McKenzie plays all nine positions in Baseball’s 13-2 win over UTRGV
AUSTIN, Texas—On a night when Kody Clemens and David Hamilton each hit a homer—Clemens’ a grand slam—and drove in six runs apiece, it was senior utilityman Jake McKenzie who stole the show as he played all nine positions in No. 21 Texas Baseball’s 13-2 seven-inning win over UT Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Entering the game, McKenzie had appeared at every position for the Longhorns except catcher and on Tuesday night, that’s where he got the start. In the second, he moved to first base and, over the next three innings, went from second to third to short.
On offense, the Longhorns gave starter Tristan Stevens, making his first career appearance for Texas following Tommy John surgery, a healthy cushion thanks to a seven-run second inning.
Zach Zubia opened the frame with a walk to extend his reached base streak to 38 baseball games on the season. Behind Zubia, sophomore David Hamilton blasted his second home run—and first at home—to put Texas up, 2-0.
DJ Petrinsky then singled with one out and with two outs, McKenzie drew a walk. Tate Shaw then singled up the middle to make it 3-0 in favor of the Longhorns. After Masen Hibbeler walked, Clemens launched a 2-1 offering over the right field wall for his 12th home run of the season and second grand slam of the year.
The Vaqueros would get a pair back off Matteo Bocchi (3-0) but they would do little else offensively against Texas pitching.
The Longhorns put up a five-spot in the fifth inning when Clemens ripped a two-run single up the middle and, with bases loaded, Hamilton stroked his fourth triple of the season to clear the bases and put Texas baseball on top 13-1.
With the run-rule potentially in effect, McKenzie played all three outfield positions in the sixth inning.
In the seventh, with Texas ahead 13-2, McKenzie began the inning in right field. With one out and one on, the Longhorn faithful cheered for David Pierce to bring in McKenzie in relief and the Texas head coach obliged. McKenzie finished out the baseball game on the mound to become the first Texas baseball player to play all nine positions in a single baseball game.
The Longhorns return to action Wednesday night with a 6:30 p.m. game against Texas Southern at Constellation Field in Sugar Land before returning to UFCU Disch-Falk Field for a three-game set against New Orleans this weekend.
