The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
West Virginia
Baseball falls in Big 12 series opener to West Virginia, 1-0
04.19.2013 | Baseball
April 19, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas - Bobby Boyd's RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth proved to be the difference Friday as the West Virginia Mountaineers defeated the Texas Longhorns, 1-0, in a Big 12 series opener at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. UT sophomore starting pitcher Parker French registered a career-high seven strikeouts, but took the loss after allowing the lone run on five hits in 7 1/3 innings.
Harrison Musgrave (6-1) recorded the win for West Virginia (22-17, 5-5), keeping the Longhorns off the scoreboard despite Texas recording six hits in the game. Musgrave, who has not lost a Big 12 game this season, pitched his third career complete game with nine strikeouts.
Brooks Marlow led the Longhorns (20-16, 4-9) with a 3-for-3 game, all singles. Erich Weiss left the game in the fourth inning after being hit on the nose by a Musgrave pitch as his status will not be known until tomorrow.
Billy Fleming hit a one-out single in the top of the eighth for West Virginia before Alan Filauro drew a walk against French. Corey Knebel then relieved French and walked shortstop Taylor Munden to load the bases. Boyd then lifted a fly ball to center to score Fleming from third.
Texas had scoring opportunities in the eighth and ninth innings. Brooks Marlow and Weston both singled in the eighth and C.J Hinojosa hit a line drive towards left center, but Munden was able to snare the hard shot and tag up Marlow at second for the inning-ending double play. Mark Payton and pinch-hitter Alex Silver walked to put the potential winning run on base in the ninth before pinch-hitter Jeremy Montalbano popped up as Musgrave was able to go the distance for the Mountaineers.
The series continues tomorrow at 2 p.m. with a noon start on Sunday. Both games will be televised by Longhorn Network with radio on AM 1300 The Zone. Gametracker live stats will be available on TexasSports.com with live Twitter updates @Texas_Baseball.
The Texas Baseball program will honor the 1983 national championship team tomorrow prior to the start of the game. Fans are also invited for a Texas Baseball/Softball block party that will take place on Comal St. between 20th and 21st Street from 1-6 p.m. with free admission for all fans.
Notes: Nine of the Longhorns' 13 games in Big 12 this season have been decided by one run...Texas is now 9-8 this season in one-run games...Mark Payton has reached base safely in 25 straight games...Parker French's previous career best for strikeouts was six (twice)...24 of the Longhorns' 36 games this season have been decided by two runs or less...opponents are hitting only .207 against Texas in Big 12 games this season.
WVU 000-000-010---1-5-0 TEXAS 000-000-000---0-6-0
Records: Texas (20-16, 4-9), West Virginia (22-17, 5-5) WP - Musgrave (6-1) LP - French (3-3) T - 2:29 ATT - 5,641
Musgrave and Filauro. French, Knebel (8) and Felts.
Post-Game Quotes
Texas head coach Augie Garrido
Opening statement: I thought from a pitching standpoint it was a heck of a baseball game. If you just take the losing out of it--which you can't--but you choose to be realistic about the game that Parker (French) and their pitcher pitched, (it was a) great game. He's one of the premier pitchers. He's done very well all year long. I thought we played without any glaring uptight, unusual or negative things happening. I think that it got down (in the eighth inning) to them catching C.J (Hinojosa)'s line drive and us not getting a bunt down or else we score on (Weston) Hall's hit to center. It got right down to the finest of details. Everybody is really frustrated. We understand that. It's very difficult, obviously. But as you go through this, if you can't see the opportunity in the next day, then you really are missing out the best part of baseball and that is your opportunities--the next time you get to play.
On Erich Weiss' injury when he was hit by a pitch: The ball hit the bill (of his hat) and came straight down and hit him on the bridge of the nose. One of the seams pierced the skin (on his nose). There is some swelling. He was in the team meeting, so he felt good enough to hang around and be able to be with the team at the end of the game. That was a good sign to me.
On whether his lineup shuffle was meant to get his team out of their current rut: Yes, to get out of the rut. (Ty) Marlow typically brings a lot of energy to the lineup. He's a scrappy player. He's a hundred-percent guy. I thought him leading off might ignite or spark the team a little bit and take Erich (Weiss) out of the responsibility a little bit--he hadn't hit as well against left-handed pitching. He's done fine. The three guys in the middle are our three RBI guys--it doesn't matter when they bat, so why not get a right-handed guy up against a very good left handed pitcher one more time, at least, than the fifth hitter.
Freshman shortstop C.J Hinojosa
On what was making West Virginia's pitcher so effective: He had a good day. We did what we could. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. I think we outhit them, but it's (about) timely hits. He didn't give them up when we needed them. It's tough, but everything is going to keep rolling. We still have a lot of season left.
On how hard it is to put frustrating one-run losses behind him: It's hard. Tomorrow is a new day and we're going to come out and compete like we have been all year. Hopefully, the outcome will be a little different. We're going to come out every day and play as hard as we can. Everyone is giving their maximum effort.
On whether he thought his lineout in the eighth would find the outfield: Yes, I thought as soon as I hit it, I had a chance. Then I saw (the shortstop) leap up and catch it. It was just bad luck. We're going to keep rolling on and take good at-bats. Hopefully, they will fall tomorrow.
Sophomore pitcher Parker French
On how his performance felt tonight: It felt pretty good. I finally felt like myself out there. The last few weeks have been a little rough, but tonight was a good sign.
On how frustrating it is to lose games when his team plays well and whether it's getting harder to move on from them: It's very frustrating. Each one hurts a little more. The sun is still going to come up tomorrow and we'll still have a baseball game to play. We'll get over it, but it just stings a little bit more. It feels like you get punched in the gut--and right now, the face, too.
