Texas Baseball: 2 studs, 1 dud from 5-2 win over Indiana

Texas baseball was able to clinch its first series victory of the season on Saturday with a 5-2 win over the Indiana Hoosiers. After opening the season with three losses at the State Farm College Baseball Showdown, the Horns have won three in a row to improve their record to 3-3.

On Saturday, the story was once again pitching, defense, and timely hitting for Texas baseball.

Starter Zane Morehouse gave the Horns five inning of one-run ball as three relievers combined to get the final 12 outs while also giving up just one run. Two bases-loaded double plays proved crucial as Texas was able to keep Indiana at arm’s length all afternoon.

Let’s take a look at two standouts from the Longhorns’ win, as well as one underperformer.

Two studs, one dud from Texas baseball’s 5-2 Saturday win over Indiana

Stud No.1: Zane Morehouse, SP

After an outing to forget last Saturday against Missouri, right-hander Zane Morehouse bounced back with a series-clinching win over the Indiana Hoosiers. Morehouse went five innings, allowing just two walks, one hit, and one run while striking out four.

What stood out to me on Saturday was his efficiency. Morehouse was taken out after five strong innings and just 66 pitches. As the season progresses and Coach Pierce gives his starters a longer leash, Morehouse is a guy who can work deep into ballgames.

If Morehouse can become the bonafide No. 2 starter for the Horns, that would save David Pierce a lot of headaches and significantly raise the ceiling of this Texas ballclub.

Stud No. 2: Garret Guillemette

USC transfer Garret Guillemette continues to impress with his bat in the middle of the Texas lineup. Guillemette was given the day off behind the plate but still slotted in his No. 4 spot in the lineup as the DH for the Horns.

Guillemette finished his day 2-3 at the plate with a double, RBI, and a walk. He continues to put quality at-bats together as he is now hitting .313 with four extra-base hits on the young season.

With all the attrition the Longhorns suffered in the offseason, including the departure of three-year starting catcher Silas Ardion, there were a lot of questions about who would emerge as the backstop of this team. Guillemette seems to be the guy.

The Yorba Linda, California native uses the whole field at the plate. He will be rewarded by this approach in a ballpark such as the Disch. Guillemette does not have overwhelming power, but he is a guy who puts together four quality at-bats every game.

Dud No. 1: Andre Duplantier

Junior right-hander Andre Duplantier did not have his strongest stuff out of the pen on Saturday afternoon. Duplantier faced four batters, issued three walks, and recorded just one out during his relief appearance.

Duplantier made his third appearance of the season on Saturday, replacing starter Zane Morehouse to start the top of the sixth. He gave up a walk, a fly-out to the left-center field wall, and two more walks before being pulled after 20 pitches. David Shaw replaced Duplantier and limited his line to only one earned run, but this was an appearance to forget for the right-hander from Humble (TX).

Duplantier has always been praised for his live arm but has dealt with command issues in the past. He had not issued a walk through three innings to start the season. On Saturday, things unraveled quickly as his fastball command was near nonexistent. I do believe this is just a blip in the radar. Expect Duplantier to be a consistent force out of the Longhorn pen all season long.