The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
18-21, 8-6
Texas Tech
31-11, 12-2
Baseball battles to 7-4 comeback win over No. 11 Texas Tech
04.23.2016 | Baseball
Ty Culbreth picked up his Big 12-best eighth win of the year and Nolan Kingham tossed three hitless innings for the save.
LUBBOCK, Texas—Facing a three-run deficit, Texas Baseball (18-21, 8-6 Big 12) rallied to a 7-4 win over No. 11 Texas Tech (31-11, 12-2), snapping the Red Raiders' 11-game conference win streak. The Longhorns offense backed starter Ty Culbreth to his Big 12-best eighth victory and Nolan Kingham earned his second save with three hitless innings.
The Longhorns once again got on the board early, sending eight to the plate in the first inning off Texas Tech lefthander Steve Gingery. Travis Jones opened up the ballgame with a first-pitch single before Tres Barrera, Kacy Clemens and Patrick Mathis all drew walks to force in the first Texas run.
Culbreth held the Red Raiders offense scoreless in the first two frames, but Tech put up a three-spot in the third to take the lead. TTU strung together a three hits and two walks in the inning to overtake the Longhorns, jumping out ahead 3-1.
Texas Tech picked up its fourth run of the ballgame in the fourth when Red Raiders right fielder Stephen Smith hit a solo shot over the left field fence to push the TTU lead to 4-1.
Culbreth settled in, however, and kept the Red Raiders off the board in the fifth and sixth to allow the Longhorns to climb back into the ballgame.
In the top of the fifth, Kody Clemens was hit with a pitch and advanced to second when Gingery threw one wild. Barrera followed with an RBI double down the left field line to cut the Longhorns deficit to 4-2. After Barrera advanced on another wild pitch, Kacy Clemens lifted one to left for a sacrifice fly that brought the Longhorns to within one.
After Culbreth tossed a 1-2-3 sixth, the Longhorns offense came through for its starter. Jones opened the frame with an infield single—the first of three in the inning. A fielder's choice and strikeout then followed to put the Longhorns down to their final out of the inning.
Kacy Clemens hit a ground ball to the Red Raider first baseman who couldn't beat the elder Clemens to the bag, giving the Longhorns runners on first and second. Joe Baker then followed with a well-placed infield single of his own to load the bases for Mathis.
The Longhorns right fielder delivered.
Mathis drove a 2-0 pitch to left center to plate two and put Texas on top 5-4. Zane Gurwitz then singled through the right side to score Baker and put the Longhorns out to a 6-4 lead.
The Longhorns picked up an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Gurwitz drove an RBI double to right field, but Texas wouldn't need the cushion as freshman righty Nolan Kingham tossed three hitless innings of relief for his second career save.
The Longhorns and Red Raiders will face off in the rubber match on Sunday at 2 p.m. Texas will send RHP Kyle Johnston to the mound.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Culbreth, Ty (8-2)
L: Moseley (4-3)
S: Kingham, Nolan (2)
Batting:
2B: Barrera, Tres 1 ; Gurwitz, Zane 1
RBI: Barrera, Tres 1 ; Clemens, Kacy 1 ; Mathis, Patrick 3 ; Gurwitz, Zane 2
SH: Clemens, Kody 1 ; Gurwitz, Zane 1
SF: Clemens, Kacy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Travis 1 ; Clemens, Kody 2 ; Barrera, Tres 2 ; Clemens, Kacy 1 ; Baker, Joe 1
HBP: Clemens, Kody 1 ; Barrera, Tres 1
Batting:
3B: Gardner 1
HR: Smith, S. 1
RBI: Smith, S. 1 ; Raley 1 ; Neslony 1 ; Hargrove 1
SH: Gardner 1
SF: Raley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, S. 2 ; Garcia 1 ; Gutierrez 1
SB: Raley 2
HBP: Smith, S. 1
