No. 25 Baseball falls to Oklahoma in series finale, 3-2

Sunday, April 12

Austin, Texas

Noon

University of Texas

19-17, 6-6

Oklahoma

24-14, 8-4

Oklahoma

Texas

No. 25 Baseball falls to Oklahoma in series finale, 3-2

04.12.2015 | Baseball

Box Score

The Sooners took the weekend set two games to one with the victory today

AUSTIN, Texas -- Despite 11 base hits, the No. 25 Baseball team dropped the rubber match of a three-game set with Oklahoma, 3-2, Sunday afternoon from UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

The Longhorns (19-17, 6-6 Big 12) left 10 runners on base in the loss, including six in scoring position. Oklahoma (24-14, 8-4 Big 12) had 12 hits in the game and stranded 12 base runners, but pulled out the win anyway to move into a share of the conference lead with Oklahoma State.

Michael Cantu, Bret Boswell, Tres Barrera and Collin Shaw all had two hits in the ballgame for Texas. Shaw roped his Big 12 leading 16th double and drove in a run, and Cantu scored a run and walked in the contest.

Cantu and Bret Boswell both had impressive weekends at the dish, with Cantu reaching base in 8 of 13 plate appearances (four hits, .615 ob%) while scoring four runs, and Boswell going 4-for-7 with an RBI triple. Defensively, Cantu was also an impressive three of three throwing out OU base runners attempting to steal.

Oklahoma starter and winning pitcher Robert Tasin (6-1) entered the ballgame with a .182 batting average against in 37 1/3 innings (0.64 hits an inning allowed), but was roughed up for nine base hits and two walks over six frames by the Texas offense, yet escaped with just one run allowed. Inning after inning, Tasin was able to pitch out of tight spots, and his day ended after the sixth, stranding nine Longhorn base runners, including five in scoring position. Tasin also batted in the game, going 2-for-5 at the plate.

OU reliever Jacob Evans entered in the seventh and worked three innings of one run ball on two hits while striking out three to earn his second save of the weekend.

Kolbey Carpenter had two hits and two RBIs for the Sooners, and Sheldon Neuse contributed two base knocks and a run scored.

Eight Texas pitchers combined to strand 12 Sooner base runners (five in scoring position) while allowing three earned runs on 12 hits and seven walks over their nine frames. Kyle Johnston started on the bump, lasting 2 1/3 frames while surrendering a run on two hits and four walks while striking out two, and Chad Hollingsworth (3-4) took the loss by surrendering one run on three hits and two walks in two innings of work out of the pen.

The Sooners got on the board first in the top of the second courtesy of two singles and two walks, including a bases-loaded base on balls from Carpenter to drive in the first run of the day. Johnston then composed himself and got a groundout to second to eliminate further damage.

Texas bounced back with a run of its own in their half of the second. Three straight singles from Cantu, Boswell and Barrera to start frame were followed by a C.J Hinojosa sacrifice fly to knot the score at 1-1. Shaw then walked to reload the bases, but Tasin forced a strikeout and a foul pop out to keep the game tied through two in what proved to be a key spot.

An RBI single from Carpenter put Oklahoma back up 2-1in the fourth, and a two-out RBI single from Taylor Alspaugh stretched the lead to 3-1 in the sixth.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Barrera singled with one out to bring up Hinojosa, who crushed the first pitch he saw over the wall down the left-field line, but it was foul by no more than a few feet. Three pitches later, he grounded out to the pitcher for the second out of the inning.

Shaw then stepped in with two down and delivered a two-strike double to left field, scoring Barrera to make it 3-2, and putting the tying run in scoring position for pinch hitter Travis Jones. However, Jones grounded out to second to end the threat, and the Horns went in order in the ninth to seal the game and the series for Oklahoma.

Texas returns to action Tuesday night at 6 p.m. from UFCU Disch-Falk Field to square off with the Sam Houston State Bearkats.

QUOTES

Head Coach Augie Garrido

Opening Statement: The difference in the game certainly wasn't hits. The difference in the game was RBI hits. They had one more than we did and we had a foul ball that ties the game by three feet, so that's the difference in the game. The pitchers on both sides were pretty much the same. We may have walked more but that's because they did a better job of managing their strike zone than we did. I think [Michael] Cantu was absolutely spectacular this weekend. He threw out every base runner that tried to run on him. He caught the ball. He blocked the ball. He took quality at bats. He is a very mature baseball player. We certainly have a leader and a model to follow in him.

On the concern of a lack of Sunday starter: It's a legitimate concern. We have to win all three games, especially the position we are in now. We must win at least two of three in each one of these games. The Sunday game typically can be anyone's game. We would have an ace for Sunday if [Chad] Hollingsworth wasn't slowed down by his shoulder.

On message to the team: [Associate Head Coach] Skip Johnson delivered the sermon. We have to do better. We have to convert and take quality at bats in certain situations. It's really the problem. It's about RBIs, not hits.

Freshman Catcher Michael Cantu

On offense: We hit balls hard, but they just didn't fall for us. We squared some balls up with runners in scoring position, they just didn't fall. It's frustrating. We just need to stay focused and composed. Baseball is a frustrating game and it's just how you react to it and keep rolling.

On what enable him to have a successful weekend personally: I think just trusting myself and having confidence in my teammates. It's trusting myself, my defense, my players, and my teammates. I think that's a big thing.

On looking at the standings: We don't look at the standings. The most important game is the next one. We just have to keep grinding and keep trying to win ball games. I think if we do that, everything will take care of itself. We can't worry about wins or losses. We just have to worry about the next game.

Notes

- Freshmen Michael Cantu and Bret Boswell went a combined 8-for-16 in the series with five walks (.619 ob%). Cantu scored four runs and Boswell scored once and drove in a run on a RBI triple. Defensively, Cantu was also an impressive 3 of 3 on throwing out OU base runners attempting to steal second base.

- There were just two errors combined by Texas and Oklahoma in the series (one each). The Longhorns fielded at a .993 clip and the Sooners at .992.

- Oklahoma and Texas rank second and third in the Big 12, respectively, in double plays turned, and combined to turn nine in the series. The Sooners had five and the Longhorns had four, to bring their season totals to 40 and 36.

- Joe Baker had a hit in all three games of the weekend series and is currently riding an eight-game hit streak.

- With the win on Saturday, Kacy Clemens moved to 3-0 on the season at home with a 0.96 ERA over 18 2/3 innings.

- Tres Barrera was 4-for-12 on the series and has now reached base in 34 of 36 games this season after reaching in 2 of 3 this weekend.

- The Texas pitching staff held a 1.80 ERA for the series, allowing just six earned runs in 30 innings pitched.