scored on a wild pitch to inflate the cushion to 8-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jonathan Walsh doubled for the second time to right field, scoring Montalbano on the play making it 9-0 in Texas' favor.
The cavalcade of runs continued for the Longhorns in the sixth with an RBI double by Montalbano and a sacrifice fly by Walsh to give Texas an 11-0 lead.
The Longhorns offense registered 12 hits, including four doubles and three triples. Payton went 2-for-3 with one run, Shepherd went 2-for-4 with one triple and two runs. Montalbano went 2-for-4 with one double, one run and two RBI. Walsh went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI. Weiss chipped in with three RBI and Summers added two RBI.
This marks the 12th shutout of the season for the Longhorns, after superb pitching from Cole Green. Green (6-3) went 5.0 innings, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out six. Andrew McKirahan and Nathan Thornhill closed out the game by each retiring all three batters they faced in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively. Thornhill recorded two shutouts.
Texas Southern (23-27) pitcher Kevin Schulba was given the loss (1-4) after pitching 2.0 innings, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one.
The Longhorns will face Texas A&M in College Station on Thursday at 6:35 p.m.
