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FINAL
Texas - 7
Oklahoma State - 5
Winning Pitcher: Gage Boehm (4-2)
Losing Pitcher: Tommy Molsky (6-2)
Horns improve to 29-18 overall and 14-8 in Big 12 play. They are one game back of 2nd place West Virginia and two games back of 1st place Oklahoma, both of whom won earlier tonight.
RECAP
The last time the Horns won a Friday night game was on March 8th. Nearly 2 month ago. Let that sink in for a moment. This was not just a Friday night win though, it was a massive win for the Horns at home over the #14 team in the nation.
After a scoreless 1st inning for both teams, things got cranked up in the Top 2nd.
Aidan Meola led off the Top 2nd with a single to 2B and then advanced to 2B on a wild pitch and then came into score as Colin Brueggemann hit a double to RF, giving the Pokes a 1-0 lead. That lead did not last long as the Horns got a lead of single from Max Belyeu, followed by a 1 out walk by Kimble Schuessler. That brought Rylan Galvan to the plate and he proceeded to hit a hard single through the left side for an RBI as Max Belyeu comes into score, making it 1-1.
In the Top 3rd, the Pokes bounced right back. Zach Ehrhard got a one out single through the left side and then with 2 outs, Nolan Schubart hit an absolute bomb to CF....like 455 feet over the batters eye bomb...a two run homer none the less. That made it 3-1 Pokes. Aidan Meola then made it back to back bombs as he hit a homer to LF giving the Pokes a 4-1 lead going into the Bottom 3rd.
In the Bottom 3rd, Jared Thomas got things going when he hit a liner into RF for a lead off single. After Jalin Flores popped up to 2B, Powell Powell hit a liner into CF, putting two runners on. Max Belyeu then came up big with an RBI single through the left side, making it a 4-2 ballgame. Then with 2 outs, Kimble Schuessler hit a ball to left center where it dropped in, plating both Powell and Thomas to make it a 4-4 ballgame.
In the Top 7th, the Horns went to the bullpen and brough in Chase Lummus. Unfortunately, Lummus did not have great command and gave up a lead off walk, followed by a ground out and single. Lummus left the game with 1 out and runners on 1B and 3B. In came RHP Gage Boehm from the pen, but he was unable to get a slider past Carson Benge, who hit a double down the RF line, plating the runner from 3B and giving the Pokes a 5-4 lead. Boehm battled back though to get a big strikeout of Nolan Schubart and then a ground out to end the top of the frame and limit the damage.
In the Bottom 7th, Jared Thomas once again got things going with a lead off single to the left side. After Flores struck out, Powell hit a double to left field, putting runners on 2B and 3B with just 1 out. Oklahoma State went to the bullpen for a lefty on lefty matchup for Max Belyeu, but on a 3-0 count, Josh Holiday conceded and intentionally walked Belyeu, loading the bases with just 1 out still. The Pokes again went to the bullpen to bring in RHP Robert Cranz, who has been nails for them all season long, with David Pierce countering by removing RHH Casey Borba and inserting LHH Porter Brown. The move paid off as Brown was hit bit a pitch on a 1-2 count, bringing home the runner from 3B to tie the game. Kimble Schuessler followed with a sac fly to RF, allowing Powell to tag and slide in home safely, just ahead of the tag, giving the Horns the lead for the first time in the ball game at 6-5.
In the Bottom 8th, Will Gasparino, who was 0-3 in the game mashed a first pitch fastball inside to LF for a solo shot. 113 off the bat and 403 feet, it was a massive home run as it gave the Horns some much needed insurance, putting them up 7-5.
In the Top 9th, Gage Boehm got the first batter to ground out, but then walked the second batter he faced. Carson Benge then hit a single to RF, putting two runners on and bringing the dangerous Nolan Schubart to the plate. Boehm did not back down though and got a massive strikeout on the 2-2 count with a slider down in the dirt. Boehm then finished the game off with a strikeout of Aidan Meola, giving the Horns their first Friday night win in nearly two months.
BIG MOMENT
The first big moment of the game is when Kimble Schuessler stepped to the plate with 1 out and bases loaded. The ball game had just been tied when pinch hitter Porter Brown had been hit by an inside slider on a 1-2 count. Kimble worked a 1-0 count and then hit a high fastball out to shallow RF. The ball was hit just far enough, allowing Peyton Powell to tag and slide into home plate mere moments before the tag was applied, giving the Horns the 6-5 lead.
In the Top 9th, with the Horns holding a narrow 7-5 lead, Gage Boehm had to face one of the hottest hitters in the nation in Nolan Schubart with 1 out and runners on 1B and 2B. Boehm came up big, getting a strikeout with an 87mph slider down in the dirt.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Co-honors go to Max Belyeu and Gage Boehm.
Belyue went 3-3 with 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, and 1 intentional walk.
Boehm went 2.2 IP, giving up 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 BB, and 4 strikeouts, earning the save.
TAKEAWAYS
Massive massive win for the Horns. The win tonight gives the Horns momentum going into the game two of the series instead of having to fight for their lives, it gives them another win over a Top 25 team, it gives brings them level on record in the Big 12 with Oklahoma State, and it brings their RPI to 50, which is an 8 point improvement.
7 runs on 11 hits is solid every night, especially when your starter gives you 6 quality innings. Combined with the fact that every time Oklahoma State scored, the Horns immediately responded in the bottom half of the frame.
The Horns cannot rest on their laurels of believe that the job is not finished though. They need to come out with the do or die mindset tomorrow as they look to win the series against the Pokes.
NEXT UP
Horns will look to take the series tomorrow at 230pm as they take on Oklahoma State
