AUSTIN, Texas – A big fourth-inning doomed the Stanford baseball team in a 9-0 defeat at #23 Texas on Saturday afternoon.
The Longhorns scored six runs in the fourth to gain a 7-0 lead, and Stanford (4-3) dropped back-to-back games for the first time this year.
Texas (4-2) opened the scoring on a safety squeeze in the third inning. In the next home frame, the hosts had five hits, including a two-out, three-run home run.
Freshman Nico Hoerner broke up a perfect game when he reached first on a strikeout in the top of the fourth. He then broke up the no-hitter with one out in the seventh inning with a single up the middle.
Outside of the fourth inning, junior southpaw Chris Castellanos was effective. In the other five frames, he allowed just five hits and one run. For the afternoon, he matched a career-high with six strikeouts.
It was a big moment for senior Bobby Zarubin in the seventh. He entered the game as a pitcher for the first time since 2013. As a freshman, he had a 2.16 ERA in 15 apperances, but was converted to an infielder the last two seasons after shoulder surgery. He retired all four batters he faced, and induced a double play ball to retire the side in the seventh.
Texas tacked on two more in the eighth for the final margin.
In the final game of the series, Brett Hanewich will take the hill for the Cardinal. He will face Texas right-hander Connor Mays in a 10:30 a.m. (PT) start at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
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