http://collegebaseball360.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Milner.jpegFriday night’s ferocious rain in Austin forced the season opener for both ball teams to be postponed. We took the Bevoball.com party over to the bar at the Westin Hotel at the Domain and talked about how good a double header on Saturday would be. Turns out Longhorn fans had plenty to be happy about.  With Sam Stafford out for the season Nathan Thornhill started game 1 for Texas. Thornhill notched the win 4-0 and pitched well, but it was second baseman Brooks Marlow that stole the show, homering in both the 4th and 5th innings. Marlow was responsible for three of the Longhorns’ four runs while the other came courtesy of a Mark Payton RBI triple in the 6th. Rain forced a slight delay in the 6th inning but play resumed shortly afterward.
Fort Worth Paschal High School product and left-hander Hoby Milner started game two of the double-header. Milner and Texas fell behind 2-0 in the second inning after a series of events which included hitting Will Piwnica-Worms with a pitch followed by a double by Jordan Betts. After a throwing error and a bit more craziness, Texas came to bat in the bottom of the second trailing Duke 2-0.  The Longhorns regained the lead after scoring three runs in the second and held on to beat Duke 5-3. Milner had a few issues early but pitched 5 innings and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits. Parker French relieved Milner in the 6th and pitched 3 scoreless innings before Cory Knebel closed out the game on 11 pitches.
#13 Texas looks to sweep Duke when the Longhorns and Blue Devils meet at Disch-Falk today at noon.