The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
1-0
UL-Lafayette
0-1
Kingham dominates in Baseball's 3-0 opening night win
02.16.2018 | Baseball
Junior right-hander Nolan Kingham struck out a career-high 10 over 8 shutout frames
AUSTIN, Texas—Pitching was the story for Texas Baseball on Friday night as Nolan Kingham went eight shutout innings to lead the Longhorns to a 3-0 win over Louisiana in the season opener at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Kingham fanned a career-high 10 and closer Beau Ridgeway followed with a one-two-three ninth to seal the victory for Texas.
Only two Ragin' Cajuns managed to reach second base in the ballgame as Kingham limited Louisiana to just three hits and one walk over his eight frames. After allowing one hit in both the first and second innings, Kingham retired 12 Ragin' Cajuns in order to allow his offense to get on top.
Sophomore shortstop David Hamilton led off the bottom of the first with a triple off the wall on the first pitch he saw, but Texas could not push a run across in the frame. It was in the third, however, that the top of the order gave the Longhorns the advantage.
After Hamilton walked and stole to lead off the inning, second baseman Masen Hibbeler laid down a perfect bunt for his first hit as a Longhorn. The junior college transfer went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs scored in his Texas debut. With runners on the corners and one away, sophomore Austin Todd followed with an RBI groundout to give Texas a 1-0 lead.
With Kingham continuing to shut Louisiana down, Texas pushed its lead to 2-0 in the fifth. Hibbeler singled and stole second before advancing to third on a balk, and junior Kody Clemens drove him in with an RBI single.
The Longhorns gave Kingham more cushion in the seventh thanks once again to the top of the lineup. With one away, Hibbeler singled and stole once again to ignite the offense. Todd then dropped a two-out double into left field to plate Hibbeler and give the Horns a decisive 3-0 advantage.
Three runs would be plenty for Kingham, who needed just 89 pitches to get through his eight-inning outing. Closer Beau Ridgeway, who earlier this month was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year watch list, followed up Kingham's effort with a one-two-three ninth to preserve the shutout and the win.
The Longhorns and Ragin' Cajuns return to UFCU Disch-Falk Field tomorrow afternoon for a 2:30 p.m. game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kingham, Nolan (1-0)
L: Burk,J (0-1)
S: Ridgeway, Beau (1)
Batting:
2B: Stover,T 1
Base Running:
SB: Bourgeois,G 1
Batting:
2B: Todd, Austin 1
3B: Hamilton, David 1
RBI: Clemens, Kody 1 ; Todd, Austin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hamilton, David 1 ; Hibbeler, Masen 2
SB: Hamilton, David 1 ; Hibbeler, Masen 2 ; Clemens, Kody 1
HBP: Reynolds, Ryan 2
