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FINAL
Texas Longhorns - 6
UCF Knights - 3
Winning Pitcher: Max Grubbs (5-4)
Save: Gage Boehm (6)
Losing Pitcher: Ben Vespi (3-3)
Horns improve to 31-19 on the season and 16-9 in Big 12 play
RECAP
Back to back weekends with a Friday night win. Alrighty then...hard to complain about that!
The Horns went down early as starter Max Grubbs struggled with command of his sinker and ended up giving up a run on a sac fly to RF after a lead off walk and single. Grubbs battled though and was able to get a pair of strikeouts to limit any further damage.
In the Top 2nd, the Horns tied up the game as Kimble Schuessler singled to lead off, followed by a Porter Brown walk. After Rylan Galvan laid down a sac bunt to move the runners over, Will Gasparino hit a ground ball to 1B, preventing the UCF defense from stopping Schuessler from scoring to make it 1-1.
In the Top 4th, the Horns took the lead as Porter Brown got an infield single to lead off, followed by a ground out from Galvan, bringing Will Gasparino to the plate who showed a lot of maturity in his at-bat. Gasparino got a slider that hung up on a 2-2 pitch that he hit out to LF and the UCF defender made a valiant play, but it scraped the edge of his glove, and dropped in for a 2 run home run, giving the Horns a 3-1 lead.
In the Top 6th, Porter Brown again led off with an infield hit, this time to 3B. Brown then stole 2B on a pitch that missed up high, moving into scoring position with no outs. Rylan Galvan would end up hitting a soft grounder on the infield, but reached on a fielding error putting runners on 1B and 3B with no outs. After Will Gasparino struck out, Jack O'Dowd came to the plate and laid down a nice bunt towards 1B, bringing home Porter Brown to make it 4-1.
In the Bottom 7th with Andre Duplantier on the mound, the Knights were able to plate a pair of runs to make it a 4-3 ball game. Kluska led off the inning with a single down the RF line that just fell in fair, followed by a Brait single to CF. The single by Brait was not just any single though as the Horns made a throwing error, allowing Kluska to score from 3B and putting Brait on 2B with no outs. Lex Boedicker then flied out to right CF, allowing Brait to tag and slide in safely to 3B with just one out. UCF's best hitter, Zyska then hit a fly ball to shallow CF, but just deep enough to allow Brait to tag and slide in safely, making it a 4-3 ball game.
In the Bottom 8th, Coach David Pierce turned to RHP Gage Boehm to get the last six outs. After striking out the first batter and getting a ground out for the 2nd out, Boehm uncharacteristically walked three straight batters to load the bases, bringing lead off man Andrew Brait to the plate. On the first pitch thrown by Boehm, Brait hit a fly ball to RF which was caught by Max Belyeu, ending the threat.
In the Top 9th, Will Gasparino led off with a ground out to the short stop. Fellow freshman Dee Kennedy, getting his first at-bat of the evening showed a lot of maturity which he was rewarded with an infield single to 2B. Jared Thomas then swung at the first pitch he saw, a low breaking ball, out to right CF, where the defender over ran the ball, dropping it from his glove, putting runners on 2B and 3B with just 1 out. UCF went to the bullpen, pulling their best reliever (Kyle Kramer), opting instead to go with fellow righty Sosnowski to face Jalin Flores. On a 1-0 count, Jalin Flores roped a liner through the left side for a 2 run RBI single to make it 6-3 Horns.
In the Bottom 9th, Gage Boehm was back on the mound and slammed the door shut by sitting the Knights down in order 1-2-3.
BIG MOMENT
In the Bottom 8th, Coach David Pierce turned to RHP Gage Boehm to get the last six outs.
After striking out the first batter and getting a ground out for the 2nd out, Boehm uncharacteristically walked three straight batters to load the bases, bringing lead off man Andrew Brait to the plate. On the first pitch thrown by Boehm, Brait hit a fly ball to RF which was caught by Max Belyeu, ending the threat.
Big time stuff from the big boy in a BIG moment.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Pitcher - Max Grubbs went 5.2 innings, scattering 7 hits, allowing 1 run, 1 walk, and striking out 5. Quality stuff from the Friday night guy.
Hitter - Will Gasparino continues to be a bit boom or bust, but he came through big tonight, even though the stat line does not suggest it. In the Top 2nd, Gasparino's ground out allowed Schuessler to score, then in the Top 4th, his 2 run home run to LF gave the Horns a two run lead, their first of the game.
TAKEAWAYS
It wasn't the cleanest game, but the Horns played well enough to earn the win and overcome 4 double plays turned by the Knights.
The Horns did have to burn the best two arms out of the bullpen in the first game of the series, but they should both be available for the Sunday finale.
Offensively, it was good to see the bottom of the order produce for the Horns, including Porter Brown going 2-3 on the evening with a walk. If the Horns can get offensive production from Brown this late in the season, that would be massive.
NEXT UP
Horns are back in action tomorrow at 5pm CST as they look for the series win
UPDATE BIG 12 STANDINGS:
- Oklahoma (18-6)
- Oklahoma State (16-9)
- Texas (16-9)
- West Virginia (15-10)
- Cincinnati (15-11)
- Kansas State (13-12)
- Kansas (13-12)
- TCU (13-14)
- UCF (11-13)
- Texas Tech (12-16)
11. Baylor (9-15)
12. Houston (7-17)
13. BYU (6-20)
