In a Norman edition of the Red River Rivalry, the Longhorns once again bounced back from a Friday loss.
For the seventh week in a row, the Texas Longhorns lost a weekend series opener. For the fifth time, head coach David Pierce’s team won the remaining two games to take the series.
In the interest of mildly changing things up, inclement weather did the work on Saturday, forcing a double header on Saturday as the Oklahoma Sooners were unable to contain the Longhorns in L. Dale Mitchell Park as Texas hit a combined eight home runs in an 8-6 victory and a seven-inning, weather-shortened 12-10 win.
Friday’s game held to the most recent form for the Longhorns with right-hander Max Grubbs starting in a fourth straight losing effort, a stretch during which he struggled in losses to BYU and Houston before suffering a hard-luck defeat against TCU in allowing two runs over 6.1 innings.
In the 9-4 loss to the Sooners, the Longhorns defense completely melted down, committing five errors that led to four unearned runs allowed by Grubbs as Oklahoma took a 4-0 lead, including three errors leading to three runs in the second inning.
With Texas averaging 3.1 runs per game in the seven consecutive losses in weekend series opener, the offense once again failed to impact the game — left-hander Braden Davis scattered seven hits over six innings, allowing a single earned run. By the time the Longhorns scored one run each off of three Sooners relievers, the game was already effectively out of reach after left-hander David Shaw allowed three runs in the seventh inning to make it 8-2.
Center fielder Jared Thomas and shortstop Jalin Flores were both 3-for-5 with Thomas scoring twice and driving in two runs, but didn’t receive enough support behind them as right fielder Max Belyeu went 1-for-5 and designated hitter Kimble Schuessler and right fielder Will Gasparino both stranded four runners. Gasparino struck out three times in the game.
Schuessler and Gasparino responded in the first game of Sunday’s double header by each hitting solo home runs and Flores went 2-for-4 with two RBI doubles as Texas scored three runs in the third inning and three runs in the six inning, ultimately scoring eight runs on seven hits.
Left-hander Chase Lummus picked up the win by allowing one runs on three hits in 3.2 innings in relief of left-hander Ace Whitehead, who only lasted 3.0 innings when he allowed four runs on four hits with three walks. Right-hander Gage Boehm picked up the save by pitching the final 2.1 innings, striking out three while giving up a run on two hits.
Sunday’s second game featured a power surge by Texas, which tied the program record with six home runs for the second time in a week — Belyeu went 4-for-5 with two home runs and third baseman Peyton Powell, first baseman Casey Borba, catcher Rylan Galvan, and Gasparino each hit home runs. Five of the home runs came with a runner on base.
Right-hander Cade O’Hara picked up his first career win with 2.2 innings of relief after right-hander Lebarron Johnson Jr. gave up five runs on nine hits with two walks in 3.0 innings. After Oklahoma cut the lead to 12-10 in the seventh inning by scoring runs against left-hander Luke Harrison and right-hander Heston Tole, right-hander Andre Duplantier secured his third save of the season by recording the final two outs.
With a 13-8 record, Texas is in fourth place in the Big 12 standings, one game back of Oklahoma State and West Virginia. Sam Houston visits UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday before the Longhorns host the Cowboys for an important home weekend series that will presumably get underway in a real manner on Saturday after Texas loses the opener.