The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
30-10, 9-5
TCU
25-13, 9-5
No. 6/4 Longhorns fall to TCU, 2-0
04.18.2014 | Baseball
Hinojosa goes 2-for-4, Peters strikes out seven in 6 2/3
AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 6/4 Texas baseball had its streak of three straight conference series victories snapped as it fell to TCU, 2-0, Friday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Texas, which had won series over Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma heading into the series with the Frogs, again received solid starting pitching and scoreless relief from the bullpen, but was outdueled by TCU.
Horned Frogs starter Preston Morrison went seven scoreless innings allowing just four hits while striking out seven and walking three, topping the performance from Dillon Peters. Peters went 6 2/3, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out seven and walking two.
TCU (25-13, 9-5 Big 12), which won 3-0 Thursday night, handed Texas (30-10, 9-5 Big 12) its first back-to-back losses since the first two games of the season at California.
C.J Hinojosa had two of Texas' four hits, and nearly got Texas on the board in the eighth inning when he hit a hard liner that TCU second baseman Garrett Crain made a diving catch on. The snag stranded two of the nine runners Texas left on base in the game.
The Horned Frogs struck first with a run in the opening frame. With two outs, TCU recorded three straight singles – including two on 0-2 counts – to take a 1-0 lead.
The Longhorns put two runners on with only one out in the bottom half of the first on a single by Ben Johnson and a walk to Mark Payton, but were unable to score.
It seemed a turning point had come in the fourth, when TCU loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk. After a force at home gave Texas the first out, third baseman Zane Gurwitz made an unbelievable, highlight-reel play. On a bloop to shallow left field Gurwitz raced backwards, never looking back, and made a diving over-the-shoulder catch to prevent multiple runs. Dillon Peters followed by striking out the next batter on a full count to get out of the inning without allowing any runs.
But Texas stranded two runners again in the bottom of the inning after a pair of two-out singles by Hinojosa and Kacy Clemens, as Morrison got a strike out to end the threat.
Morrison retired the side in order in the fifth and sixth, and TCU tacked on a run in the seventh. With two outs and a runner on, Kevin Cron hit skied a ball that left fielder Ben Johnson lost in the lights, going for a run-scoring triple.
Chad Hollingsworth, who entered to face Cron, got out of the inning without further damage and Morgan Cooper retired all six batters he faced in two scoreless innings to keep the Longhorns within striking distance.
Texas got its first leadoff man on when Hinojosa opened the bottom of the seventh with a single through the left side and Clemens drew a walk to put runners on first and second, but two strikeouts and a flyout ended the inning.
The Longhorns put their first two batters on again in the eighth, but were unable to get a run in.
Morrison (5-3) picked up the win, while Riley Ferrell got the save (8) for the second night in a row. Peters (5-3) took the loss.
Texas will look to salvage a game out of the series Saturday at 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Morrison, Preston (5-3)
L: Peters, Dillon (5-3)
S: Ferrell, Riley (8)
Batting:
2B: Cron, Kevin 1
3B: Cron, Kevin 1
RBI: Cron, Kevin 1 ; Suiter, Jerrick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Cody 1 ; White, Boomer 1
Base Running:
HBP: Payton, Mark 1
