AUSTIN, Texas – A methodical rally fell one run short for the Stanford baseball team in a 4-3 defeat at #23 Texas on Friday night.
Despite an early 4-0 deficit, the Cardinal chipped away and was within 4-3 in the eighth. Senior Austin Barr pinch hit with the bases loaded and two outs, but a ground out ended the inning and Stanford did not threaten in the ninth.
The Cardinal was in the game in the late innings due to a stellar pitching performance from Keith Weisenberg in relief. The sophomore entered in the fourth and held the Longhorns scoreless in the longest outing of his career. He struck out a career-high seven hitters in 4.2 innings.
Weisenberg relieved freshman Tristan Beck, who began the second start of his career where he left off. Last Saturday, he pitched 6.1 shut out innings against #22 Cal State Fullerton and earned Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week accolades. In Austin, he cruised through the first two innings.
But after 14 scoreless innings to start the series, the Longhorn bats came alive. Texas (3-2) scored four in the third on three hits, a walk, hit batter, an error and passed ball.
Stanford (4-2) responded in the next half inning when sophomore Quinn Brodey led off with a single to left. The ball was misplayed and rolled to the wall, and Brodey scampered to third. Freshman Nico Hoerner brought him home on an RBI groundout.
The Cardinal chipped away again in the sixth with the very definition of a manufactured run. Junior Tommy Edman reached on a strikeout, advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt, went to third on a groundout and scored on an infield single.
In the eighth, junior Mikey Diekroeger doubled into left center to bring home Hoerner from first base, and bring Stanford within one. Junior Alex Dunlap was hit by a pitch and Matt Winaker was intentionally walked to load the bases, but the rally ended there.
Game 3 of this four-game series begins at 1:30 p.m. (PT) on Saturday and features a matchup of southpaws. Junior left-hander Chris Castellanos will make his second start for the Cardinal this season and will face Texas left-hander Ty Culbreth.
Notes: Stanford's bullpen has yet to allow a run in 12.2 innings of relief in the series, and has surrendered just one in 25.1 innings this season ... Texas has scored in just one of 20 innings this series ... Tommy Edman has reached base in all six games this season ... Both of Stanford's losses this season have been by a 4-3 final against Top 25 opposition.