FINAL:
UC Davis Aggies (0-2) – 4
Texas Longhorns (2-0) – 6
Scorecard
Winning Pitcher: Luke Harrison (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Tyler Wood (0-1)
Save: Hudson Hamilton (1)
Game Recap
On a damp night in Austin, after two game time changes, the Longhorns took the field under the light looking for a series win over the Aggies of UC Davis. After a troublesome start which saw the Horns pitching staff once again fall behind early and struggle offensively to get going, the Horns busted out with a four run 5th inning to take the lead, one they would not give back.
Graduate LHP Luke Harrison got the start for the Horns and despite hitting the first batter he faced, walking the next and giving up a pair of runs, the crafty lefty from Houston dialed in and ended with a very Harrison like outing, eating up innings and keeping the opposing team off the board, giving the offense time to get into the game.
The pitching staff as a whole did walk six batters which is certainly not ideal as the majority of the runs scored by UC Davis were a direct causation of walks. On the positive side, the pitching staff struck out 14 batters and gave up just 7 hits on the night, throwing 60% strikes. Fans should remember that it is still early in the season and the pitchers are still working their way into form.
Offensively, the Horns had multiple chances throughout the early part of the game, but they were just not able to string together the hits to take advantage, highlighted by a lead off double by CF Aiden Robbins that saw him reach third base with no outs due to a fielding error by the UC Davis outfielder. Overall, the Horns only had 8 hits on the evening, but they scored 6 runs on those hits and earned the win, so that is what matters most. Hitting is going to fluctuate throughout the season and there will be plenty of ebbs and flows, but one thing this team has shown so far is a much greater patience and eye at the plate as compared to last years team. That is evidenced by earning 9 walks against 8 strikeouts. Prior to the season, if you would have told me that Catcher Carson Tinney would have walked 6 times and yet to have a hit through two games, I would have said no chance, but that is where we are. At the same time, if you would have told me freshman RF Anthony Pack Jr would have a .667 batting average, I would have also said no chance. All that to say is, it is a long season that will hopefully go till late June, and one should not judge the offensive capabilities by one outing.
Overall, there are going to be nights where you have to grind out wins and this is one of those nights. It is baseball and nothing is given for free and nothing is easy.
Offensive Performers
2B Ethan Mendoza (3-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 K)
CF Aiden Robbins (2-3, 1 run, 1 double, 1 BB, 1 SB)
Pitching Performance
LHP Luke Harrison (5.1 IP, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts, 90 pitches / 56 strikes)
Key Moments
5th inning – Anthony Pack Jr earned a 1 out walk and then on an 0-1 count, Ethan Mendoza hammered a home run (417 feet) to straight away CF for a two run home run to tie the game. Not finished, Adrian Rodriguez then hit a double to CF, followed by a single through the left side by Aiden Robbins. Carson Tinney followed that by earning a walk, forcing UC Davis to go to the pen. Casey Borba hit a rocket to straight away CF, but it died in the damp air and was caught, but that sac fly gave the Horns their first lead of the game at 3-2. The Horns then extended the lead as a double steal initiated by Carson Tinney which saw Aiden Robbins steal home to put the Horns up 4-2.
6th inning – Temo Becerra got the inning started by drawing a walk (see a trend), followed by a oppo liner down the LF line by Ashton Larson to put the Horns up 5-2. Anthony Pack then followed up with a double to right CF, forcing UC Davis to go to the bullpen again. After advancing to 3B on a wild pitch, Pack came in to score on an Ethan Mendoza RBI single up the middle to give the Horns a 6-2 lead.
Next Up
The Longhorns (2-0) will go for a series sweep over the Aggies of UC Davis (0-2) tomorrow at Noon.
