Texas baseball takes two of three from Kansas to earn second straight series win

By Blanche Schaefer

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas baseball team’s offense hit its stride and ended a three-game skid as the Longhorns took two out of three from Kansas this weekend for their second straight series victory.

With inclement weather approaching[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)], Sunday’s game was cancelled and the Longhorns instead played a doubleheader Friday.

Texas jumped to an early 3-0 lead in Game 1, but the Kansas offense erupted, handing the Longhorns a 11-5 loss. Kansas tied the game, 3-3, in the fourth inning after UT sophomore right fielder Patrick Mathis dropped a routine fly ball. An RBI single gave the Jayhawks a 4-3 lead, but it didn’t last long. Texas freshman center fielder Tyler Rand hit an RBI double to right field, followed by a single by freshman shortstop Kody Clemens that put Texas up 5-4. But the UT lead soon vanished as sophomore right-handed starting pitcher Morgan Cooper gave up a three-run double to give Kansas a 7-5 lead. The damage continued from there. The Jayhawks added a couple more runs in the seventh and eighth innings, and two more runs scored in the ninth after Mathis’ second error of the day.

The Texas offense bounced back in Game 2, scoring seven runs in the first four innings en route to an 8-6 victory.

The Longhorns plated four runs in the first inning. Back-to-back doubles by sophomore left fielder Travis Jones and junior catcher Tres Barrera scored the first run. With two men on base, junior second baseman Zane Gurwitz jacked one over the right field wall to give Texas an early 4-0 lead. It was Gurwtiz’s second home run in four games. The Longhorns tacked on a couple more runs in the second and third innings, and Barrera hit a solo homer in the fourth to put UT up 7-0. Barrera’s hot night continued with an RBI single in the eighth. Kansas put up a four-spot in the ninth, but freshman right-handed reliever Chase Shugart induced a double play to limit the damage and seal the win for UT. Texas starter Kyle Johnston earned his second win of the season after pitching 5.2 innings and allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts.

Texas head coach Augie Garrido said the players’ ability to adjust during the doubleheader helped them settle down to win the next two games.

“(The players) took ownership between games,” Garrido said.  “(Kansas) gave us opportunities, and we capitalized on those opportunities. We didn’t find ways to interfere with the process, so to speak.”

Both the UT offense and pitching came together Saturday for a 12-2 win in the series finale. Senior lefty Ty Culbreth earned his seventh win and pitched his second complete game of the season, surrendering only two runs and striking out four. Culbreth received plenty of run support from the UT hitters.

“I think this is the fourth or fifth start where my offense has given me at least 10 runs, and that takes so much pressure off you as a pitcher,” Culbreth said. “It just makes things a lot easier.”

Texas got off to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, and then put up a four-spot in the third. Junior first baseman Kacy Clemens got the third inning started with a double, and Mathis followed with a walk. Both runners scored after a passed ball and two wild pitches, and Jones followed with a sac bunt to give Texas a 7-1 lead. UT added two more runs in the fourth before Jones hit a two-run blast in the fifth to extend the UT lead to 11-2. A bases-loaded walk in the seventh scored Kacy Clemens as rain began to fall, ending the game thanks to the 10-run rule.

After his team’s recent slump, Garrido said he is pleased with the direction in which his team is headed.

“Ty Culbreth was brilliant on the mound — he really did a great job,” Garrido said. “We’re winning more pitches and we won more innings in the last two days than we have in the past. So it’s a strong step in the right direction.”

The Longhorns are now 7-5 in the Big 12 after their third conference series win of the season. Texas travels to Lubbock this weekend for a series with Texas Tech.

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