When No. 2 Texas faces a starting pitcher with an ERA of 8.11 and an 0-7 record, more than likely the Longhorns are going to score some runs. It didn't take long Tuesday against UT-Pan American.
After leadoff hitter Drew Stubbs registered a hit for the 14th consecutive game, Seth Johnston extended his 11-game hitting streak in style with a home run, his sixth of the season, over the left field fence.
That would be all Texas (38-9, 13-7 Big 12) would need, but the Longhorns added a lot more en route to a 12-0 victory over the Broncs (14-37). It was Texas' 10th shutout of the season.
The run barrage reached its height in the third and fourth innings. The Longhorns sent nine men to the plate in each of the two frames and scored a combined nine runs. Six of the runs were batted in by first baseman Chance Wheeless, who upped his RBI total to 31. He doubled with the bases loaded in the third and hit a three-run home run in the fourth, his second homer in as many games and his third of the season.
"I was just seeing the ball well. Their pitchers were throwing in the strike zone, and I was just trying to make contact," Wheeless said. "It's a big confidence booster."
Kenn Kasparek pitched five innings to improve to 4-0 on the season, but credit goes to his defense for keeping the game scoreless. Two double plays in the first three innings bailed the freshman starter out of jams, as he surrendered four hits and walked two batters over that span.
"It was a good team effort all the way around," Texas head coach Augie Garrido said. "Kenny overcame his struggles to battle his way out, and I think it revealed the character the players have. When they got into tough situations, they worked their way out of them."
Freshman reliever Jordan Street entered the game in the fifth for his first action since Baylor tagged him for three runs on three hits on March 19. Street failed to register an out in his last outing, but after giving up a single to the first Bronc he faced, Street retired the next six.
"It was awesome to get back out there," Street said. "I got an opportunity to go out there, and I just wanted to do my best. It was fun."
Six Longhorns registered more than one hit, including designated hitter Will Crouch with a career-high three. Wheeless also had three, while Stubbs, Johnston, Todd Gilfillan and Robby Hudson added two.
Be the first to comment on this article!