Baker’s three hits help lead No. 25 Baseball past Wichita State 6-4

Tuesday, April 7

Austin, Texas

7 p.m.

University of Texas

18-15

Wichita State

13-19

Wichita State

Texas

Baker’s three hits help lead No. 25 Baseball past Wichita State 6-4

04.07.2015 | Baseball

Box Score

The freshman shortstop also added several excellent defensive plays on the evening

AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 25 Baseball team knocked off the Wichita State Shockers by a score of 6-4 Tuesday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, thanks in part to a three-hit performance from freshman shortstop Joe Baker.

Zane Gurwitz, Baker and Brooks Marlow (the 9-1-2 hitters respectively in the UT lineup) combined to go 6-for-9 with four walks, four runs scored and three RBIs on the night.

The win over the Shockers (13-19) snapped a seven-game losing skid for the Longhorns (18-15), and improved their home record to 13-4 on the season.

Baker scored twice and had three base knocks, including a clutch two-out single in the eighth to add an important insurance run for Texas. He also made several fine plays defensively throughout the game, including two sliding stops deep in the hole at shortstop where he was able to narrowly throw out the runners with strong throws to first.

C.J Hinojosa had the lone extra base hit for the Horns on the night, delivering an RBI double in the bottom of the first, and Marlow had a multi-RBI performance with two RBI singles in the game. Ben Johnson (.368) roped several balls hard, and ended the game with a single, a run scored and an RBI to his name.

For Wichita State, Ryan Tinkham provided much of the offense, as he smashed three of the Shocks' five hits on the night, including a two-run home run that cut the Texas advantage to 5-4 in the top of the sixth inning. Gunnar Troutwine also added two RBIs on a two-out double in the fourth inning.

Texas used six pitchers en route to the victory, including freshman Jake McKenzie (1-0), who earned his first collegiate win by tossing a scoreless frame in relief of starter Josh Sawyer. Sawyer lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out four.

Connor Mayes worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings that included a bases-loaded one out jam in the top of the eighth, and Ty Culbreth tossed a three-up three-down ninth inning to nab his fourth save of the season.

Chase Williams (1-2) started for the Shockers and took the loss, pitching three innings and allowing four total runs (three earned).

Texas jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in their half of the first inning courtesy of an RBI fielder's choice from Johnson and a one out RBI double from Hinojosa. In the second, the lead stretched to 4-0 after four consecutive one-out singles (including an RBI hit from Marlow) and a Tres Barrera sacrifice fly.

The Shockers battled back for two runs of their own in the top of the fourth on a two out, two-RBI double from Troutwine that cut the lead to 4-2, and ended Sawyer's night on the mound. McKenzie entered from the bullpen a struck out the next batter to end the threat.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Marlow's second RBI single of the contest pushed the lead to 5-2, but in the top of the sixth it quickly became a one run ballgame when Tinkham drilled a two-run home run to left centerfield to make the score 5-4.

Wichita State threatened to tie or take the lead in the eighth, but Mayes worked out of a bases-loaded, one out jam by forcing a pop out and groundout to leave the inning unscathed.

In the bottom half, Baker's third single of the game drove in Michael Cantu from third to give the Longhorns a two run cushion. From there, Culbreth shut the door by retiring the side in order in the ninth to seal the 6-4 win.

Texas returns to action this coming weekend (April 10-12) when they take on Oklahoma in a three game conference series, beginning Friday night at 7 p.m. from UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

QUOTES

Head Coach Augie Garrido

On the overall performance: Obviously the big thing was the win. It was important to see the team much more relaxed than they have been during this stretch. I think being at home helped. I think the conversations they had among themselves helped each other, they talked about getting back to team baseball and they did that. A lot of guys made a lot of contributions in a lot of different ways, probably none more important than Connor Mayes in the 8^th inning but Joe Baker was terrific both offensively and defensively. Brooks Marlow had a good night offensively. The thing I noticed is their pitch selection was much better, they are seeing the ball and swinging at fewer balls because of the count.

Freshmen SS Joe Baker

On his performance: It was good to get out there, but the best part of the day was just getting that win. I mean, we really needed that, the weekends before that haven't been going our way. Finally got that first win out of the way, get that streak ended; it's a good win today.

On breaking the slump: Definitely, I think we really showed what kind of team we are today. The weekends before that, that's not what kind of team we are. I mean, we can win ball games, we can go out and compete and today we showed that.

On stepping up: I think that just kind of shows what kind of team we are, if one guy goes down one guy has got to fill in, that's my job. We just pick each other up, no matter what Coach says where to go we just do our job and get out there and compete.

On the team bouncing back: Well, the senior leaders, they were here in the bad season and so they have been there before and they know that you do not want to have your season end early in May. They have been telling us to get out there and compete like we know we can and so tonight we did that and I think it will be good step in the right direction of winning.

Senior 2B Brooks Marlow

On Coach Garrido asking the players to take on more of a leadership role: Yeah, that's what it is. The players are kind of taking over the ship because we are the ones who are playing, coaches can only do so much and its just us guys coming together and having that great energy and feeding off each other and that's what we did tonight.

On the team mentality: Hard work, all these guys are hard workers, like Joe coming in a tough spot playing shortstop and C.J. moving to third. Joe is playing so hard right now and he is getting the job done. The next thing is getting behind Parker French Friday night and being ready to go.

Notes

- Freshman pitcher Jake McKenzie (1-0) earned his first collegiate win by tossing a scoreless inning of relief in tonight's contest. McKenzie walked one and struck out one while allowing no hits in his inning of work.

- Freshman shortstop Joe Baker had a career high three hits in the game. He also matched his career highs in runs (2) and total bases (3).

- The UT 9-1-2 hitters (Zane Gurwitz, Baker, Brooks Marlow) combined to go 6-for-9 with four walks, four runs scored and three RBIs on the night.

- Tres Barrera drew a walk in the game this evening, making it 32 of 33 games this season that he has reached base safely.

- Ben Johnson (.368) had one hit in the game, giving him 53 on the season to lead the Big 12.