Comeback Falls ShortComeback Falls Short
Bob Drebin / isiphotos.com
Baseball

Comeback Falls Short

Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas – No. 7 Stanford's comeback fell short in an 8-6 loss at No. 23 Texas in Game 1 of a four-game series on Thursday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

"It took us a while to get our feet on the ground and it showed against a team that played some great baseball tonight," said first-year Clarke and Elizabeth Nelson Director of Baseball David Esquer. "I was pleased with the way we responded late in the game, but Texas played as good of a game as I have seen in a while too."

The Cardinal (11-2) quickly fell behind, 4-0, with the Longhorns (9-4) plating one run in each of the first four frames. Tristan Beck exited after four innings of work, and Austin Weiermiller (3-1) picked up his first career loss in relief.

Maverick Handley and Kyle Stowers led Stanford with two RBI apiece – Handley's came via a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning, and Stowers drove in two runs with a two-out single in the sixth. Tim Tawa had three hits, including a leadoff single in the first and a double in the ninth, and Andrew Daschbach had a team-high two runs.

"Tonight was also just one of those nights when hard-hit balls don't find gaps and the other team makes some spectacular plays," added Esquer. "I thought Nico Hoerner had an exceptional night at the plate with nothing to show for it with three hard-hit balls straight at someone."

The Cardinal's four-game series with Texas continues tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. PT with left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic expected to start against right-handed pitcher Nolan Kingham. All games in the series will air on ESPN's Longhorn Network with live statistics available at GoStanford.com.

Cardinal Notes

  • Beck's ERA stands at 2.86 after his first non-quality start of the season. Beck's final line was three strikeouts, two walks, six hits and four runs, all earned in 4.0 innings pitched.
  • Tawa's three-hit night upped his batting average to .319.
  • Brandon Wulff reached base for the 13th game in a row to start the season – his two-out single in the top of the seventh tied the game at 5-5.
  • Brendan Beck made his first career appearance in the field, playing the final inning at third base.
  • Texas natives John Henry Styles and Jacob Palisch each made relief appearances – Zach Grech and Carson Rudd also appeared.
  • Nickolas Oar registered his career RBI in the eighth inning, grounding out to third.