The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Stephen F. Austin
No. 22 Baseball topples Stephen F. Austin, 9-1
03.20.2012 | Baseball
March 20, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas - Five Texas Longhorns pitchers combined to allow only four hits and their offense tallied eight hits, five hits and five HBP to produce a 9-1 win over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks on Tuesday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The win was the sixth in a row for the No. 22 Longhorns and improved their record on the season to 11-8.
Dillon Peters (1-0) earned the victory in a start in which he was designated to go three innings. He allowed just one baserunner on a walk and fanned four over 3.0 innings. Nathan Thornhill retired all three batters he faced in the fourth, including two on strikeouts. Ricky Jacquez allowed a hit in a scoreless fifth. John Curtiss allowed the Lumberjacks' only run on three hits and one walk while striking out three over 3.0 innings. Hoby Milner closed out the game by striking out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth.
Jordan Etier paced the Texas offense. He went 2-for-4 at the plate with two stolen bases and three RBI. Mark Payton and Brooks Marlow each added a pair of hits. Marlow went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, two sacrifice bunts and an RBI. Alex Silver went 1-for-3 with a triple and was hit by two pitches.
Texas took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Marlow hit a leadoff single to centerfield and Silver and Felts reached on consecutive errors by Stephen F. Austin to load the bases. Kevin Lusson drew a walk to push Marlow across and Etier followed with a two-run single to plate Silver and Felts.
The Longhorns loaded the bases no outs again in the third with Marlow hitting a leadoff triple and Silver and Felts both getting hit by pitches. With one out, Etier bounced into a fielder's choice grounder to drive in Marlow. Texas was unable to drive in any more runs and settled for a 4-0 advantage.
The Texas lead ballooned to 6-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth. Tim Maitland was hit by a pitch and stole second base. A deep fly ball by Payton moved Maitland to third and after Erich Weiss drew a walk to put runners on the corners, Marlow knocked Maitland in with a squeeze bunt. Weiss would later score from second on a triple to the gap in right centerfield by Silver to give the Longhorns a six-run edge.
The Longhorns inflated the cushion to 8-0 in the sixth. Payton doubled to the gap in right centerfield. It was his first time reaching base on the day, extending his streak to 19 games. Weiss was issued a walk and Marlow bunted both runners into scoring position. Payton scored on a wild pitch and Weiss came home to score when the Lumberjacks' catcher attempted a pick off at third and his throw bounced down the leftfield line.
Texas added an insurance run in the seventh. With one out, Maitland was hit by a pitch and Payton singled up the middle to put runners at the corners. Weiss hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Maitland for the 9-0 lead.
Stephen F. Austin (7-13) scored its lone run of the game in the eighth when Chris Hernandez hit a pinch-hit moon shot to leftfield for a solo home run.
Brett Higginbotham (2-1) was saddled with the loss for Stephen F. Austin. He allowed six runs, four earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out two over 4.0 innings.
Texas returns to Big 12 action on Friday when the Horns travel to Manhattan for a three-game set against the Kansas State Wildcats.
