By Blanche Schaefer
AUSTIN, Texas — As Big 12 conference play began this weekend, the Longhorns did exactly what head coach Augie Garrido said they needed to do last week after dropping their third straight weekend series: they started over. Texas took two out of three from No. 6 TCU in the Big 12 opener behind big bats and an impressive effort from the pitching staff.
“Well, we have a losing record overall,” Garrido said, “but a winning attitude.”
Texas is now 11-13 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 games.
UT started on the right foot Thursday, taking the series opener, 4-3, thanks to[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)] timely hitting and a long ball from sophomore right fielder Patrick Mathis. Texas led, 2-0, in the third inning after a slew of infield singles and a couple TCU errors. Right-handed pitcher Morgan Cooper was perfect through three innings before running into trouble in the fourth, when he issued a walk and a base hit. With two on and no outs, TCU sophomore catcher Evan Skoug crushed a three-run homer to right to give the Horned Frogs a 3-2 advantage, but the Longhorns took the lead back in the fifth when Mathis jacked a two-run homer that put the ‘Horns ahead, 4-3.
The Texas bullpen was lights-out after struggling the past few series. UT relievers held TCU to a mere three hits over a combined 4.1 innings. Freshman righty Chase Shugart said the bullpen’s performance renewed their confidence in the team’s ability to right the ship.
“There’s no doubt in my mind we can be the team we want to be,” Shugart said. “It’s either fight or flight now, and we don’t have wings.”
The pitching staff’s confidence carried into Friday, as Texas shut out TCU to take a 2-0 win. Senior left-handed starter Ty Culbreth allowed only four hits over 6.1 innings, the bullpen held the Horned Frogs hitless, and sophomore right-handed closer Connor Mayes earned his second consecutive save.
The two teams’ pitchers dueled until the Longhorns broke a scoreless tie in the sixth inning. With no outs and two runners on base, freshman shortstop Kody Clemens drove in a run while grounding into a double play. Junior third baseman Tres Barrera then hit a solo homer to put UT ahead for good, 2-0. A slew of injuries to the infield caused Garrido to make some changes, including playing Barrera at third instead of catcher. Garrido said he plans to keep Barrera at third because of his defensive prowess at the position.
“We have to (keep Barrera at third) — that’s our best team right now,” Garrido said. “You see the difference in the maturity of the infielders and the plays they’re making. There were three plays that probably stopped the momentum and helped win the game — the backhand play that (Barrera) made at third with the runner on first was one. If that’s down the line, there’s a chance for that run to score.”
Barrera said his leadership role on the team helps him adjust to playing in the infield, and he feels the changes had a positive effect on the Longhorns’ mindset.
“That’s why Coach put me (at third), because I’m always talking when I’m behind the plate or in the infield,” Barrera said. “I try to keep everyone awake, talk to them the whole time, and I guess it’s working so far. We try to go in with the same mindset every game. I go into the locker room and talk to the guys the same way I did since game one.”
Barrera hit his third home run in four games Saturday, but Texas dropped the series finale, 9-5, after a shaky start by sophomore righty Kyle Johnston. TCU starter Rex Hill struggled as well, and both starters gave up three runs each and were pulled after less than three innings. The TCU offense mowed through eight UT pitchers in Saturday’s contest, tagging them for 14 hits.
The UT offense kept the game close throughout the first five innings. Texas trailed 5-3 when Barrera smacked a two-run homer to tie the game, 5-5. The TCU bullpen stopped the Longhorns there, and the Horned Frog offense continued to bat around and put up a three-spot in the sixth inning off relievers Nolan Kingham and Shugart. Garrido said the players are aware of the mistakes that led to the loss, but he said the experience the team gained over the weekend series is all that mattered.
“We already know about how we played the second half — we played 12 of those games,” Garrido said. “It was a combination of missed plays, mental mistakes, good timely hitting by (TCU), and taking advantages of their opportunities. You put that all together, and then we didn’t respond in the sixth after they got the three.”
Despite the third-game blemish, the Longhorns remain confident as they move into conference play. UT’s conference schedule doesn’t get any easier — Texas travels to Norman to face rival Oklahoma next weekend for a three-game set, starting April 1. Before heading north, the Longhorns faces Lamar Tuesday night in Austin.
“A lot of the young guys are starting to believe,” Barrera said. “Something had to change a little bit, but our mindsets have stayed the same. A little bit of defensive changes, and we’re clicking right now. Hopefully we keep rolling and keep winning baseball games.”
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