Texas Baseball: Longhorns start 2020 on a roll by sweeping Rice

Another big win for the Texas baseball program occurred on Feb. 16, as they completed the series sweep of the Rice Owls on the road.

About as good as it gets for head coach David Pierce and the Texas baseball program to start out the 2020 regular season came with the weekend series sweep of the Rice Owls. Texas completed the sweep of Rice thanks to a close 5-4 victory on Feb. 16.

The Texas Longhorns baseball program held off the in-state foe Rice in the ninth inning, despite the Owls scoring two runs. Texas entered the ninth inning with a 5-4 lead, but Rice pulled back within one run before the bullpen was able to officially close it out. The Longhorns really rode a big fifth and sixth inning for the offense to this win. Texas scored three of their five runs in those two innings.

This win went to redshirt junior pitcher Tristan Stevens, and Donny Diaz got his second save of the young season. Coy Cobb started the game, and went for 4.1 innings with one earned run and four strikeouts. Cobb got to toss 63 pitches total.

The Texas bats were sparked by Zach Zubia and DJ Petrinsky once again. They combined for three runs batted in and three doubles. Austin Todd and Duke Ellis also combined for four hits and two runs. Texas got the exact performance that was needed at the right time from the bats.

For the other two wins of the weekend over Rice, Texas outscored the Owls by a margin of seven-runs. The third win came by a lot more of a narrow margin. Rice is a quality opponent to start the regular season with, and notching a weekend series sweep provides confidence for this team that is looking to bounce back from a down 2019 campaign.

Up next for the 3-0 Longhorns will be a matchup at home at Disch-Falk Field against the UTSA Roadrunners on Feb. 18. Texas gets UTSA and the Lamar Cardinals in one game series this week before hosting the Boise State Broncos from the Mountain West for a weekend series at the Disch.