No. 16 Baseball runs past Incarnate Word, 7-1

Tuesday, March 10

Austin, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

11-6

Incarnate Word

7-10

UIW

Texas

03.10.2015 | Baseball

Box Score

Four Longhorns record multiple hits; six pitchers hold UIW to just three hits

AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 16 Baseball team used five two-out runs, including back-to-home runs from Tres Barrera and Brooks Marlow in the seventh inning, to deal the Incarnate Word Cardinals a 7-1 defeat Tuesday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

Texas (11-6) scored five runs in the first three innings, and six UT pitchers held the Cardinals (7-10) to three hits and one run in the victory. The back-to-back home runs from Barrera and Marlow were the first by the Longhorns since May 9, 2010 when Russell Moldenhauer and Kevin Keyes hit consecutive blasts at Kansas State.

Barrera and Bret Boswell led the way for the Longhorn offense, as Barrera put in a 2-for-4 performance with the homer and an additional run scored, and Boswell doubled twice, scored twice and drove in two. Barrera has now reached base in all 17 games this season.

Michael Cantu had two hits and an RBI and Collin Shaw smashed his 12^th double of the season and drove in a run. Ben Johnson added two hits (his 10^th multi-hit game of the year) and is now hitting .440 on the season.

Tyler Schimpf (1-0) started for Texas and earned his first career win in his first start, going 2 2/3 innings and allowing just a hit batsman while striking out one. By design, Schimpf was removed after one trip through the batting order, having retired eight of nine hitters that he faced.

From there, the Horns used five arms out of the bullpen who surrendered three hits, four walks and one run that came with two outs in the top of the ninth. Jon Malmin (1 IP), Jake McKenzie (1 1/3 IP), Travis Duke (1 IP) and Andy McGuire (1IP) all had shutout outings out of the pen, and Ty Marlow surrendered just a lone run in his first two innings back from injury.

UT jumped out to a 1-0 lead on the game's first two pitches. Johnson led off with an infield single to third base, and advanced to third on a throwing error. On the very next pitch, Shaw laced a double down the right field line, driving in the first run.

The Horns struck again in the second on a safety squeeze from Zane Gurwitz, and pushed the lead to 5-0 courtesy of a two-out rally in the third. After the first two batters of the inning were retired on two pitches, a single up the middle from Barrera and a walk by Marlow set Boswell up for his second double of the game, and two RBIs. Following a wild pitch, Cantu singled through the left side to bring the advantage to five.

The Longhorns used back-to-back long balls from Barrera and Marlow to extend the lead to 7-0 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. After narrowly missing a long ball foul on the first pitch of his at-bat, Barrera launched a 2-2 offering deep to left just inside the foul pole and into the visitor bullpen for his fourth homer of the year. Two pitches later, Marlow crushed one into the home bullpen in right field, his second dinger on the season.

Incarnate Word broke up the shutout in the bottom of the ninth when Ethan McGill hit a lead-off double and came around to score on a Colton Besett base hit. Cardinal starter Cody Richey (0-4) took the loss on the mound for UIW.

Texas returns to action Friday night 6 p.m. when it opens up Big 12 play with a three-game home set vs. West Virginia at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

QUOTES

Head coach Augie Garrido

On the offensive effort: I thought the best thing about the offense was we scored in the first three innings. Also, we did put up two more runs in the seventh, but most of the runs we scored, I'm not sure about the number, it might be five, it might be more than that, but it was with two outs. We haven't really done that. We haven't extended innings very well all year long. Today was the first day where we really, with two outs, capitalized on the one out we had left and kept the rally going.

On if there was any thought of resting players after a tough Stanford series: No. I think that we are trying to move through to another level of mental toughness where we take the things that are dealt to us. When you play in championship play, you play when they tell you to play. They tell you if it's hot, you play. If it's cold, you play. If you travel all night, you play. You play when they tell you to. If you have to feel perfect to be able to play very well, you're probably not going to win very many championships in the NCAA.

On Ben Johnson's and Collin Shaw's base running and physical effort at the plate: It's why he and Collin Shaw are in the two positions they are on the top because they get the extra base off base hits. They're not dynamic base stealers, although they could be okay. What they really are is they hustle. They use their speed to get two bases instead of one on base hits a lot.

Junior OF Ben Johnson

On his success at the plate: I'll take it. Whenever I can get on base, if that's getting a hit or getting hit by a pitch or taking a walk. Whatever it takes just to get on base.

On what adjustments he has made this season: I'm just staying aggressive early in the count. I'm not sure what the number is, but the majority of my hits have been on the first few pitches to me at bat. Just looking for a pitch you're going to get, and once you get it, take advantage of it and don't miss it.

On his offensive output so far: I'm seeing the ball well. I'm not really too worried about the hits and all of that. Like I said, my job as the lead-off man is to get on base and find a way to score a run. That's my goal every time I get up to the plate. Just do whatever it takes to get on base whether that's getting a hit, taking a walk or getting hit by a pitch. Find a way to get on and get in.

Freshman RHP Tyler Schimpf

On becoming more comfortable with his role: I'm getting more comfortable being around all of the guys. I've been here for a while now with them. They're all really fun to be around. Coming from high school, starting, it was a little bit different being a reliever. Getting my first start today was really nice. It felt like the whole time throughout high school.

On what he has worked on with Skip Johnson in the bullpen: Definitely Skip and I have been working a lot. A lot of it has been mental – focusing on getting ahead. The mechanical part is my front arm. I'm just kind of smoothing it out. I needed to bring it up more, more tilt with that.

On confidence in his defense: It's so nice. It's so nice knowing I've got those guys behind me. I don't have to worry about any ball that's hit. I know it's going to get caught.

Postgame Notes

- Texas scored in the first inning for the eighth time this season, and is 6-2 on the year when it does so.

- The Horns' five extra base hits tonight give them 55 on the year through 17 games (3.24 a game), after having just 22 in the first 17 last season.

- Collin Shaw smacked his conference leading 12^th double in the first inning of tonight's contest.

- Ben Johnson had his 10^th multi-hit game of the year with a 2-for-5 performance this evening. Johnson boasts a .440 batting average on the season, which leads the Big 12. He also leads the conference in hits (33) and total bases (50)

- The five two-out RBIs in the game give UT 45 two-out RBIs on the season. Nearly half of Texas' RBIs have come with two outs (45 of 92, 48.9%).

- Texas has now scored 73 of its 99 runs when the leadoff man reaches bases safely (2 of 7 runs tonight).

- Texas has four players hitting over .300 on the year: Ben Johnson (.440), Tres Barrera (.350), Michael Cantu (.320) and Collin Shaw (.304)

- The four also all have on-base plus slugging percentages (OPS) higher than .800 for the season: Ben Johnson (1.143), Tres Barrera (1.137), Collin Shaw (.875) and Michael Cantu (.840). Last season, the Longhorns finished with one player over .800 (Mark Payton, .828). As a team, UT currently holds an .811 OPS (finished 2014 at .709).

- Tres Barrera has now reached base in all 17 games this season, and has an 18-game reached base streak dating back to 2014.

- The bullpen now holds 1.68 ERA on the season after allowing just one earned run tonight.