College Baseball : Third-Ranked Texas Beats Cal State Fullerton Once Again, 9-7

Bobby Behnsch went 2 for 4 and knocked in four runs Saturday to lead the University of Texas to a 9-7 win over Cal State Fullerton in a nonconference game played on Disch-Faulk Field at Austin, Tex.

The Longhorns (11-3), ranked third in the nation by Collegiate Baseball Magazine, can sweep the three-game series with a win over the fourth-ranked Titans (9-5) today.

Behnsch, a senior first baseman, had a two-run double during a three-run first inning Saturday and added a two-run triple to highlight a four-run second. Texas led, 7-5, after three innings.

The Longhorns added two runs in the fifth on a ground out and an infield single. Fullerton’s Pat Garman hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to cut the lead to 9-7, but the Titans were unable to score again off reliever Mark Tetkovsek, who pitched the final seven innings to earn the victory.

John Eccles added a solo homer for Fullerton in the third inning. Starting pitcher Jim Halley lasted just 1 innings and took the loss.

In other nonconference action:

UC Irvine 5, Dominguez Hills 4--Pinch-hitter Devan Shockley delivered a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Anteaters to a come-from-behind victory at UC Irvine.

Dominguez Hills pitcher Jim Pena had retired 13 of 14 batters until Doug Kline doubled with two out in the eighth. Guy Fox replaced Kline as a pinch-runner and Mike Sugar reached on an error. Shockley then doubled to right-center field to score both runners.

Irvine starter Craig Brink had a no-hitter until Ron Harriman led off the fifth with a double. The Toros scored three runs that inning to tie the game, 3-3, and then went ahead, 4-3, in the sixth on Kevin Whalen’s solo home run.

Doug Linton, who relieved Brink in the sixth inning, was the winning pitcher. The Anteaters are now 7-6-1. Irvine’s Tom Baine also tripled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Dominguez Hills drops to 10-3-1.

Southern California College 3-9, Chapman College 1-1--The Vanguards received outstanding pitching performances from junior right-hander Mark Deushane, who went the distance on a three-hitter and struck out nine in the opener, and senior lefty Tim Fortugno, who threw a complete-game, two-hitter and struck out 11 in the nightcap at Southern California College.

Steve Overeem hit a solo home run in the first game and added a three-run homer in the second for SCC, now 7-5. Ben Stepanoff added a two-run double in the opener and Dean Harvey went 3 for 3 in the nightcap. Chapman is 6-9.

In community college action:

El Camino 13, Cypress 11 (called because of darkness after eight innings)--Ken Pennington broke an 11-11 tie with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the Warriors hand the Chargers (12-1) their first loss of the season in the semifinals of the Cypress-Kiwanis Tournament at Cypress College. The teams will meet for the championship of the double-elimination tournament today at noon.

Cypress had an 11-6 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, but Mike Cortis hit a grand slam to cut the lead to 11-10. The Warriors tied it at 11-11 on a fielder’s choice in the eighth, and Pennington followed with his game-winning hit.

Jim Jackle went 2 for 3 and hit a grand slam in the seventh for the Chargers, and El Camino’s John Wera also hit a grand slam in the sixth.

Saddleback 7, Rio Hondo 1--Former Capistrano Valley High School pitcher Bill Dodd, a transfer from Arizona State University, allowed four hits and struck out seven in seven innings to lead the Gauchos in a nonconference game played at Rio Hondo College in Whittier.

John Seeburger had a double and triple and two RBIs and Todd Inglehart had three hits, two runs and an RBI to help the Gauchos, now 6-2.