Howell OutDuels Ripley As #9 Texas Edges K-State, 3-1
Apr 26, 2003 | Baseball
April 26, 2003
Austin, Texas - In a game that saw 19 strikeouts and no walks, Texas left-handed pitcher J.P. Howell out-dueled Kansas State right-handed pitcher Jim Ripley to help the ninth-ranked Longhorns post a 3-1 win over the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon before 4,916 fans at Disch-Falk Field.
The two combined to allow just four runs on 13 hits, including just two extra-base hits, with 19 strikeouts and zero walks in a game that last just two hours. Both surpassed their career-highs in strikeouts, as Howell compiled 10 compared to Ripley's nine.
Ripley (3-5) set team and career highs for innings pitched and strikeouts in 2003, as the Ajax, Ontario, native allowed just one earned run (three total) on six hits with nine strikeouts in the team's first complete game. It was the first complete game by a Wildcat since Jonathan Gutierrez threw a seven-inning complete game against Kansas on May 19, 2002, while it was the longest outing since Brock Smith' nine-inning complete game against Missouri on May 11, 2002. The nine strikeouts were the most by a Wildcat pitcher since Luke Robertson collected 10 against Kansas on May 4, 2001.
"I had a plan from the start of the game today," said Ripley. "I wanted to work ahead of the batters either strike guys out or get them to hit bad pitches and force ground balls to let my defense work for me."
With the win, Texas improved to 34-13 on the season and 15-5 in Big 12 Conference play, while Kansas State dropped to 12-28 overall and 2-15 in league action. The Longhorns have now won 11 of the last 12 meetings, including 11 in a row dating back to 1999. The Wildcats, who dropped to 1-14 away from home, have now lost 10 straight on the road, including eight in a row in conference play.
"I thought that was one of the better-pitched college games of the year," said Wildcat head coach Mike Clark. "Both pitchers were awesome. Jim did an excellent job. The errors really hurt us today, but when you play a team as talented as Texas you have to be perfect and we were darn close to perfect. However, I thought the guys really competed well and gave themselves an opportunity to win."
Texas jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning, as the Longhorns scored a run on two hits and an error. Junior second baseman Tim Moss laced Ripley's first pitch to right field then moved all the way around to third base on a stolen base and an errant throw by the catcher. Moss then scored on the next at-bat, as senior outfielder Dustin Majewski had a RBI single to centerfield.
The Longhorns made it 2-0 in the second inning by again scoring a run on two hits and an error. Freshman catcher Taylor Teagarden had a single to left field to start the inning then moved all the way to third on an error by the shortstop that allowed sophomore designated hitter J.D. Reininger to reach first base. Senior outfielder Joe Ferin plated Teagarden with a RBI bunt single up the first base line.
Kansas State cut the lead to 2-1 in the sixth inning, as senior outfielder Pat Maloney connected on his 12th double of the season to score junior outfielder Brad Anzman from second base. Anzman had a one-out single up the middle then moved to second on a ground out by junior second baseman Marc Chabot.
After four scoreless innings, Texas got an insurance run in the seventh inning, as an error on a single by Ferin allowed Teagarden to score from second base. Teagarden led off the inning with a single up the middle then moved into scoring position at second base with a sacrifice bunt by Reininger.
Howell moved to 7-1 on the season in gaining the win for Texas, as he recorded career-highs for both strikeouts (10) and innings pitched (8.1). Sophomore third baseman/reliever Huston Street collected his eighth save of the season, as he got the final two outs in the ninth.Teagarden went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to pace the Longhorn offense, while Ferin added a 2-for-3 afternoon with a RBI.
Saunders was the lone Wildcat with more than one hit, as he went 2-for-4 with a double. Maloney went 1-for-4 with the Wildcats' lone RBI, while Anzman added a 1-for-4 effort with a run scored.
Kansas State concludes its three-game series with Texas on Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m. at Disch-Falk Field.
