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FINAL
Texas - 4
BYU - 3
BOX SCORE
Horns improve to 19-12 on the season and 7-4 in Big 12 conference play.
Winning Pitcher: Ace Whitehead (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: Bryce Robison (2-3)
Save: Gage Boehm (3)
RECAP
Horns get an early lead and then hold on through an outstanding performance from reliever Gage Boehm to even up the series against BYU and keep pace near the top of the Big 12 standings.
In the Bottom 1st, Jalin Flores hit a bomb to the Yeti Yard on the 10th pitch of the at-bat to take the early 1-0 lead.
In the Top 3rd, BYU struck back as Cooper Vest hit a 84mph fastball middle middle to LF to tie the game up 1-1. Ace Whitehead battled back though getting a pair of strikeouts and a pop fly to RF to limit the damage.
In the Bottom 3rd, the Horns struck back, adding a pair of runs to take a 3-1 lead over BYU. Dee Kennedy grounded out and then Jared Thomas struck out, bringing Peyton Powell, who has been struggling at the plate as of late to bat. Powell responded by hitting a liner up the middle for a 2 out single. Jalin Flores quickly followed with a liner to CF as well, putting two men on with 2 outs. Max Belyeu then singled up the middle, scoring Powell from 2B. The inning seemingly ended when Rylan Galvan hit a pop up to the right side of the infield, but the umpires called catchers interference, loading the bases with 2 outs. Freshman Will Gasparino came to the plate with 2 outs and bases loaded and hit a ball to the left side and was able to leg out an RBI single. Unfortunately, Porter Brown struck out swinging with bases loaded.
In the Top 4th, Ace Whitehead hung a breaking ball over the plate and it was absolutely crushed to LF, landing across the street to the tennis courts, making it a 3-2 ball game. Whitehead buckled down though and despite giving up a double and a walk, he got a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.
In the Bottom of the 5th, the Horns answered back to make it a 4-2 ballgame. Jalin Flores led off the inning by getting hit by a breaking ball inside, leading to words and eventually a warning to both benches by the umps. Max Belyeu then drew a walk to put two men on bases with no outs, forcing the Cougars to go to the bullpen. Rylan Galvan laid down an outstanding bunt to the left side, moving runners up to 2B and 3B with just 1 out. Will Gasparino then hit a deep fly ball to CF, bringing home Jalin Flores and moving Max Belyeu to 3B. Unfortunately, Porter Brown once again struck out swinging with a man in scoring position.
In the Top 6th, Ace Whitehead ran out of steam, giving up back to back doubles with 1 out, making it a 4-3 ball game, eliciting David Pierce to bring in Gage Boehm to erase the threat, and he did exactly that, getting a strikeout and a fly out.
After Boehm sat the Cougars down 1-2-3 in the Top 7th, the Horns got back to back walks with 2 outs and then loaded the bases when Will Gasparino got his second infield hit. Unfortunately, Porter Brown for the 2nd time on the night with bases loaded and for the 3rd time with runners in scoring position, failed to bring home a run, and in turn failed to blow the doors open against the Cougars.
Undeterred by the offensive failures on the evening to get any insurance runs, Gage Boehm sat the Cougars down in order in both the 8th and 9th innings. In fact, Gage Boehm did not give up any hits or walks, erasing all 11 batters he faced, while striking out 5. Of the 33 pitches Boehm threw, 28 were strikes.
BIG MOMENT
In the Bottom of the 5th inning with runners on 2B and 3B with just 1 out, freshman Will Gasparino hit a deep fly ball to CF, bringing home Jalin Flores to give the Horns a 4-2 lead, a 4th run that was the difference maker in the game.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Jalin Flores continues to stay HOT at the plate. Tonight he went 2-3 at the plate, scoring 3 runs, scoring 1 RBI, and getting hit by a pitch.
TAKEAWAYS
A win is a win, regardless how you get it. Ace Whitehead was not perfect and ran out of gas towards the end of his outing, but he filled up the strike zone and got outs. Expecting Ace to go 7 innings or more each game is unrealistic, but he is a gamer and continues to battle for the Horns, which is exactly what they need out of their starters.
Gage Boehm, whew, that sure was nice. When he is on, Boehm fills up the zone and makes life very uncomfortable for hitters at the plate. He provided the Horns exactly what they needed tonight going 3.2 innings and not giving up a single hit, no walks, and striking out 5.
The Horns offense still is confounding at times, as they alternate between ultra aggressive and being very methodical at the plate. Porter Brown struggles continue to hamper what could be a very potent lineup top to bottom. The freshman hitters are going to have off nights, that is the way life is for a freshman, but a guy like Porter Brown MUST come through, especially when he has as many opportunities with runners in scoring position as he did tonight.
NEXT UP
Horns will look to win the series tomorrow at 230pm
For those curious about the Big 12 conference standings, here is a current look at where things sit.
- Oklahoma (7-3) - lost game one to Oklahoma State
- Texas (7-4) - looking for series win tomorrow against BYU
- Kansas St (6-4) - lost game one to UCF
- Oklahoma St (6-4) - won game one against OU
- West Virginia (6-4) - won game one against Kansas
- UCF (7-6) - won game one against Kansas St
- Kansas (7-6) - lost game one against West Virginia
- Cincinnati (5-5) - won game one against TCU
- Texas Tech (6-7) - won game one against Houston
- Baylor (5-7) - not playing in conference this weekend
- TCU (5-8) - lost game one against Cincy
- BYU (5-9) - looking for series win tomorrow against Texas
- Houston (4-9) - lost game one against Texas Tech
