A late rally came up short for The University of Texas and the Longhorns dropped a 10-8 decision to Stanford University in collegiate baseball action at The Dell Diamond on Sunday afternoon.
Texas (6-5) trailed 10-6 entering the bottom of the ninth inning. Brett Lewis led off the frame with a double off third base and Chance Wheeless followed with a two-run home run to right field. With the lead cut to 10-8, Jeff Boes reached on a fielding error and a single by Nick Peoples put runners at the corners. Jordan Danks hit what appeared to be a game-tying extra-base hit down the rightfield line, but first baseman Brent Milleville made a diving snare of the line drive and touched first base for the unassisted double play. Max Fearnow, who entered the game following Wheeless’ homer, completed his first save of the season, fanning Preston Clark to end the game.
The score was tied 6-6 when Stanford posted four runs in the top of the ninth. Jason Castro drew a walk and moved to third on a double by Cord Phelps. Randy Molina was intentinally walked to load the bases. Brendan Domarcki hit a two-run double to leftfield. Ryan Seawell and Milleville each added RBI singles to inflate the cushion to 10-6.
Texas drew first blood in the first inning when Danks drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a single by Clark and scored on a single to rightfield by Travis Tucker.
Stanford (3-5) took its first lead of the game in the top of the third thanks to four consecutive singles by Seawell, Sean Ratliff, Michael Taylor and Milleville. Milleville’s single drove in two, staking the Cardinal to a
2-1 lead.
Stanford tacked on three more runs in the top of the fourth with RBI singles by Ratliff and Taylor and a sacrifice fly by Milleville, increasing the margin to 5-1.
Texas tied the score with two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, Danks doubled and Clark followed with a two-run home run to leftfield. In the sixth, Peoples reached on a bunt single and scored on a Danks’ home run to rightfield, tying the score at 5-5.
Stanford took a 6-5 lead in the eighth inning with a solo home run from Ratliff, but Texas knotted the game at 6-6 with back-to-back doubles by Danks and Clark.
Danks went 3-for-5 with four runs, two doubles, one home run and two RBI.
Clark went 3-for-6 with one double, one home run and three RBI. Lewis went
3-for-5 with one run and one double
For Stanford, Milleville went 2-for-4 with a career-high four RBI. Ratliff and Taylor each had three hits.
Blake Hancock (1-0) earned the win in relief for Stanford and Fearnow earned the save.
Randy Boone (0-3) was saddled with the loss for Texas. He allowed five runs on four hits and one walk in two innings.
Texas welcomes Texas State University to UFCU Disch–Falk Field for the home opener Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
