No. 14 Baseball loses late lead to UT Arlington, falls 6-5 in 10 innings

Tuesday, March 17

Arlington, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

13-8

UT Arlington

10-7

Texas

UT Arlington

No. 14 Baseball loses late lead to UT Arlington, falls 6-5 in 10 innings

03.17.2015 | Baseball

Box Score

Both teams scored three in the ninth before a two-out bases loaded wild pitch won it for UTA in the 10th

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The No. 14 Baseball team rallied for three two-out runs in the ninth inning before surrendering UT Arlington three runs of its own, and eventually lost on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th Tuesday evening at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

In the top of the 10th, Texas (13-8) went down 1-2-3 and sent Ty Culbreth to the mound for the bottom half. UTA (10-7) second baseman Christian Hollie greeted him with a leadoff triple down the left field line, and after loading the bases on an infield hit and intentional walk and recording two outs (groundout and strikeout), a wild pitch allowed Hollie to scamper home for the game-winning run.

The game was tied 2-2 entering the ninth. With one out in the top half, Texas received an infield single from Zane Gurwitz to start the rally. After a flyout, Collin Shaw singled to right field, putting runners on the corners with two away for Hinojosa. The junior shortstop wasted no time in breaking the stalemate, driving the first pitch he saw into right to score Gurwitz. Tres Barrera then mashed a ball to the wall in right-center for a triple, scoring both Shaw and Hinojosa to make it a 5-2 game.

The Mavericks fought right back in their half of the ninth to tie the game at five and send it to extra innings. UTA scored three runs on four singles and a walk off three Texas pitchers (Ty Marlow, Kirby Bellow, Kyle Johnston) in the frame. The final two runs came on a two-out bases loaded single from freshman pinch-hitter Will Olson off of Johnston.

Culbreth (2-2) took the loss for Texas after giving up the run in the 10th. UT used eight pitchers in the 10 inning contest, including starter Kacy Clemens who worked the first four innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out two. Travis Duke (1 1/3 IP)and Jake McKenzie (1 2/3 IP ) each had scoreless outings and McKenzie struck out two.

Hinojosa (3-for-5) and Barrera (2-for-3) did the damage for the Horns at the plate, as Hinojosa scored one and drove in two and Barrera had a triple, a run scored, two RBIs and a walk. Gurwitz contributed a base hit and a walk, and scored twice.

For UTA, Eric Tate had a four-hit day at the plate, and Travis Sibley and Matt McLean each added three base knocks. Colin Tornberg (1-0) picked up the win on the hill by tossing a perfect 10th inning.

Though they put four runners in scoring position early on, the Longhorns were held scoreless for the first five innings. UT Arlington starter Reid Petty walked the bases loaded in the second inning, but reliever Daniel James came on and got Ben Johnson to fly out to shallow center field before setting down Shaw on a called third strike.

In the third inning, Hinojosa led off with a single and moved up on a sacrifice, but was stranded on third after a flyout and groundout ended the threat.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, used a two-out rally to strike for a run in the third inning. After Clemens got two quick flyball outs, he issued a walk and the Mavericks followed with back-to-back singles to make it 1-0.

Texas tied it up in the sixth when Barrera led off with a single, Brooks Marlow followed with a bunt single and Michael Cantu delivered a one-out RBI single down the left field line. The Longhorns were unable to do any more damage as designated hitter Connor Macalla grounded into a fielder's choice that turned into a 1-6-2 double play.

UT Arlington edged ahead again in the sixth, loading the bases on a single and walk from reliever Tyler Schimpf, then a hit batsman from Texas' third pitcher of the inning Jake McKenzie. With one out, RJ Williams singled to left field to bring in one and make it 2-1. McKenzie was able to prevent further damage by inducing a popout to third base and a flyout to shallow center field.

The next half inning Texas tied it up as Gurwitz reached on an error to start the inning and scored when Hinojosa delivered a two-out RBI infield single.

McKenzie then worked a scoreless bottom half of the seventh, and both squads were held off the board in the eighth before the fireworks in the ninth and 10th.

Texas returns to action this weekend (March 20-22) with a three-game conference set vs. Kansas State from UFCU Disch-Falk Field, beginning Friday at 6 p.m.