The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
12-15, 3-2
Oklahoma
13-14-1, 1-4
Baseball evens series with 5-3 win over Oklahoma
04.02.2016 | Baseball
The Longhorns rode a four-run first inning to their third Big 12 win.
NORMAN, Okla.—A four-run first inning and Ty Culbreth's sixth-straight quality start propelled Texas Baseball (12-15, 3-2 Big 12) to a 5-3 win over Oklahoma (13-14-1, 1-4 Big 12) on Saturday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
Shortstop Kody Clemens opened the game with a four-pitch walk and, after a fielder's choice, Kacy Clemens drew a walk of his own to put runners on first and second with one out. Tres Barrera and Patrick Mathis then followed with back-to-back doubles to put the Longhorns out to a 3-0 lead.
Mathis then moved to third on a Tyler Rand single and, when Rand swiped second base, scored on a throwing error by the Oklahoma catcher to give Texas a 4-0 advantage.
Oklahoma responded with two in the second and one in the fourth off Culbreth (5-2), but the senior was strong once again, allowing three runs (two earned) over six innings of work. He did not walk a batter and struck out four on 105 pitches, 77 strikes.
"[The Sooners] were very good with two strikes on him," head coach Augie Garrido said following the game. "They do a very good job of using the middle, very good job of shortening up, putting the ball in play. It's a fast infield and they know how to use it, but I'm real proud of our kids for bouncing back after a real tough day yesterday."
The Longhorns got their fifth and final run in the sixth when, after Kacy Clemens drew his second of three walks on the day, Mathis crushed his second double of the afternoon, plating Clemens from first base.
Chase Shugart entered in relief of Culbreth and faced the minimum over the seventh and eighth innings.
In the ninth, senior Travis Duke came on to face the left-handed leadoff batter. Duke induced a groundball out in what was his 100th career pitching appearance, second-most among active NCAA pitchers.
Connor Mayes followed Duke and picked up the second out of the frame before allowing a single to left field.
Josh Sawyer (1) came on for the final out of the ballgame and got a pop-up to himself to earn his first career save.
The two teams return to Norman tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT for the series rubber match. RHP Kyle Johnston will take the mound for the Longhorns.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Culbreth, Ty (5-2)
L: Madden, R. (1-1)
S: Sawyer, Josh (1)
Batting:
2B: Barrera, Tres 1 ; Mathis, Patrick 2
RBI: Barrera, Tres 1 ; Mathis, Patrick 3
SH: Cantu, Michael 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Travis 1 ; Clemens, Kacy 2 ; Barrera, Tres 1 ; Mathis, Patrick 1
SB: Rand, Tyler 1
Batting:
2B: Wise, A. 1
RBI: Andritsos, C 2 ; DeRenzo, D. 1
SH: Wise, A. 1
SF: Andritsos, C 1 ; DeRenzo, D. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: O'Brien, A. 1 ; Walker, S. 1 ; Wise, A. 1
SB: Neuse, S. 1
