Three-run sixth inning drives No. 25 Baseball past Oklahoma for 4-1 victory

Saturday, April 11

Austin, Texas

3:30 p.m.

University of Texas

19-16, 6-5

Oklahoma

23-14, 7-4

Oklahoma

Texas

Three-run sixth inning drives No. 25 Baseball past Oklahoma for 4-1 victory

04.11.2015 | Baseball

Box Score

The win by the Longhorns evened the series at 1-1, with the rubber match set for noon tomorrow

AUSTIN, Texas -- Four Texas pitchers combined to allow just one run, Bret Boswell delivered a clutch RBI triple to break a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning, and the No. 25 Texas Baseball team beat Oklahoma, 4-1, Saturday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

The victory evens the series and sets up a rubber match Sunday at noon.

Kacy Clemens (3-2) led the effort from the mound with a commanding effort over six innings on his way to earning the victory for the Horns (19-16, 6-5 Big 12). The sophomore has been sterling at home, going 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA, and on Saturday surrendered six hits and two walks while striking out four and receiving terrific defense behind him.

Ty Culbreth, Ty Marlow and Kirby Bellow followed Clemens on the mound to seal the win for UT. Culbreth and Marlow each faced two batters, retiring all four, and Bellow allowed just a two-out single in the ninth inning while striking out two to nab his fourth save of the season.

The Sooners (23-14, 7-4 Big 12) put just three base runners in scoring position thanks to the strong effort on the mound and defensively from Texas.

The UT pitching staff was the beneficiary of excellent defense all afternoon long, particularly from the freshmen in the lineup. Third baseman Bret Boswell and shortstop Joe Baker made numerous difficult ranging plays throughout the game, and catcher Michael Cantu caught two runners attempting to steal thanks to two lasers from his knees. One of the throws from Cantu was a bit offline, but Baker made a nifty diving tag on the sliding runner to get the out.

Senior second baseman Brooks Marlow contributed a crucial double in the top of the second. With one out and runners on the corners, he snared a line drive, and quickly fired to first to double off the runner and end the threat to keep the game scoreless.

The three freshmen in the game not only played excellent defense, but also reached base safely in 8 of 12 plate appearances on the day (3 H, 4 BB, 1 HBP) and scored three of the four Texas runs.

Boswell in particular was the catalyst for the offense, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and the aforementioned RBI triple that proved to be the game-winning hit. Tres Barrera also had himself a two hit day, including an RBI single that scored Boswell in the sixth. Zane Gurwitz and C.J Hinojosa each contributed a hit and an RBI apiece.

Cantu's day was impressive both at the plate and behind it. The sophomore backstop drew three walks in the game, scoring twice, including the game-winning run in the sixth, and also had the two vital caught stealing's that came in the sixth and seventh innings respectively.

Alec Hansen (4-4) took the loss for the Sooners despite striking out five Longhorns in 5 2/3 innings and flashing a fastball that sped by at 99 miles-per-hour on occasions.

The teams traded single runs in the bottom of the second and top of the third and it remained 1-1 until the Horns jumped back on top for good with three decisive runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

With one out and a runner on first, Boswell roped a triple to right-center field that scored Cantu, who had reached base via his third walk of the day. Then with the infield drawn in, Barrera smacked a single through the left side to put UT up by two.

Following a wild pitch, strikeout and walk, Gurwitz singled up the middle to score Barrera, and forced Hansen from the game with the score 4-1 in Texas' favor. The winning pitcher from last night's game, Ralph Garza Jr., entered and tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings the rest of the way for OU, but the damage had already been done.

The Texas bullpen took it the rest of the way for the win, as an infield single with two outs in the ninth was the lone base runner surrendered out of the pen in sealing the victory.

QUOTES

Head Coach Augie Garrido

Opening statement: We put a good rally together in the (sixth) inning and had some timely hits, and we sustained the rally. That's what we haven't been doing, and by doing that, we got the win. We got a very good job on the mound from Kacy [Clemens]. He added his curveball today, which he hasn't had command of to the level that he did today. When you put that in with the fastball, then his curveball, then his changeup, he's got some pretty good weapons that he didn't have at the start of the season. He's getting better every game. I think the team played well behind him defensively. There were some really good plays being made. [Bret] Boswell probably stole the show on offense and defense - became a key player. It all got down to one inning. We put the three runs up. Hopefully we'll build off of that.

On veteran's involvement in today's game: Yeah, they had much better presence I thought, and I think they had more of a focus and a purpose. They had better timing.

On bouncing back from last night's loss: I think they obviously found something. Maybe they just got tired of losing. Who knows? I don't know. What I know is they did much better today.

Freshman 3B Bret Boswell

On having a new mindset for today's win: Everybody is just tired of the way we've been playing. Kind of not competing, not really executing in certain situations and big situations, and I think we just really did that today.

On eagerness to be back on the field: I was ready. I've been working on stuff the past couple of days. It gave me some time to get back in the swing of things, take my mind off of it, and then today just get back into it.

On being back in the lineup and facing a high 90s fastball from OU starter Alec Hansen: I faced him a couple of times this summer, so I had already seen him a little bit. It was kind of a little overwhelming at first, but I felt comfortable in there. I saw the ball well.

Sophomore RHP Kacy Clemens

On how he felt on the mound: I felt good today, actually. Last weekend, we had a few long games and my legs were kind of not underneath me. This time we were able to come out, and I felt good. Skip [Johnson] and I have been working on some stuff. As far as feeling any different than any other start, not really. I felt good. I've felt good all year, but everything is starting to come together. The defense really helped me out a lot today.

On a different mindset bouncing back from a loss: Not really. We obviously came together as a team last night and talked about some stuff. We've just got to execute, and when we do, we're good. When we don't, sometimes we fall short, but today we got a lot of timely hits. The bats kind of woke up again. [Michael] Cantu did a great job behind the plate throwing two guys out. Defense really came out to play. We got out of a jam early with that line drive double play with Brooks [Marlow]. Teamwork is really what we need, and that's what came out and showed out well today.

On what he has been working on with Skip Johnson: Honestly, it's not much technical stuff. My mechanics are good. My pitches are good. More how to attack, when to attack, certain pitches, how hitters guess in certain situations. More of getting ahead, staying ahead and not walking people. Of course the one run they get is on a walk, so just stuff like that.