The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
09.29.2013 | Baseball
Five Longhorn pitchers combine for 12-inning shutout
Five Texas pitchers combined for a 12-inning shutout and the Longhorns used a balanced offense to defeat Texas State 9-0 Sunday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The Longhorns used an 11-man lineup with three designated hitters while the Bobcats had a 10-man lineup in the 12-inning exhibition. Texas featured all three of its weekend starters from last season, plus sophomore lefty Travis Duke and freshman right-hander Blake Goins.
Dillon Peters started for Texas and allowed just one hit in three innings, while Parker French struck out five in three innings and was credited with the win. Goins and Duke combined to pitch the seventh, eighth and ninth, while Nathan Thornhill came in for the final three innings and allowed just one hit. Combined, the Texas staff issued just two walks while striking out 12.
At the plate, Ben Johnson went 3-for-5 with a run and a RBI to finish the weekend 5-for-7. Eight Longhorns had at least one hit in the game and seven drove in a run. Texas methodically moved runners around throughout the game, recording three sacrifice bunts and three sacrifice flies.
The combination of C.J Hinojosa at shortstop and Brooks Marlow at second base helped Texas turn inning-ending double plays in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, and another double play with no one out in the ninth. Right fielder Collin Shaw made a full-extension, diving catch to help prevent damage in the seventh inning.
The Longhorns got on the scoreboard in the fourth when Zane Gurwitz and Collin Shaw singled, putting runners on the corners, and Mark Payton's sacrifice bunt sent Gurwitz home to put Texas up 1-0.
Texas added two runs in the seventh inning. Brooks Marlow doubled down the right field line and advanced to third when Shaw grounded out to second. Marlow scored on a passed ball and with the bases loaded, Bret Boswell had a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing in Mark Payton to make it 3-0.
The Longhorns plated six more runs in the final five innings, more than enough support for the Texas pitching staff.
Texas State center fielder Matt Sanchez led the Bobcats offensively with a three-hit day. Relief pitcher Scott Grist was pegged with the loss after allowing two hits and one earned run in one inning. The Bobcats used 12 pitchers in the game.
