Bats fall silent in 7-1 loss to Rice as baseball settles for series split

By Steve Habel, Senior Editor

AUSTIN, Texas — There are a few things that can be taken from the first four games of season for the Texas baseball team, which ended a campaign-opening three-day homestand with a 7-1 loss Sunday to Rice.

First of all, it is apparent that the Longhorns will be competitive this season, their first under new coach David Pierce. There was little to separate Texas from the 23^rd-ranked Owls in these four games, which produced a close win and blowout victory by both teams in a 2-2 split over the weekend.

Secondly, if the Longhorns are supposed to unveil a more explosive offense in the renovated, bring-in-the-fences configuration of UFCU Disch-Falk Field, they kept [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]that aspect a secret against Rice. Texas managed just 24 hits combined in the four games, just four of which were mustered in Sunday’s loss.

Thirdly, Texas needs to get real, quality innings from the back end of its pitching staff. The Longhorns’ non-starters allowed Rice eight runs and 14 hits in the opening series. Texas’ four starters were solid enough, but it was a crapshoot after that in three of the four games.

“We are disappointed with just earning the split, but we have to take the lessons we learned from these games and learn from them and move forward,” Pierce said. “I want us to be able to respond when we get hit in the mouth, and we didn’t do that today. We needed someone to drive the ball when we have opportunity to score and we didn’t get that today.”

Rice got on the board first in Sunday’s game when Dominic DiCaprio’s two-out double to the left-center field gap in the top of the fourth inning off of Texas starter Connor Mayes drove home Ford Proctor from first base.

The Longhorns knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth on Bret Boswell’s leadoff home run over the right-center field wall.

The Owls burst back into the lead in the top of the sixth, scoring a pair of runs on a bases-loaded double to the right-center field gap by DiCaprio off reliever Jake McKenzie that plated Proctor and Ryan Chandler. Chandler had walked to lead off the inning before a single by Proctor chased Mayes and brought McKenzie into the game.

Nick Kennedy relieved McKenzie with one out and runner on second and third base and promptly gave up a slicing, opposite-field bloop double to Brad Gneiting that drove home Dane Myers and DiCaprio. Gneiting then scored on a single to right field by Robbie Lammons, capping a five-run inning and pushing the Rice lead to 6-1.

Texas threatened in the seventh, putting runners on second and third base with two outs and chasing Rice starter Zach Esquivel. But freshman shortstop David Hamilton flied out to deep right field to squander the chance to get back in the game.

Rice added a run in the top of the ninth via a two-out single by Gneiting that drove home DiCaprio.

“We’re not happy winning just two out of four games — we want to win them all,” Kacy Clemens said. “A lot of guys got their feet wet this weekend and we will build off these games. We have to find a way to get the big hit.”

Texas won both ends of a doubleheader against Rice Saturday, capturing the first game, 5-4, and then the nightcap, 6-1.

In Saturday’s first game, Texas left fielder Travis Jones threw out the potential tying run at the plate to record the final out. That win was Pierce’s first as the Longhorns’ coach and featured six strong innings from starting pitcher Kyle Johnston, who allowed seven hits, walking one and striking out six before leaving after the sixth inning with a 5-1 lead.

Texas managed just six hits in the first game victory and committed three errors. Kody Clemens paced the Longhorns with a pair of RBI, while freshmen Austin Todd and David Hamilton each picked up the first hit and initial runs batted in of their collegiate careers. Jones, the late inning hero, also recorded an RBI.

The Longhorns led, 5-1, going into the final inning but Rice scored thrice off of reliever Chase Shugart before Beau O’Hara earned the save, thanks in huge part to Jones’ pivotal assist from the outfield.

The momentum from that win carried Texas in Saturday’s second game, which was highlighted by a victory by freshman Blair Henley in his first collegiate start (he allowed one run, three hits, one walk and struck out eight in five innings of work) and three hits, including a home run, and two RBI by Kacy Clemens.

The Owls hurt themselves plenty with a run-scoring throwing error, a passed ball that allowed another Texas runner to cross and a bases-loaded walk. Jon Malmin and Beau Ridgeway each tossed two innings of scoreless relief to secure the victory in game two of the doubleheader.

The Longhorns started their season and Pierce’s tenure on the 40 Acres Friday with a 3-2 loss to Rice. The Owls scored the winning run in the top of the ninth inning on a single, a passed ball, a sacrifice bunt and a ground out.

The loss ruined the season debut for the Longhorns’ erstwhile ace, Morgan Cooper, who allowed two runs, three hits and two walks against six strikeouts in six inning of work. Nolan Kingham took the loss for Texas after allowing just one hit in three innings.

Kody Clemens led the Longhorns with two hits and pounded out a solo home run in the sixth to tie the game at 2-2. Texas’ other run was produces by a Kacy Clemens sacrifice fly that scored Boswell, who had doubled and advanced to second on a single by Michael Cantu.

Texas returns to the field Wednesday when it plays for the first time in Huntsville against Sam Houston State (2-1), a school at which Pierce coached from 2012-14.

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