Texas baseball blown out yet again in second loss to Oklahoma State

This three-game weekend series for No. 10 Texas baseball and head coach David Pierce is not off to the start that was planned against the No. 8 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys. Despite Texas carrying a good amount of momentum into this weekend series against the Pokes, the first two games were tough for this team.

In the series opener against Oklahoma State on April 29, the Longhorns went back and forth in a perseverant effort that would ultimately fall short in the end. Texas lost to Oklahoma State on April 29 by the narrow final score of 8-6.

But the second game in this three-game weekend series wasn’t really close at any point. Oklahoma State took control of this game almost from the very start en route to a dominant 14-3 run.

Texas didn’t even score a run until the bottom of the eighth inning in this game on April 30. Pierce and the Longhorns did finally get on the board with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. But the game was too far gone at that point.

Pete Hansen and Tristan Stevens both struggle for Texas baseball against Oklahoma State

Both the offense and pitching let Texas down in this one. Oklahoma State put up 14 runs on 11 hits, which was helped by the six walks the Longhorns allowed. All 14 of these runs for the Longhorns’ pitching staff were earned. And six of those earned runs went to the starting pitcher Tristan Stevens.

Stevens continued to struggle to find his footing on the mound in this game. This result for Stevens makes it four losses in his last five starts. He’s also allowed at least four earned runs in each of his last four starts, and in five of his last six.

Texas’ ace and redshirt sophomore left-hander Pete Hansen didn’t fare any better than Stevens in his start on April 29. Hansen gave up a whopping six earned runs in seven innings on the mound as his inconsistencies continued this weekend.

This is not a good sign for Texas as the struggles of late from Stevens and Hansen are a microcosm of the way this season has gone so far for the men in burnt orange.

Texas needs their top two starting pitchers in Hansen and Stevens to perform much better than they have of late. Or else, Texas will be staring postseason disappointment right in the face before too long.

Following this bad 11-run loss to Oklahoma State on April 30, the Longhorns are now sitting on a record of 31-15 (9-8 Big 12). Texas will try to avoid the sweep at the hands of the Pokes at home at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on May 1.