The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
2-1
Rice
1-2
Clemens, Henley lead Baseball to 6-1 win over Rice in doubleheader nightcap
02.18.2017 | Baseball
Freshman Blair Henley picked up his first career win while Kacy Clemens went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI
AUSTIN, Texas—After a tense ending to game one of Saturday's double header, Texas Baseball (2-1) cruised to a 6-1 win in the nightcap over No. 23 Rice (1-2) at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Despite allowing a run in the top of the first, freshman right-hander Blair Henley was strong through five innings of work. Henley (1-0) picked up the win in his collegiate debut thanks to an effort that saw him fan eight Rice batters while allowing just three hits, one walk and one hit batsman.
After the first inning Owl run, Henley's teammates picked him up quickly in the bottom half of the frame against Rice freshman Matt Canterino.
Travis Jones, game one's hero, walked to open up the ballgame. Patrick Mathis followed with a walk of his own before Kacy Clemens came through with a RBI single, the first of three hits for the senior first baseman in the ballgame.
Henley and Canterino traded zeroes for the next two innings, with Henley retiring seven in a row at one point. In the bottom of the fourth, the Longhorns provided some runs.
Kacy Clemens and Austin Todd drew back-to-back walks to open the frame. Second baseman Joe Baker squared up a sacrifice bunt that Canterino threw away, allowing Clemens to score and Todd and Baker to advance into scoring position.
After a passed ball scored Todd, catcher Michael McCann singled to right field to score Baker to make it 4-1 before Henley went back to work on the hill.
Henley sat down the Owls in order in the fifth, signaling the end to his first start in burnt orange.
Texas picked up an insurance run in the sixth when pinch-hitter Michael Cantu drew a bases loaded walk.
The Longhorns added their sixth run of the ballgame when Kacy Clemens took a 3-2 over the left field fence for an opposite field blast. The homer was Clemens' first of the season and the second of the year for the Longhorns.
Jon Malmin and Beau Ridgeway each tossed two innings of scoreless relief and Texas improved to 2-1 on the season.
Rice and Texas will finish off the four-game series tomorrow with a 12 p.m. CT first pitch at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Henley, Blair (1-0)
L: Canterino (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: DiCaprio 1
SF: DiCaprio 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chandler 1
CS: Warren 1
HBP: Myers 1
Batting:
HR: Clemens, Kacy 1
RBI: Clemens, Kacy 2 ; McCann, Michael 1 ; Cantu, Michael 1
SH: Baker, Joe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Travis 1 ; Mathis, Patrick 1 ; Clemens, Kacy 2 ; Todd, Austin 1 ; Baker, Joe 1
SB: Jones, Travis 1
