The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
2-1
UL-Lafayette
1-2
Baseball falls, 2-1, to Louisiana in Sunday pitchers' duel
02.18.2018 | Baseball
The Longhorns won the opening series, but came up just short in game three.
AUSTIN, Texas—In what turned out to be another pitchers' duel at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, Texas Baseball was edged, 2-1, by Louisiana in Sunday's series finale. Despite dropping game three, the Longhorns (2-1) won the opening series over the Ragin' Cajuns (1-2), thanks to victories on Friday and Saturday.
Sophomore right-hander Blair Henley got the start on the mound for Texas and went five strong innings. Both sides exchanged zeroes through the first four innings before Louisiana broke through in the fifth.
After issuing a leadoff walk in the inning, Henley got the next two Ragin' Cajuns on groundouts before shortstop Hayden Cantrelle singled through the left side to plate the game's first run.
The Longhorns were quick to respond, however. David Hamilton walked to lead off the home half of the inning and Masen Hibbeler followed with a bunt single to put two on. After a Kody Clemens sacrifice bunt, Austin Todd hit a long sacrifice fly to right field to allow Hamilton to trot home and tie the ballgame.
Henley exited after the fifth in favor of redshirt-junior Andy McGuire. McGuire, who hadn't appeared in a game for Texas since May 17, 2015, retired the side in order.
In the seventh, the Oaktown, Va., native allowed a one-out walk. After a groundout moved the Ragin' Cajun baserunner to second, Gavin Bourgeois lined a double down the right field line to drive in the go-ahead run for Louisiana.
With Texas trailing, 2-1, redshirt-junior Josh Sawyer came on in relief of McGuire (0-1). Sawyer, a lefthander, missed last season and most of 2016 due to injury. Despite not having thrown for Texas in 659 days, Sawyer went on to throw 2.1 no-hit innings, allowing just one walk and striking out three.
The Longhorns had a baserunner in the ninth when pinch-hitter Zach Zubia was hit with a pitch, but Texas was unable to overcome the deficit as it did on Saturday.
Texas returns to UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. game against Lamar.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Batty,B (1-0)
L: McGuire, Andy (0-1)
S: Stoelke,L (1)
Batting:
2B: Bourgeois,G 1 ; Lochridge,O 1
RBI: Bourgeois,G 1 ; Cantrelle,H 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lahare,D 2
SB: Cantrelle,H 1
Batting:
2B: Reynolds, Ryan 1
RBI: Todd, Austin 1
SH: Clemens, Kody 1
SF: Todd, Austin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hamilton, David 1
HBP: Petrinsky, DJ 1 ; Zubia, Zach 1
