The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
California
No. 18 Texas drops 12-2 decision to California
03.31.2012 | Baseball
March 31, 2012
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The No. 18 Texas Longhorns fell behind 4-0 in the first inning and were unable to gain the momentum in a 12-2 loss to the California Golden Bears at The Dell Diamond on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Bears drew first blood in the top of the fourth inning with four runs. Vince Bruno hit a first-pitch offering up the middle for a single to lead off the inning. Mitch Delfino bounced a bunt back to Parker French on a sacrifice bunt attempt. French threw to second in time to retire the runner, but Longhorns' shortstop Christian Summers couldn't handle the throw putting two runners on. Tony Renda loaded the bases with a bunt single. Chadd Krist singled up the middle to drive in two runs for the 2-0 lead. Andrew Knapp reloaded the bases with a bunt single. Chad Bunting grounded into a double play, but a run scored to give Cal a 3-0 edge. Darrel Matthews capped off the scoring with an infield single to drive in Krist.
The California lead ballooned to 6-0 with a pair of runs in the third. Krist doubled to leftfield to start the frame and with one out Bunting blooped a single into leftfield to put runners at the corners. Another bloop single to left by Matthews plated Krist to stake the Golden Bears to a five-run lead. California scored its sixth run when Chris Paul bounced a grounder that the Horns attempted to turn a double play on. Second baseman Jordan Etier's throwing error on the relay to first allowed Bunting to score from second.
The Golden Bears tacked another run on the scoreboard in the fourth. Bruno rattled a leadoff triple down the rightfield line and scored on a groundout by Delfino to give Cal a 7-0 cushion.
Texas broke the scoring seal in the bottom of the fifth inning. Steinhagen and Jacob Felts hit back-to-back singles to start the inning and Tim Maitland sacrificed runners into scoring position with a bunt. A groundout by Marlow to shortstop plated
Cal inflated the cushion to 11-1 with two home runs in the sixth inning. Krist hit a three-run home run and two batters later Bunting hit a solo home run to leftfield to give the Golden Bears an 11-1 advantage.
Parker French (3-1) was saddled with the loss for the Longhorns. The freshman yielded seven runs, three earned, on nine hits and one walk while striking out three over 4.1 innings.
Matt Flemer (4-2) earned the win for California. He allowed just two runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out two over 8.0 innings.
Steinhagen and Felts each logged two hits for Texas, but the Longhorns No. 1-5 spots in the order combined to go just 3-for-15 at the plate.
Krist led the California offensive arsenal, going 3-for-5 with one double, one home run and five RBI. Darrel Matthews went 4-for-4 with two RBI. Bruno went 3-for-5 with one triple and two runs.
