March 6, 2009
Complete Release and Box Score in PDF Format
STANFORD, Calif. - Texas right-hander Chance Ruffin pitched a four-hitter for his second career complete game as the second-ranked Longhorns (11-0) defeated Stanford (2-7) in the opener of a three-game series at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond.
Ruffin (3-0) was in command from the start, holding Stanford hitless until Ben Clowe lined a solid single to center with one out in the fifth. The Cardinal did not have an extra-base hit, while Ruffin walked three, hit a batter and struck out seven - including the final two hitters of the game.
Texas jumped out in front immediately, when leadoff hitter Travis Tucker homered off Stanford starter Jeffrey Inman (0-2) on the second pitch of the game. Inman battled through 5.0 innings, yielding five runs (four earned) on a night where the Cardinal defense committed four errors.
Stanford scored single runs off Ruffin in the fifth and sixth. Toby Gerhart drew a two-out walk prior to Clowe's single, and Jake Schlander followed by rifling a ball into right field for an RBI-single. Joey August singled with one out in the sixth, and moved to third when Ruffin's pickoff throw was mishandled by first baseman Brandon Belt for a two-base error. Kellen Kiilsgaard then brought August home with a sharp groundout to first. Jonathan Kaskow collected the Cardinal's final hit of the game, a one-out single in the ninth.
The Stanford bullpen again pitched well, allowing one run over 4.0 innings and stranding two of three inherited runners (one by Carey Schwartz and one by Kyle Thompson).
Stanford will look to snap its six-game losing streak tomorrow afternoon, as the Cardinal hosts Texas in the second game of this three-game series. First pitch from Klein Field at Sunken Diamond is set for 1:00 p.m. PT.