By Steve Habel/Senior Editor
AUSTIN – Texas pitcher Chad Hollingsworth scattered five hits over seven innings despite being unable to locate his breaking pitch and Collin Shaw had two hits and two RBI as the 16th-ranked Longhorns pushed past West Virginia 5-1 on Sunday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field to win the rubber game of the two teams’ Big 12 opening series.
It’s the first time since a three-game sweep at Oklahoma in 2012 that Texas has won a conference-opening series.
Texas broke up the scoreless [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]game in the sixth when Shaw sliced a double down the left field line to drive home Zane Gurwitz, who had singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ben Johnson. Shaw then scored on a two-out single to centerfield by Brooks Marlow to give the Longhorns a 2-0 cushion.
Marlow was running from first on a full count when Bret Boswell ripped a single that bounced off the glove of and away from West Virginia rightfielder Shaun Wood. Marlow kept on churning around third base to beat the relay throw and push Texas’ lead to 3-0.
Texas coach Augie Garrido said he told Hollingsworth after the game “way to win with nothing.”
“His plan of attack is to pitch to contact and get help from his defense, and that worked for him, and for us, today,” Garrido said.
Hollingsworth and West Virginia starter Chad Donato were locked in a scoreless pitching duel through the first five and a half innings, with each pitcher finding ways out of trouble. Texas (13-7, 2-1 in Big 12) had two runners on with one out in the second inning and the Mountaineers got a pair into scoring position with two outs in the fourth before Hollingsworth enticed Kyle Davis into an inning-ending groundout.
“All I had was the fastball – I knew it and West Virginia knew it,” said Hollingsworth (2-1), who allowed only a solo home run in the seventh while striking out one and walking a batter. “I couldn’t throw my breaking pitch for strikes. I was fortunate that when (West Virginia) hit balls hard they were right at our defense.”
Wood made up for his error with a long home run over the right field fence in the top of the seventh to cut the Longhorns’ advantage to 3-1.
Texas struck again in the bottom of the seventh, scoring twice with just one hit. Shaw’s sacrifice fly plated pinch runner Patrick Mathis and Gurwitz scored from third when Ben Johnson got caught trying to steal second and stayed in the pickle play long enough to get Gurwitz home.
West Virginia (8-8, 1-2 in Big 12) had two singles and ultimately two runners in scoring position in the ninth but closer Kyle Johnston fanned Wood on a 95-mile per hour fastball up and out of the zone to earn his second save.
The Longhorns head back to the field Tuesday when they travel north to play Texas-Arlington at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Texas returns home and to Big 12 play Friday when it hosts Kansas State.
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