Johnston's strong start leads No. 23 Baseball past Stanford 4-3

Friday, February 26

Austin, Texas

6:30 p.m.

University of Texas

3-2

Stanford

4-2

Stanford

Texas

Johnston's strong start leads No. 23 Baseball past Stanford 4-3

02.26.2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Sophomore Kyle Johnston went seven innings to earn his first win of the season.

Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Quotes

AUSTIN, Texas—On Friday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, the No. 23 Texas baseball team rode a strong seven-inning, nine-strikeout effort from starter Kyle Johnston to a 4-3 win over Stanford.

The Longhorns (3-2) rebounded from last night's 12-inning, 1-0 loss to the Cardinal (4-2) by drumming up a four-run third inning. Kacy Clemens opened the frame with a walk and Tyler Rand was hit with a pitch to put runners on first and second. Zane Gurwitz followed with a sacrifice bunt attempt that thre Stanford third baseman threw away, allowing Clemens to score and putting both baserunners in scoring position.

After a Bret Boswell RBI groundout, Gurwitz raced home on a passed ball to push the lead to 3-0. Second baseman Joe Baker followed with a stand-up double to right-center. After Baker stole third—his first of four steals on the night—designated hitter Tres Barrera singled through the left side to give Texas a 4-0 edge.

Stanford got one back in the top of the fourth off Johnston, but the sophomore righthander limited the damage.

In the top of the sixth, Stanford's leadoff man reached on a dropped third strike and went to second on a failed pickoff attempt. The ensuing groundout and single brought the Cardinal to within two.

Johnston (1-0), who retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced on the night, tossed a career-high seven innings and surpassed his previous game-high in strikeouts with nine.

When Stanford brought the score to 4-3 in the eighth, freshman Chase Shugart entered with two on and out out and induced two groundball outs to maintain the one-run lead.

Shugart returned to the mound in the ninth inning and made quick work of the Stanford hitters to earn his first collegiate save.

The Longhorns and Cardinal return to UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Lefthanders Ty Culbreth and Chris Castellanos are expected to start for Texas and Stanford, respectively.