Longhorns rally to defeat Oklahoma State 12-8

The Texas baseball team beat Oklahoma State last night it what was the Longhorns fifth contest against the Cowboys this season and first win.

The Horns won 12-8 with the help of a nine-run eighth inning where Texas earned five hits and drew four walks, including a hit by pitch.

Going into the bottom of the eighth, Texas trailed 3-8 when Travis Jones led off with a double. Bret Boswell walked, and Kody Clemens reached on a fielder’s choice where everyone was safe. With the bases loaded, Jake McKenzie followed with a fielder’s choice of his own, plating the first Texas run of the inning, and Kody Clemens was out at second. Next batter, Zane Gurwitz came to the plate and ripped a double, plating Boswell and cutting the Longhorn deficient to three runs. Tyler Rand grounded out on the next play, but McKenzie was able to score. With Texas down by two and two outs, the offense earned three hits and three walks, including the hit by pitch, to score six runs. Texas took the lead when Boswell, batting for the second time in the inning, hit a two RBI single, scoring Kacy Clemens and Brady Harlan, who pitch ran for Tres Barrera. Following the single, Kody Clemens smashed a triple, plating Texas’ final two runs of the game and put the Horns up 12-8. Beau Ridgeway pitched a perfect ninth inning, facing the minimum number of Cowboys and earned his third win of the season. Everyone Longhorn who recorded a plate appearance reached base safely at least once. Four Longhorns finished the game with two hits: Gurwitz, Barrera, Boswell and Patrick Mathis. Boswell led the way in RBIs with three.

Texas faces TCU today at 12:30pm CT. With the Horned Frogs in the winner’s bracket, the Longhorns must defeat them twice to advance to the championship game.

TCU opened tournament play with Baylor, beating the Bears 12-5 and extending its win streak to six games. The Horned Frogs then used a nine-run eighth inning against Oklahoma to beat the Cowboys 13-5 and stay in the winner’s bracket.

The Longhorns took two out of three from TCU earlier this season, winning the first two games 4-3 and 2-0, respectively, before dropping the final game 5-9.

Texas’ Boswell is on a four game hitting streak after failing to hit safely in his previous 13 plate appearances.