Longhorn's Long Night

A Texas senior holds BC hitless for 12 1/3 innings—in relief

Fifty years and four days after Harvey Haddix of the Pirates threw 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Braves and lost (SI, June 1), University of Texas lefty Austin Wood topped the Kitten's hitless streak. And like Haddix, he didn't even get a W to show for it. The senior took the mound with one out in the seventh inning of the Longhorns' NCAA tournament game against Boston College, which was tied 2--2. "I knew I was in a groove," says Wood, who had pitched two innings the night before, "but I didn't feel any stronger than normal."

When Wood finally gave up a hit, there were two outs in the 19th inning, and the score was still tied at two. His teammates tried everything to get a run across during his 12 1/3-inning hitless jag—rally hats, turning their jerseys around, throwing their bats to wake them up—but nothing worked. Wood was pulled in the 20th after giving up a single and, with his 169th pitch, hitting a batter.

Texas finally scored in the 25th inning, ending the longest game in NCAA history. "We never doubted we were going to win," says Wood, who lowered his ERA from 2.46 to 2.03. "We were just trying to have as much fun as possible."

PHOTO

JOHN ALBRIGHT/ICON SMI (WOOD)

MORNING GLORY Wood struck out 14 Eagles in a game that ended after 1 a.m.