Baseball erupts for 17 runs to take series over No. 11 Texas Tech

By Steve Lansdale

LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Longhorns pounded out 14 hits — including three home runs — and drew seven walks, and two pitchers surrendered four hits en route to a 17-1 UT victory over Texas Tech in Lubbock. The victory, which was called after seven innings, was the Longhorns’ second in three games over the No. 11 Red Raiders and improved UT’s record to 19-21 this season, and 9-6 against Big 12 teams.

The Longhorns now have won[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)] four consecutive series and are the first Big 12 team to win a series against Texas Tech this season.

Shortstop Joe Baker led the Texas offense with a game-high four hits, including his first home run of the season, and drove in six runs. Third baseman Kody Clemens, center fielder Zane Gurwitz and left fielder Tyler Rand had two hits each. Gurwitz, Rand and right fielder Patrick Mathis each had three RBI.

Texas jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning on Rand’s first career home run, a three-run shot to left field. In the top of the third inning, designated hitter Travis Jones led off with a double and scored what proved to be the winning run on Kody Clemens’ RBI triple.

Texas starter Kyle Johnston allowed four hits, walked five and struck out six in six innings of work; the only Tech run came on a solo homer by catcher Tyler Floyd. Chase Shugart didn’t allow a base runner in his one inning of relief.

The win came in the rubber match after Texas and Texas Tech split the first two games of the series.

In the series opener Friday, UT held a 5-0 lead after three innings, but the Red Raiders piled up 14 hits against seven Texas pitchers and put the game out of reach with a seven-run outburst in the seventh inning.

Mathis led the Texas offense with two hits and three RBI. Kody Clemens also had a pair of hits, while catcher Tres Barrera also drove in a pair of runs.

The Longhorns equalized the series in the second game Saturday. UT starter Ty Culbreth wasn’t razor-sharp — he allowed four earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out six over six innings — but it was good enough for him to improve his season record to 8-2; his eight victories are the most by any pitcher this season in the Big 12.

Nolan Kingham dazzled in three innings of relief, retiring all nine hitters he faced.

UT had a chance to blow the game open early, sending eight batters to the plate in the first inning. But Jones was the lone Longhorn to score in the inning when he singled and then was moved all the way around on three subsequent walks. They fell behind, 4-1, after four innings. They closed the gap to 4-3 with a pair of runs in the fifth before pulling ahead to stay with three runs in the seventh.

Five Texas hitters — Jones, Barrera, Kacy Clemens, Mathis and Gurwitz — paced the offense with a pair of hits. Mathis drove in a game-high three runs, while Gurwitz picked up a pair of RBI.

The Longhorns will host Texas State at 6 p.m. Tuesday in a game that will be broadcast on the Longhorn Network before welcoming Oklahoma State to UFCU Disch-Falk Field for a three-game series next weekend.

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