No. 18/22 Texas Baseball drops season opener to Cal, 7-0

Friday, February 14

Berkeley, Calif.

9 p.m.

University of Texas

0-1

California

1-0

Texas Longhorns

California

Mark Payton was 3-for-4

No. 18/22 Texas Baseball drops season opener to Cal, 7-0

02.15.2014 | Baseball

Box Score

Mark Payton goes 3-for-4 to lead the offense

BERKELEY, Calif. -- The No. 18/22 Texas baseball team dropped its season opener at Cal, 7-0, Friday night at Evans Diamond.

Cal starting pitcher Daulton Jefferies went six shutout innings in his collegiate debut, scattering six hits and striking out four while walking one.

Texas starter Parker French went five innings and surrendered just four hits – but five Texas errors led to six unearned runs and pegged French with the loss.

Mark Payton led the UT offense with a 3-for-4 day, extending his reached-base streak to 40 games dating back to last season. C.J Hinojosa was 2-for-3 while Jeremy Montalbano doubled and Brooks Marlow and Tres Barrera each had a single.

The Bears outhit Texas, which started four freshmen in its lineup, 10 to 8, with second baseman and leadoff hitter Derek Campbell leading the way with a 3-for-4 night.

Cal led 1-0 entering the fifth and punched in five runs on just one hit in the inning thanks in part to three uncharacteristic Texas errors. The Longhorns appeared to be out of the inning after giving up just one run, but with the bases loaded and two outs, an error prolonged the inning.

The Bears threatened to add to the lead an inning later, but reliever Ty Culbreth, who was inserted into the game with one out and the bases loaded, induced an inning-ending double play. Culbreth went 1 2/3 and struck out two without allowing a run.

The Longhorns used six pitchers on the evening, with Travis Duke, Blake Goins, Chad Hollingsworth and Josh Sawyer all seeing action.

Texas and Cal resume the four-game set with a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. CT Saturday.