Hook'em Headlines
Fansided

Texas Baseball: First Big 12 win in three weeks thanks to clutch rally

By James Caldwell

May 6, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball on the field prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball on the field prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Texas Baseball won their first Big 12 game in three weeks Friday night against West Virginia.

The Longhorns used a rally in the late innings to take a 6-2 win over the Mountaineers in the first game of their three-game series. Texas now has a 10-11 record in the Big 12.

Texas had not won a conference game since the end of April when they swept Oklahoma State. After the OSU series, Texas was swept at TCU in sickening fashion, took all of last week off, and returned home to start their last conference series of the season.

Starting pitcher Nolan Kingham helped erase that bad taste from the TCU series with seven strong innings.

Kingham had to wait for offensive support, though, as Texas trailed 2-0 in the sixth. But, first-year manager David Pierce played a big role in the comeback with two key meetings. [ Full Box Score ]

Texas Baseball not playing like Themselves

On the Longhorn Network post-game show, Zane Gurwitz noted that David Pierce huddled up the team in the late innings and told them to start playing like themselves.

That talk about having better at-bats immediately paid off. Texas put together a two-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 2-2.

Then, in the top of the seventh, Nolan Kingham started to get frustrated with the home plate umpire’s strike zone. Pierce made a trip to the mound to calm down his Friday night starter. And, it paid off with Kingham getting out of the inning.

Those two meetings set the stage for a big Longhorns rally in the bottom of the seventh.

The home half of the seventh started with Michael Cantu drawing a leadoff walk. David Hamilton then bunted his way on base, setting up Patrick Mathis with a clutch single up the middle to take the lead for the first time.

Texas broke the game open from there to take a 5-2 lead. The Longhorns tacked on another run in the eighth to secure a 6-2 win.

It was also good to see Texas closer Beau Ridgeway find himself again after blowing two late leads against TCU in the Horns’ previous Big 12 series. Texas needs Ridgeway to find his groove again for the Longhorns to get this vital series.

Lookahead to Final Two Games

Texas Baseball is virtually locked into the NCAA Tournament after beating Top 25 RPI team West Virginia. But, Texas really wants to get two more.

Two more wins would put Texas on the top half of the Big 12 standings. That means a better spot in the conference tournament next week. It would also help with seeding in the NCAA Tournament.

To get started, ace junior pitcher Morgan Cooper will make possibly his last home start Saturday afternoon in Austin.

Cooper graduated from the University of Texas on Friday and could be a first round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. But, Cooper has some unfinished business trying to erase his worst start of the season two weeks ago against TCU.

Then, Cooper is focused on leading Texas in the postseason. Nolan Kingham got things started with his eighth win of the season. Now, Cooper will try for a rebound win.

Next: Kacy Clemens Interview - 2017 UT Baseball, CWS, more!

Game 2 of the series against West Virginia has been moved up to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Then, the regular season finale is Sunday also at 1:00.

Home/Texas Baseball