ARLINGTON, Texas — Following a 4-3 opening loss on Friday, the Texas Longhorns baseball team delivered stellar performances over the weekend, securing victories on Saturday and Sunday. Those two wins, which totaled 24 runs scored, were enough to crown Texas the Shriners Children’s College Classic Champions at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Saturday’s Victory
On Saturday, Jim Schlossnagle notched his first career win as head coach for the Longhorns, run-ruling Ole Miss in seven innings. LHP Luke Harrison was outstanding, retiring 16 of the first 19 batters he faced in a career-high 6.1 innings. Harrison struck out six and allowed only two hits and one walk in his third career start.
Texas broke the game open in the fourth inning with seven runs on six hits.
Max Belyeu’s RBI single followed by Will Gasparino’s two-run double gave the Longhorns a quick 3-run lead. Catcher Rylan Galvan followed up with a two-run single, increasing Texas’ lead to 5-0. Kimble Schuessler doubled home another run before the Longhorns loaded the bases again. Shortstop Jalin Flores capped the inning with a bases-loaded walk.
In the bottom of the seventh, Max Belyeu continued his offensive surge, connecting for a two-run homer to extend the Longhorns’ lead to 9-0. Second baseman Ethan Mendoza sealed the run-rule win with an RBI single.
Sunday’s Offensive Showcase
Sunday’s game saw the Longhorns’ offense put up an eight-run fifth inning, which sent 13 batters to the plate and propelled them to a 14-8 victory over former Big 12 rival Oklahoma State. The ‘Horns and Pokes were tied at 4-4 and Schlossnagle’s club capitalized on several mistakes by Oklahoma State. The inning was highlighted by a two-run blast courtesy of Longhorns center fielder Will Gasparino, his second of the weekend.
The pitching staff also played a key role, with RHP Drew Rerick picking up the win in relief in his collegiate debut. Both teams utilized a cadre of arms, with a total of 16 pitchers seeing time on the mound.
Up Next
Texas welcomes the Houston Cougars to Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday before hosting Dartmouth in a Friday-Sunday weekend series.
