Bullpen shines in 9-5 comeback win over Baylor

Friday, April 6

Austin, Texas

6:30 p.m.

University of Texas

20-12, 7-3

Baylor

14-14, 3-7

Baylor

Texas

04.06.2018 | Baseball

Box Score

The Texas bullpen allowed just one run over seven innings while the offense erupted for 13 hits.

Box Score | Postgame Quotes

AUSTIN, Texas—Despite falling into an early deficit, Texas Baseball (20-12, 7-3 Big 12) battled back for a 9-5 win over visiting Baylor (14-14, 3-7) on Friday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

On a night when starter Nolan Kingham allowed four runs and lasted just two innings, the Texas bullpen showed up in a big way. After freshman Matt Whelan escaped a bases loaded, no out jam in the third thanks to a brilliant double play started by David Hamilton, the offense began to claw back into the game.

In the bottom of the third, DJ Petrinsky hit his third homer of the season to plate Duke Ellis—who finished with four hits on the night—to cut the deficit in half.

Down 4-2 in the fifth, the Longhorns rallied. Jake McKenzie reached on a throwing error and Ellis followed with a perfect bunt single to give the Longhorns two aboard. After a sac bunt moved the runners over, Tate Shaw tripled—his fourth of the year—to tie the ballgame at 4-4. The next batter, Masen Hibbeler, followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Shaw and Texas took its first lead of the game.

Kody Clemens then walked and, after a passed ball moved him to second, scored on a Ryan Reynolds single to right field to put Texas on top, 6-4.

The Bears got one back in the top of the sixth thanks to Richard Cunningham's second long ball of the day, but the bullpen limited the Bears to just five hits and one run over the final seven frames to keep Baylor at bay.

The Longhorns gave themselves breathing room in the bottom of the eighth when Petrinsky drove in a run with an infield single, Shaw drove in another with a single to left, and Hibbeler plated a run with a base hit to center to put Texas up, 9-5.

Parker Joe Robinson (2-0), who, in his redshirt-junior season picked up his first career win on Monday, was credited with his second win in as many appearances after tossing two innings in relief. Josh Sawyer contributed an inning of work before Bryce Elder (1) went two scoreless for his first career save at Texas.

Shaw, Zach Zubia, and Petrinsky each collected two hits in the ballgame while Ellis had four to his name. Petrinsky and Shaw also drove in three runs apiece while Hibbeler plated two and Ryan Reynolds drove in one.

Texas returns to action on Saturday with a 4 p.m. game against the Bears.