FROM PRESS RELEASE
AUSTIN, Texas – Sophomore Russell Moldenhauer legged out an infield single with bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to lead the No. 13 Texas Longhorns to a 5-4 win over the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in collegiate baseball action Monday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
With one out in the 10th, Jordan Danks singled to rightfield and Preston Clark singled to centerfield to start a rally. After Belt grounded into a fielder’s choice forcing Clark out at second to put runners at the corners, Oral Roberts elected to intentionally walk Kyle Russell to load the bases. Cameron Rupp was scheduled to bat when Coach Augie Garrido pulled the trigger to bat the left-handed Moldenhauer against the right-handed Golden Eagles’ pitcher T.J. Kelly. Moldenhauer chopped a 0-1 pitch which fell between a sprawling ORU third baseman and pitcher for an RBI single.
Kevin Keyes forced extra innings when he placed a 3-2 pitch over the fence in left centerfield to leadoff the seventh inning, knotting the score at 4-4.
Texas (17-6) drew first blood with three runs in the bottom of the third. Michael Torres hit a leadoff double to the gap in left centerfield. Travis Tucker drew a walk and Danks followed with a three-run home run over the left centerfield fence, staking UT to a 3-0 lead.
The Golden Eagles shaved a run off the lead in the third inning. Juan Martinez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Brendan Duffy grounded into a fielder’s choice, but moved to second on an errant throw by David Hernandez. Duffy stole third base and scored on a groundout to second base by Kelly Minissale.
Oral Roberts (13-6) took a 4-3 lead with three runs in the top of the seventh. The Golden Eagles took advantage of three Longhorns’ errors in the inning and Brian Van Kirk put ORU ahead with an RBI single up the middle to plate Duffy.
Brandon Belt (1-0) earned the win in relief. He pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, striking out two. Chance Ruffin started the game with two scoreless innings. Hunter Harris and Pat McCrory each worked one scoreless inning, with McCrory striking out the side in the sixth. Casey Whitmer also worked 1.1 innings of shutout relief, fanning two and allowing one hit.
Kelly (0-1) was tagged with the loss. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 1.2 innings.
Danks led UT’s offense going 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs and three RBI.
Texas returns to Big 12 Conference action on Friday when the Longhorns host Nebraska in a 6:05 p.m. contest at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
