Kansas University catcher Michael Tinsley scored a run, drove in another and threw out a runner trying to steal second base.
But it was a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 11th inning that was nearly his biggest contribution. That walk set the stage for the Jayhawks to load the bases with one out and put them something as simple as a sacrifice fly away from topping Texas. But it never came.
Game 2 between the Kansas Jayhawks and Texas Longhorns has been pushed back because of rainy weather.
After Blair Beck singled and Joe Moroney was intentionally walked, designated hitter Steve Goldstein bounced into a double play to end the threat. Three innings later, the Longhorns scraped together a run of their own in a similar fashion and left Hoglund Ballpark with a 3-2, 14-inning victory.
“That was the biggest turning point in the ball game,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “You can win with a sacrifice fly, and that was just devastating.”
Despite the Jayhawks (15-23 overall, 3-7 Big 12) missing out on their best chance to take Game 1 of the three-game series, Price said he was proud that the team responded by holding Texas (20-18, 7-6) down for a few innings.
“Inevitably when that happens,” said Price said of the missed opportunity at the plate, “the team comes out and buries you the next inning. I was really proud we went back out there and kept putting up zeroes.”
Closer Stephen Villines, who threw 91 pitches over five innings, played a big part in that. He struck out eight batters and gave up just the one run, which came in the top of the 14th inning on an infield single. Villines’ strong outing came after starter Ben Krauth rolled through nine innings, striking out nine and giving up just five hits.
“There’s nothing bad you can say about the game tonight,” Krauth said. “It just didn’t go in our favor.”
Added Villines: “That was a great game, a battle by both teams. Our guys are pretty tough. We understand that we played a good game, we didn’t make any mistakes, we just lost a well-played game. But we’re pumped to get back out there and try to win the next one.”
That may be easier said than done. The potential for severe weather moved up today’s start time from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m., and Price and company are bracing for a long day.
“It may be from 10 o’clock (Saturday) morning ’til 10 o’clock (Saturday) night to get that (game) in but we’ll stay 10-12 hours if that’s what it takes.”
Texas 000 020 000 000 01 — 3 11 0
Kansas 000 100 010 000 00 — 2 7 0
W – Ty Marlow (1-0), L – Stephen Villines (2-3).
2B: C.J. Hinojosa, UT. Connor McKay, Matt McLaughlin, Michael Tinsley, KU.
KU Highlights: Ben Krauth 9 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 9 K; Stephen Villines 5 IP 6 H 1 ER 8 K; Matt McLaughlin 2-for-5; Michael Tinsley 1-for-5, run, RBI; Joven Afenir 1-for-4, RBI, BB; Justin Protacio 1-for-6, run.
