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FINAL
Texas - 13
Houston - 8
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: David Shaw (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Cade Citelli (2-1)
Horns mount late comeback, including putting up 8 runs in the Top 9th inning to take the Sunday series finale and the weekend series. With the win, the Horns improve to 22-15 overall and 9-6 in Big 12 conference play. The series win keeps the Horns near the top of the Big 12 and sets up a massive weekend series against TCU
RECAP
The game got off to a nervy start as Lebarron Johnson Jr was solid in the 1st inning, but had to work out of trouble in the Bottom 2nd, while the Horns went 6 up and 6 down through the first two innings.
In the Top 3rd, the Horns got on the board first as Will Gasparino led off the inning with a double and then came in to score when Rylan Galvan hit a 2 run home run to make it 2-0 Texas.
In the Bottom 3rd, the chickens came home to roost as LBJ got two quick outs and then could not locate, giving up a single, a walk, and then a home run. Houston threatened more, but David Pierce went to Charlie Hurley out of the pen and to prevent any further damage, getting a fielders choice with 2 outs and the bases loaded. Unfortunately, the damage was already done and Houston exited the inning with a 3-2 lead.
In the Top 4th, the Horns went down in order, bringing the confident Cougars back to the plate. Hurley quickly loaded the bases with a HBP and two singles, forcing David Pierce to go to the pen again, this time bringing in Cade O’Hara. Cade immediately gave up a sac fly, putting Houston up 4-2. The next batter then hit an RBI single to make it 5-2 Houston and load the bases back up with just 1 out. Pierce again went to the bullpen to bring in Chase Lummus who got two strikeouts to end the inning and prevent any further damage.
In the Top 5th, the Horns battled to get bases loaded with 2 outs, bringing Peyton Powell to the plate. Unfortunately he struck out swinging, failing to bring in any runs in to keep it 5-2 Houston. The score did not stay that way long though as Houston put up another crooked number in the Bottom of the 5th as Easton Tumis gave up a 1 out 2 run home run to make it 7-2 Houston going into the 6th inning.
In the Top 7th, Rylan Galvan hit a lead off single and then scored as Dee Kennedy hit a 2 out double to left center to make it 7-3 Houston.
In the Top 8th, with two outs, Max Belyeu was able to draw a walk to get a base runner for the Horns, bringing Will Gasparino to the plate. The freshman who continues to gain invaluable experience and come up in big moments for the Horns did so again as he hit a double to right center, scoring Max Belyeu and making it a 7-4 ball game. Gasparino then stole 3B and came home to score on a wild pitch, making it 7-5 Houston. Big time stuff from the freshman!
In the Bottom 8th, the Horns brought in LHP David Shaw to shut down the Cougars and help bring the Horns back to the plate with a chance. Unfortunately, after getting two quick outs, Shaw threw a fastball right over the heart of the plate and freshman Ace Reese pounced, hitting it down the RF line for a solo home run to make it 8-5 and putting a dent into the Horns hopes.
Undeterred, the Horns came to bat in the Top 9th against Cade Citelli, who pitched 4.1 innings on Friday night after the starter went out injured and had been slated to start Saturday. After getting a strikeout against pinch hitter Casey Borba, Jared Thomas came to the plate after battled to get a double to RF. Dee Kennedy then followed up with a single to the left side, reaching base as the Cougars made an errant throw to 3B, allowing Jared Thomas to score, making it 8-6. This brought Peyton Powell to the plate who launched a fastball over the plate over the RF wall to tie the game and make it 8-8.
With the game tied 8-8 and still just 1 out, Jalin Flores stepped to the plate and battled to get a full count, fouling off numerous pitches till he got a hanging breaking ball which he launched to LF for a solo shot, giving the Horns a 9-8 lead. Not finished there, the Horns batted around in the inning, getting a 2 run home run from Max Belyeu and RBI singles from Rylan Galvan and Jared Thomas. When the Top 9th concluded, the Horns had scored 8 runs and held a 13-8 lead.
In the Bottom 9th, Gage Boehm came to the mound and proceeded to sit the Cougars down in order to slam the door shut. Game won. Series Won!
BIG MOMENT
Whew…. Was it Thomas double to get things started in the Top 9th, was it the Powell blast to RF to tie the game, or the Jalin Flores blast to LF to put the Horns ahead.
Let’s go with the Peyton Powell home run. Powell has been in a miserable slump for a the past few weeks, but after breaking out on Saturday night, Powell came through with the big fly to tie up the ball game in the Top of the 9th and breathe new life into the Horns.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
After a few games struggling at the plate, Rylan Galvan showed off why he was such a feared hitter coming out of high school. The sophomore went 4-5 on the day, falling a triple short of hitting for the cycle. On the day, Galvan’s line was 4 hits, 3 runs, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR, and 1 K.
Galvan’s 3rd inning home run put the Horns up 2-0, giving them the early lead, helping Galvan get his day on track. Oh and he did all this after catching a pitch to the throat after LBJ spiked a fastball in the dirt.
TAKEAWAYS
Well damn. The boys came back and did it. They won the game and the series. After looking like they were going to be left for dead and potentially drop back to back Big 12 series against the bottom two teams in the Big 12 standings, the Horns showed that fight and grit and found a way to win the game and series. This team continues to have a multitude of questions, none of which will be answered soon, but the season goes on, so buckle up, grab some cold beers (some days it may need to be something stronger), and enjoy the ride.
For all the faults and noise, the Horns remain in the hunt in the Big 12 with a massive series coming up this weekend against TCU Horn Frogs at home.
NEXT UP
Horns will kick off a 5 game home stand on Tuesday night at 630pm against UT-Rio Grande Valley
BIG 12 STANDINGS
- West Virginia (11-4)
- Oklahoma (11-4)
- Oklahoma State (10-5)
- Texas (9-6)
- Baylor (8-7)
- Texas Tech (9-9)
- Kansas State (7-8)
- Kansas (7-8)
- Cincinnati (7-8)
- UCF (8-10)
- TCU (7-11)
- BYU (6-12)
- Houston (5-13)
