Texas baseball hangs on to avoid sweep against UW

Head coach David Pierce and No. 23 Texas baseball hung on to avoid a series sweep this weekend against the Washington Huskies on March 17. After dropping the series' first two games this weekend, Texas topped Washington in eight innings following a weather delay by a score of 4-3.

Despite a late-inning surge from Washington's offense to cut into the Longhorns' 4-1 lead, Texas was able to hang onto the one-run lead.

Max Grubbs quality start helps No. 23 Texas baseball avoid the weekend series sweep vs. UW

Texas looked good from the outset of this game, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first three innings. Sophomore Max Grubbs gave the Longhorns their best start of the weekend, with just one earned run in six innings of work on the mound.

Grubbs allowed five hits, no walks, and struck out two Washington batters to get his second win of the season in just his second start. His other win came in a relief appearance earlier this season.

After Grubbs exited the game in the seventh inning, the Longhorns did have some trouble with the bullpen. Freshman left-hander Cole Selvig allowed two earned runs in relief of Grubbs in the top of the seventh, chopping down the Texas lead to just one run entering the game's final inning.

Andre Duplantier gave the Longhorns a clutch inning on the mound in the eighth to get his first save of the season. Duplantier didn't allow any runs and just one hit to close out the victory for the Longhorns.

Texas's offense was led by Jared Thomas and Jack O'Dowd, who combined to get on base five times and score two runs. Texas made the most of the four hits they have on the day, and had some smart at-bats to get seven walks off Washington's pitchers.

The narrow one-run win over the Huskies means the Longhorns avoid their first weekend series sweep of the 2024 campaign. Texas moves to 11-8 (2-1 Big 12) after the first three-game series at the Disch to begin this season-long 10-game homestand.

The long homestand for the Longhorns continues on March 19, with Texas hosting the Air Force Falcons for a two-game midweek series at the Disch.

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