FROM PRESS RELEASE
WACO, Texas — The Texas Longhorns used gritty pitching efforts from Kenn Kasparek and Stayton Thomas and received timely hitting throughout the order in an 8-2 win in non-conference collegiate baseball action against Big 12 Conference foe the Baylor Bears.
Kasparek (2-3) scattered two hits and three walks while allowing one run and striking out seven over five innings to earn the win. Thomas yielded one run, two hits and one walk while fanning five over four innings to earn his third save of the season.
The Longhorns pounced on Baylor starter Wade Mackey with two runs on three hits in the top of the first. With two outs, Jordan Danks drew first blood pounding a first pitch offering over the centerfield fence for his fourth home run of the season. Russell Moldenhauer and Kyle Russell hit back-to-back doubles to account for Texas’ second run.
The Bears shaved a run off the lead in the home half of the first. Baylor benefitted from two walks and one hit batter in the inning, with the run coming on a single through the left side by Adam Hornung with one out. Baylor then loaded the bases, but Kasparek retired Raynor Campbell on strikes and induced a foul pop up by Beamer Weems to get out of the jam.
Texas tacked on a run in the third inning when Jordan Danks walked, moved to second on a Moldenhauer sacrifice bunt and scored on a single to leftfield by Russell staking the Longhorns to a 3-1 lead.
Baylor crept back within one run with a tally in the sixth inning. Thomas relieved Kasparek and induced a fly ball to leftfield by Aaron Miller, but it was lost in the lights by Moldenhauer and resulted in a double. Thomas retired Campbell on strikes, but Weems moved Miller to third with a groundout and Miller scored on an infield single by Landis Ware.
The Longhorns inflated the cushion to 5-2 in the seventh inning. David Hernandez hit a leadoff walk and a bunt single by Michael Torres and throwing error put runners on second and third. Travis Tucker plated Hernandez with a sacrifice fly to centerfield and Torres scored on a single by Kyle Lusson.
Tant Shepherd put the closing touches on the win with a three-run home run in the top of the ninth to give Texas an 8-2 edge. With one out, Torres drew a walk and stole second base. After Tucker lined out to short, Danks drew a walk and Danks and Torres each stole a base to put runners at second and third. Shepherd hammered a full-count offering over the fence in leftfield for his first career pinch-hit home run and his second dinger of the season.
Mackey (2-3) was saddled with the loss for Baylor allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one over three innings.
Russell went 2-for-4 with one double and two RBI to spearhead the Texas assault. Torres went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs scored and Danks scored three runs and added a home run and stolen base.
Texas returns to action Wednesday, hosting UT San Antonio in a 6:05 p.m. contest at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
