May 4, 2008

Box Score | Quotes

WACO, Texas -- Texas posted solo spots in the second and third innings, and two Longhorn pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout as Texas edged Baylor 2-0 in Sunday's Big 12 Conference series finale at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Bears (28-22, 10-14) have lost three straight Big 12 series. The Longhorns (29-19, 12-12) won the series two games to one, taking the series against Baylor for the third straight season.

Russell Moldenhauer walked to open the second and reached second when Baylor starter Craig Fritsch mishandled a bunt. Brandon Belt followed with an RBI single through the right side. Travis Tucker was hit by a pitch to lead off the third, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Moldenhauer's two-out double past a diving Ben Booker down the left-field line.

That was all the offense on the day as both pitching staffs kept the bats at bay the rest of the way. Texas starter Kenn Kasparek (4-3) tossed 8.0 scoreless innings on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman with nine strikeouts for the win. Cole Green gave up a one-out single to Adam Hornung in the ninth but escaped unscathed for his third save.

Fritsch (3-3) took the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits, two walks and a hit batsman with four strikeouts over 5.0 innings. Mace Thurman and Willie Kempf closed out the game, each allowing one hit with three strikeouts and two strikeouts, respectively.

Baylor managed only six base runners on the game, all reaching with at least one out. Raynor Campbell and Booker had back-to-back two-out singles in the second, but Jordan Danks raced down Gregg Glime's Texas Leaguer in right-center to end the inning. The Bears did not get another hit until Shaver Hansen's two-out double in the eighth.

Texas left the bases loaded in the second and seventh innings and stranded seven runners in scoring position. Paul Miles ran down a bases-loaded, full-count liner off the bat of pinch hitter Tant Shepherd with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, saving at least two runs.

Baylor now takes an eight-day respite for spring semester final exams. The Bears return to the field Tuesday, May 13, hosting Texas State for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch at Baylor Ballpark.

NOTES: Texas leads the all-time series 224-98-4, including a 129-32-1 advantage in games played at Austin. The Bears are 21-25 against the Longhorns since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997, including a 9-10 mark at Austin. Baylor is 26-28 against Texas during head coach Steve Smith's tenure. ... Hansen extended his hitting streak to seven games, while Aaron Miller (five games) and Beamer Weems (five games) both saw streaks end.