Texas Baseball Falls to Texas Tech 1-0 in Pitching Duel

In a game filled with dominant pitching a solo home run by Texas Tech's Jarrard Poteete in the top of the seventh proved the difference.

Texas (11-6, 0-1 Big 12) dropped its Big 12 conference opener to Texas Tech 1-0, Friday evening snapping a five game Longhorn win streak.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth, Texas attempted to rally with a Mark Payton lead-off single to shallow right-center, then followed up with a base-hit by C.J Hinojosa. Pinch-hitter Alex Silver laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third, but pinch-hitter Matt Moynihan hit a ground out to second to end the inning and the game.

Texas starting pitcher Parker French pitched six shutout innings. French allowed only two hits and struck out four batters. French left the game in the seventh due to tightness in his forearm and Ty Marlow came on in relief. Marlow struck out the first batter he faced before a solo home run to right field by Jarrard Poteete gave Tech a 1-0 lead.

French said his forearm tightened up and caused the staff to take him out of the game.

"It probably happened around the fifth inning...I went out there in the seventh to give it a try, but decided to err on the side of caution," French said.

Texas recorded six hits, but left eight runners stranded on base. Coach Augie Garrido talked about the difference in the game and the occasional cruelty of baseball.

"It was a tough loss,but hats off to their pitcher," Garrido said. "He did a great job of keeping the ball down in the zone and getting ahead on the hitters. His teammates played a high level of defense. When you do your best—which I think our team did—it breaks your heart when you lose."

Texas Tech starting pitcher Dominic Moreno (2-1) recorded the win, while credit for the loss went to Texas' Ty Marlow (1-1). Tech reliever Jerad McCrummen picked up the save—his second of the season.

Moreno pitched seven shutout innings, struck out two batters and gave up four hits in the win.

Texas reliever Josh Urban came in the game in the top of the eighth and struck out five batters, walking one. Throwing 20 of his 33 pitches for strikes, Urban showed good command of his pitches.

Texas returns to action Saturday versus Texas Tech in the second game of the series at 2 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.