The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
No. 23 Baseball sweeps doubleheader against Oklahoma State with 3-2 nightcap win
04.14.2012 | Baseball
April 14, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas - Sophomore outfielder Mark Payton broke a 2-2 tie with an eighth inning home run and three relievers combined to pitch 5.0 shutout innings as the No. 23 Texas Longhorns registered a 3-2 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys to complete a doubleheader sweep at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday.
With the victory, Texas (20-13, 9-3 Big) won two-of-three against Oklahoma State (18-16, 5-7 Big 12) to take the series.
With the score tied 2-2 and one out in the bottom of the eighth, Payton deposited a full-count offering from Oklahoma State starting pitcher Vince Wheeland into the visitor's bullpen down the leftfield line for the solo dinger.
The Cowboys pounced on the Longhorns early with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Jared Womack drew a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Robbie Rea to the gap in left centerfield. Mark Ginther drew a walk and Trey Whaley struck out swinging before Gabe Weidenaar capped off the rally with a double down the rightfield line to plate Rea for the 2-0 lead.
Texas shaved a run of the lead in the home half of the first. With one out, Taylor Stell was hit by a pitch and Erich Weiss followed with a wall-banger to the gap in right centerfield to push Stell home.
The Longhorns notched an equalizer in the bottom of the third. With one out, Stell singled through the right side of the infield, stole second and moved to third when the catcher's throw to second sailed into centerfield. Weiss bounced a grounder back to the pitcher. Stell froze one-third of the way towards home and after the pitcher's throw went to first to retire Weiss he flew home beating the throw to the plate and tying the score at 2-2.
After yielding the two runs in the first inning, Texas starter Ricky Jacquez battled through the next three innings to keep Oklahoma State from inflicting further damage. He handed the ball off to John Curtiss, Dillon Peters and Hoby Milner who scattered four hits and one walk while striking out six over 5.0 innings.
Jacquez allowed five hits and three walks while stiking out six. Curtiss worked 2.0 shutout innings of relief, allowing two hits while fanning two. Peters (3-0) earned the victory, striking out four of the seven batters he faced in 2.0 innings. Milner picked up his second save of the season, scattering one hit and one walk over 1.0 innings.
Wheeland (2-1) was the tough-luck loser for the Cowboys. He pitched a complete-game allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out two over 8.0 innings.
The Longhorns made the most of their five hits in the night cap. Kevin Lusson went 2-for-3 with one double. Stell scored two of Texas' runs, getting driven in by Weiss on both occasions.
Womack, Rea and Fish each registered two hits for Oklahoma State.
The Longhorns continue their nine-game homestand on Tuesday when they host the Texas State Bobcats in a 6 p.m. contest at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Texas Head Coach Augie Garrido
On his team's performance today: I think we turned a lot of the responsibility over to the players, which is where the responsibility always has to end up. Sometimes the players don't receive and act on the message, but they did today. The players stayed focused. We really only had one or two bad at-bats today. The score could have been extended a lot more. We hit balls hard and we hit them to OSU a lot. Of course, I think in the second game, one of the easy-to-overlook heroes was Ricky (Jacquez). That game could have been six- or eight-to-one after three innings without him pitching out of those problems. It was a good team effort. It was a long day. They were pretty consistent.
On the play of the freshmen today: A ballplayer is a ballplayer. They know how to play ball. It doesn't matter how old they are or what grade they're in. The inexperience is something you have to continue to work at.
Sophomore OF Mark Payton
On returning from Friday's loss: Last night, we had a sick feeling in our stomach. We knew that today we had to come back and play like we have been the last couple of weeks to find that winning streak again. We knew we had to play our game and be ourselves. We really showed how much heart this team has by coming back from a tough loss last night.
On his on-base streak: I try not to worry about that. People talk about it. If it keeps going, that's great.
Freshman RHP Parker French
On utilizing the slider in today's first game: That's the first time we've gone to the slider, other than in a two count. We threw it early and more often than usual, which is something new. It worked out.
Junior LHP Hoby Milner
On his team's confidence in this series: We played well today. Yesterday, we didn't play so well. I'd say we're as confident as ever. We're just going to go out and try to do what coach teaches us to do.
