Horns beat Texas State in extras, 10-4
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Texas Baseball. (courtesy of Horns Illustrated)[/caption]
SAN MARCOS -- After allowing the Texas State Bobcats to tie the game with two home runs, the Texas Longhorns exploded for six runs in the 11th to defeat the Bobcats, 10-4 in San Marcos.
Through four innings, Texas only had two hits on four hard hit balls. They advanced a runner to second in the first after junior center fielder Zane Gurwitz reached on an infield single. After being moved on a sacrifice, Gurwitz failed in his attempt to steal third with two outs.
In the third, Texas put another runner in scoring position when freshman third baseman Kody Clemens walked and advanced on a Gurwitz two out single. Both men would be left where they stood as sophomore shortstop Bret Boswell struck out to end the inning.
Texas put another runner in scoring position in the fifth when sophomore left fielder Travis Jones dropped a bunt single and reached second on a throwing error. He moved to third on a single from Kody Clemens, and was brought home on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore right fielder Jake McKenzie. Then, Clemens made it home on a double down the left field line by Gurwitz. Texas jumped ahead when Boswell recorded his own RBI single for the third Texas run of the inning.
In the sixth, Jones singled with one out, and stole second. With two outs, Kody Clemens tripled on a ball that glanced off the left fielder’s glove, bringing Jones in from second for UT's fourth run.
Sophomore Morgan Cooper received the start against the Bobcats, his first since facing Oklahoma State in the 2014 Big 12 Tournament. In four innings of work, he allowed two hits and two earned runs, including one on a balk from the wind up. He walked three and struck out six on 62 pitches. Cooper hovered around 90 mph with his fastball, and his curve was baffling hitters for most of the night.
In 1.2 innings of work, freshman Beau Ridgeway allowed three hits and one earned run on a home run by Bobcat first baseman Tanner Hill, his third of the year.
Ridgeway did not allow a walk and struck out one, and was replaced by senior Travis Duke in the sixth. Duke threw 0.2 innings, and was replaced when he allowed a Bobcat he hit with a pitch to reach third with one out in the seventh. Senior Jon Malmin replaced him, and the reliever forced a fly ball to left on his first pitch. Jones caught the ball and retired the tagging runner at the plate with a perfect throw to preserve the lead.
Malmin was replaced by junior Kacy Clemens, who gave up a solo home run to Bobcat designated hitter Ryan Newman with two outs in the eighth, tying the game at 4-all.
Freshman Chase Shugart entered in the ninth, allowed a lead off single, then let the runner reach second on a fielder’s choice that got past Boswell covering short. With one out, Texas State sacrificed to put two runners in scoring position with one out.
Texas intentionally walked Bobcat second baseman Jonathan Ortega to pace Luke Sherley, who was 0-4 at the time. Sherley grounded the ball to short, and when Baker forgot to cover second, forced Boswell to throw home, getting the runner and continuing the game. The next batter grounded to second getting out of the inning.
In the 11th, Texas began its winning rally when freshman left fielder Brady Harlan was hit by a pitch. Sophomore designated hitter Ben Kennedy, who entered the game in the 8th, singled on a perfect infield bunt.
Then, Kody Clemens walked, and McKenzie walked in the go ahead run to make it 5-4. Then, Gurwitz singled to center to make it 6-4. To add more cushion, Boswell slapped a double down the right field line to make it 8-4. Gurwitz scored from third on a wild pitch to make it 9-4. A sacrifice fly by junior catcher Tres Barrera made it 10-4, closing out the scoring for the Horns.
With a six-run lead in the 11th freshman Blake Wellmann entered to end the game. Shugart received the win in the extra inning affair.
Texas Baseball. (courtesy of Horns Illustrated)[/caption]
SAN MARCOS -- After allowing the Texas State Bobcats to tie the game with two home runs, the Texas Longhorns exploded for six runs in the 11th to defeat the Bobcats, 10-4 in San Marcos.
Through four innings, Texas only had two hits on four hard hit balls. They advanced a runner to second in the first after junior center fielder Zane Gurwitz reached on an infield single. After being moved on a sacrifice, Gurwitz failed in his attempt to steal third with two outs.
In the third, Texas put another runner in scoring position when freshman third baseman Kody Clemens walked and advanced on a Gurwitz two out single. Both men would be left where they stood as sophomore shortstop Bret Boswell struck out to end the inning.
Texas put another runner in scoring position in the fifth when sophomore left fielder Travis Jones dropped a bunt single and reached second on a throwing error. He moved to third on a single from Kody Clemens, and was brought home on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore right fielder Jake McKenzie. Then, Clemens made it home on a double down the left field line by Gurwitz. Texas jumped ahead when Boswell recorded his own RBI single for the third Texas run of the inning.
In the sixth, Jones singled with one out, and stole second. With two outs, Kody Clemens tripled on a ball that glanced off the left fielder’s glove, bringing Jones in from second for UT's fourth run.
Sophomore Morgan Cooper received the start against the Bobcats, his first since facing Oklahoma State in the 2014 Big 12 Tournament. In four innings of work, he allowed two hits and two earned runs, including one on a balk from the wind up. He walked three and struck out six on 62 pitches. Cooper hovered around 90 mph with his fastball, and his curve was baffling hitters for most of the night.
In 1.2 innings of work, freshman Beau Ridgeway allowed three hits and one earned run on a home run by Bobcat first baseman Tanner Hill, his third of the year.
Ridgeway did not allow a walk and struck out one, and was replaced by senior Travis Duke in the sixth. Duke threw 0.2 innings, and was replaced when he allowed a Bobcat he hit with a pitch to reach third with one out in the seventh. Senior Jon Malmin replaced him, and the reliever forced a fly ball to left on his first pitch. Jones caught the ball and retired the tagging runner at the plate with a perfect throw to preserve the lead.
Malmin was replaced by junior Kacy Clemens, who gave up a solo home run to Bobcat designated hitter Ryan Newman with two outs in the eighth, tying the game at 4-all.
Freshman Chase Shugart entered in the ninth, allowed a lead off single, then let the runner reach second on a fielder’s choice that got past Boswell covering short. With one out, Texas State sacrificed to put two runners in scoring position with one out.
Texas intentionally walked Bobcat second baseman Jonathan Ortega to pace Luke Sherley, who was 0-4 at the time. Sherley grounded the ball to short, and when Baker forgot to cover second, forced Boswell to throw home, getting the runner and continuing the game. The next batter grounded to second getting out of the inning.
In the 11th, Texas began its winning rally when freshman left fielder Brady Harlan was hit by a pitch. Sophomore designated hitter Ben Kennedy, who entered the game in the 8th, singled on a perfect infield bunt.
Then, Kody Clemens walked, and McKenzie walked in the go ahead run to make it 5-4. Then, Gurwitz singled to center to make it 6-4. To add more cushion, Boswell slapped a double down the right field line to make it 8-4. Gurwitz scored from third on a wild pitch to make it 9-4. A sacrifice fly by junior catcher Tres Barrera made it 10-4, closing out the scoring for the Horns.
With a six-run lead in the 11th freshman Blake Wellmann entered to end the game. Shugart received the win in the extra inning affair.
