The University of Texas scored a combined seven runs in the first two innings and coasted to an 11-2 win over Washington State University in collegiate baseball action Saturday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Texas (9-5) pounced on the Cougars early with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Travis Tucker and Jordan Danks were each hit by pitches to lead off the inning. Chance Wheeless laid down a sacrifice bunt to move runners to second and third. Bradley Suttle hit a single to leftfield to drive in a Tucker and Danks. Kyle Russell was issued a walk and Preston Clark plated Suttle and put runners at the corners with a single to left centerfield. Nick Peoples pushed across the final run of the inning with a sacrifice squeeze bunt staking the Longhorns to a 4-0 lead.
Texas added three more runs in the bottom of the second. Chais Fuller led off the inning with a double down the leftfield line, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a single to rightfield by Jordan Danks. Wheeless singled up the middle to put runners at first and second and Suttle drove in two more runs with a single to the right centerfield gap increasing the margin to 7-0.
The Longhorns added two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Tucker singled, stole second base, advanced to third on single by Danks and scored on a single to centerfield by Suttle. A fielding error by WSU’s centerfielder put runners at second and third and Russell hit a sacrifice fly to leftfield to plate Danks and inflate the cushion to 9-0. In the fifth inning, Peoples hit a leadoff single, Jeff Boes was hit by a pitch and a fielder’s choice grounder by Fuller put runners at the corners. Tucker hit a single, scoring Peoples and a sacrifice fly by Danks drove Fuller home giving Texas an 11-0 advantage.
Adrian Alaniz cruised through the first six innings, allowing just three hits, but was touched for two runs in the seventh. Jim Murphy hit a leadoff single to centerfield. Matt Fanelli pinch ran for Murphy, and scored on a double down the leftfield line by Jeff Miller. Simi Reynolds followed with a single through the right side of the infield to score Miller and trim the lead to 11-2.
Suttle led the Texas offense going 3-for-5 with one double, one runs scored and a career-high five RBI. Danks went 2-for-2 with one walk, one hit by pitch, three runs scored and two RBI. Tucker went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI.
Alaniz (4-1) picked up the win for Texas allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over seven innings. Alex Posey and Hunter Harris combined for two innings of scoreless relief.
Nick Ison (1-1) was saddled with the loss for Washington State. He allowed nine runs, eight earned, on nine hits, two walks and two hit batters over four innings.
Texas and Washington State wrap up the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
