The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Baseball bats show up hot in season opener
02.16.2013 | Baseball
Feb. 16, 2013
February 16, 2013
Mallory Majcher, Texas Media Relations
AUSTIN, Texas -- With a great offensive performance and a strong finish from closer Ty Marlow, the Longhorns pulled off their first win in season opener against Sacramento State on Friday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Texas posted runs early in the game, bringing their early lead to 4-0 by the end of the third inning. UT starter Parker French, threw seven scoreless innings allowing only three hits and striking out five. The Longhorns extended their lead to 6-0 after pushing across runs in the fifth and seventh inning.
Despite the strong lead, Sacramento State rallied with five runs in the eighth inning, allowing their first nine batters to reach safely. Ty Marlow took the mound with no outs on the board and bases loaded. He finished the inning after picking off the tying run at third and striking out Nathan Lukes to keep the Longhorns lead.
Head Coach Augie Garrido feels that this game strongly represents his idea that in baseball, the unexpected decides the game.
"We brought in [junior pitcher] Corey [Knebel], who we expected to come out, had a few problems. He was put in a very difficult situation," said Garrido. "We brought in Ty Marlow, who is a short stop and short reliever, who is not a professional prospect, but plays like he is six-foot-five and has a giant heart."
Garrido said the team tried to keep it simple at the plate, which landed the Longhorns with 14 hits and six runs.
Junior outfielder Mark Payton led the Texas offense, along with freshman infielder C.J Hinojosa. Payton also felt that his success at the plate was a result of Garrido's simple hitting plan for the team.
"No matter where I bat in the order, I just want to play like myself. I wanted to keep everything simple," said Payton.
Hinojosa, who made his regular season debut as a Longhorn during the contest, felt that his success came from his confidence at the plate.
"Coach [Garrido] talks about having a lot of confidence [at the plate], so I just went up with a lot of confidence and it paid off," said Hinojosa.
French feels that the team responded well to the adversity faced in the eighth inning and says that simply is part of the game.
"You're going to get hit in the mouth sometimes and it's all about how you respond," said French. "We got hit in the mouth at the end and we responded well. It was a good team win."