The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
K-State
Baseball blanks K-State, 5-0, for second straight shutout
03.25.2017 | Baseball
Morgan Cooper went a career-high eight innings and struck out a career-high 11 in the game.
Box Score | Quotes
AUSTIN, Texas—For the second straight game, Texas Baseball pitching proved too much for Kansas State to handle. With 11 strikeouts over eight shutout innings, Morgan Cooper led the Longhorns (16-10, 2-3 Big 12) to a 5-0 win over the Wildcats (15-8, 0-2) on Saturday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The win gives Texas its first Big 12 series victory of the season.
The Longhorns got out to a 1-0 lead in the second thanks to four walks from K-State's Parker Rigler. With two outs in the frame and Michael McCann already on base, Austin Todd, Ryan Reynolds and David Hamilton drew three straight walks to force in the game's first run.
That would be all Cooper (3-1) would need in the ballgame. The right-hander finished the day with a career-high eight innings pitched. He allowed just two hits and four walks while striking out a career-best 11 to earn his third win of the season.
The Texas offense did provide insurance for Cooper, however, putting up a two-spot in the fourth and one run in both the sixth and eighth innings. Reynolds opened the fourth with a double and Hamilton followed with a bunt single to give the Longhorns runners on the corners. Tate Shaw then laid down a squeeze, scoring Reynolds. Kacy Clemens' RBI groundout gave the Longhorns a 3-0 lead after four.
In the sixth, Shaw singled with one out before Clemens stroked a double to right, putting the Longhorns on top 4-0. Reynolds plated the Longhorns final run in the eighth when his RBI single scored pinch-runner Tyler Rand.
With today's combined shutout, Longhorns pitching has not allowed a run in the last 26 innings of work. Texas and K-State will face off in the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
