Baseball downs No. 19 UCLA, 7-5, in series opener

Friday, March 11

Los Angeles, Calif.

8 p.m.

University of Texas

7-7

UCLA

6-7

Texas

UCLA

Baseball downs No. 19 UCLA, 7-5, in series opener

03.12.2016 | Baseball

Box Score

The Longhorns, boosted by a four-run fourth, won their first series opener of the season.

Box Score | Postgame Quotes

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A four-run fourth inning—capped off by a Bret Boswell two-run homer—propelled Texas Baseball to a 7-5 victory over No. 19 UCLA on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

It started rocky in the first inning for righthander Kyle Johnston but after loading the bases with no outs, the sophomore settled in and limited the damage to just one run in the frame.

Two innings later, the Longhorns offense responded for its starter. With one out, Zane Gurwitz stretched a single into a double to give the Longhorns a runner in scoring position. Travis Jones and Patrick Mathis each followed with a walk to set the table for junior Tres Barrera and the Longhorns catcher proceeded to drive a single into the right-center field gap, plating two and giving Texas a 2-1 edge.

The Bruins bounced back in their half of the third as designated hitter Kort Peterson took the first pitch he saw over the right field fence to make it 2-2, but the Longhorns offense came alive in the fourth.

Freshman Kody Clemens led off the fourth with a bunt single, advancing to second on a Brady Harlan sacrifice. Jake McKenzie then reached on a fielding error and Gurwitz followed with his second double of the night to make it 3-2. A Travis Jones sacrifice fly upped the Texas lead to two before Bret Boswell unloaded on a 1-1 offering for his second homer of the season, giving the Longhorns a 6-2 lead.

After a one-out walk by Johnston in the bottom of the fourth, the righthander was lifted with two runners on in favor of junior lefty Jon Malmin (1-2), who closed out the frame to maintain the four-run Longhorn lead.

The Longhorns added one more in the seventh thanks to a two-out rally. Mathis and Barrera singled and, after a pitching change, Kacy Clemens ripped an RBI double to right to push the Longhorns lead to five.

Following Malmin's inning and two thirds of work, senior lefty Travis Duke came on for his 10th appearance of the season. Duke tossed three scoreless for Texas, allowing three hits and no walks to go along with two strikeouts.

Freshman Chase Shugart entered in the ninth for the Longhorns and loaded the bases. Nolan Kingham came on with no outs and allowed a walk and two sac flies before closing out the game, sending the Longhorns to a 7-5 win and picking up his first career save.

The Longhorns and Bruins return to action tomorrow for a 4 p.m. CT first pitch. Texas will send lefthander Ty Culbreth to the hill, while UCLA is expected to start righthander Jake Bird.