May 3, 2008
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AUSTIN, Texas -- Adam Hornung and Ben Booker homered in a four-run seventh as Baylor defeated Texas 6-1 in Big 12 Conference action Saturday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Bears (28-21, 10-13) snapped an 11-game losing streak in the series, defeating the Longhorns (28-19, 11-12) for the first time since the 2005 Big 12 Tournament.
After managing only four base runners in the game's first six innings, Baylor batted around in the seventh. Hornung led off the inning with his sixth homer of the year, breaking a scoreless tie. Three batters and one out later, Booker blasted a two-run shot down the line in right that cleared the Longhorns' bullpen beyond the outfield wall. Paul Miles, Gregg Glime and Shaver Hansen then walked to load the bases, and Beamer Weems pushed the Bears' lead to 4-0.
Texas rallied for a run on two hits, a walk and Tant Shepherd's pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the eighth, but the Bears responded with two insurance runs in the top of the ninth on Dustin Dickerson's two-out, bases-loaded, two-run single.
On the day, Baylor batters drew five walks and were hit by a pitch three times. The Bears did not strikeout a single time. Baylor had not struck out as few as one time in a game since April 1, 2003, against UTSA. Dickerson's ninth-inning, two-run single was the game's only hit with runners in scoring position; Baylor and Texas were a combined 1-for-16 in that situation.
Starter Shawn Tolleson (5-3) earned the victory, allowing one run on seven hits and six walks with seven strikeouts over 7.1 innings. He worked through several tight spots, including a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, and stranded seven base runners in the game's first seven innings, five of which were in scoring position.
After working just 2.2 innings against Texas A&M two weeks ago and failing to get out the first inning last Saturday against Nebraska, Tolleson tossed a career-high 131 pitches, working into the eighth inning for the fourth time in eight Big 12 starts this season.
Texas did not get to Tolleson until the eighth. Russell Moldenhauer and Brandon Belt opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and Preston Clark followed with a walk to load the bases. Shepherd's sacrifice fly pushed Tolleson from the game, but Willie Kempf got consecutive ground-ball outs to get the Bears out of the jam. Kempf then retired the side in order in the ninth for his first save of the season.
Longhorn starter Austin Wood (3-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits and over 6.1 innings.
Hansen, who led off the game with a double, had Baylor's only multiple-hit game of the day, going 2-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. Every Baylor batter reached safely at least once except Raynor Campbell, who reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Booker's home run.
Baylor and Texas conclude the series Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised on Fox College Sports Central (DirecTV channel 669). Baylor sends right-hander Craig Fritsch (3-2, 4.26 ERA) to the mound for his first career Big 12 start. Texas counters with right-hander Kenn Kasparek (3-3, 4.29 ERA), who defeated the Bears in the teams' non-conference meeting last week at Baylor Ballpark.
NOTES: Texas leads the all-time series 223-98-4, including a 128-32-1 advantage in games played at Austin. The Bears are 21-24 against the Longhorns since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997, including a 9-9 mark at Austin. Baylor is 26-27 against Texas during head coach Steve Smith's tenure. ... Hansen (six games), Aaron Miller (five games) and Weems (five games) all extended hitting streaks, while Campbell (seven games) and Glime (three games) both saw streaks end.
