When a team is riding a 7-game losing streak, things don’t come easily – such is baseball. That proved true on Tuesday night, as Wichita State forced Texas to fight for a 6-4 win.
With the streak looming large, Texas scored five runs over the first four innings, striking for a pair of scores in each of the first two frames. Veterans did most of the early damage with Ben Johnson, CJ Hinojosa, Brooks Marlow and Tres Barrera all collecting RBI’s in the first or second inning.
The stars of the night; however, were a pair of freshmen – Joe Baker and Connor Mayes. Baker dazzled defensively, showing tremendous range and a capable arm. The true freshman from McKinney also went 3-4 at the plate with two runs, an RBI, and a walk.
Mayes entered in relief in the top of the sixth inning with the Longhorns clinging to a 5-4 lead and proceeded to throw 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out two Shockers. It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Mayes – he worked out of a bases loaded situation in the top of the eighth frame by getting a crucial flyout and a ground ball to first (where he covered on the play).
Ty Culbreth pitched a clean ninth inning, earning his fourth save of the year. Jake McKenzie, the first arm out of the bullpen, earned his first victory as a Longhorn (1-0), helping Texas improve to 18-15.
POST GAME
Augie Garrido
