The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
California
No. 18 Texas loses rubber match against California, 6-5
04.01.2012 | Baseball
April 1, 2012
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The No. 18 Texas Longhorns twice erased two-run deficits but were never able to wrestle away the lead in a 6-5 loss to the California Golden Bears at The Dell Diamond on Sunday afternoon.
The Golden Bears drew first blood in the top of the second inning. Andrew Knapp laced a leadoff double into the gap in right centerfield to start the frame. Chad Bunting's sacrifice bunt attempt went short allowing Texas catcher Jacob Felts to throw to third, but Felts' throw sailed into the outfield allowing Knapp to score and putting Bunting on second. Darrel Matthews was successful on his sacrifice bunt attempt, pushing Bunting to third. Chris Paul followed with a double to the wall in centerfield sending Bunting home for the 2-0 lead.
Texas bounced back with two runs in the home half of the second. Alex Silver started the frame by depositing a sun-aided single in rightfield. Landon Steinhagen put down a sacrifice bunt to put Silver on second and Jacob Felts brought him home with a double down the leftfield line. Brooks Marlow was issued a walk and Tim Maitland reached on an infield single to load the bases.
California reclaimed the lead in the top of the third when Mitch Delfino hit the top of the wall in left centerfield for a solo home run and a 3-2 advantage.
The Longhorns produced a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 4-4. Felts hit a leadoff single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Marlow. Maitland singled through the right side of the infield and Mark Payton drew a walk to load the bases. Jordan Etier was hit by a pitch to push Felts across and Erich Weiss produced the equalizer with a grounder for an RBI fielder's choice knocking home Maitland.
The Golden Bears once again took the lead in the fifth inning. With one out, Chadd Krist doubled down the leftfield line and an infield single by Andrew Knapp put runners on the corners. Bunting plated Krist with a sacrifice fly to rightfield for the 5-4 advantage.
California (16-10) added an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Texas reliever John Curtiss issued a leadoff walk to Paul and he moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Reuvekamp. With two outs, Delfino singled up the middle to plate Paul for the 6-4 lead.
Texas (15-11) shaved a run off the lead in the eighth, but left water in the well. After Felts lined out hard to second base, Marlow singled through the right side of the infield. Maitland hit a wall-banger to right centerfield to drive in Marlow with a triple, cutting the lead to 6-5. Maitland, the potential tying run, was stranded at third with a grounder to short by Payton and a strikeout by Etier.
Hoby Milner (5-4) was saddled with the loss for Texas. He allowed one run on three hits while striking out one over 1.2 innings. Corey Knebel was the most effective of the four Longhorns' pitchers, tossing three scoreless, hitless innings with one walk while striking out three.
Joey Donofrio (3-0) earned the win with 2.1 shutout frames. He allowed just one hit while striking out three. Logan Scott picked up his sixth save of the season, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out three over 2.0 innings.
Maitland led the Texas offense going 3-for-4 with one triple, one RBI and one run scored. Silver, Felts and Marlow each registered two hits.
Delfino led Cal at the plate going 2-for-5 with one home run, one run and two RBI. Knapp added two hits, including a double, and a sacrifice bunt.
