The Longhorns (12-17) had a tough night of trying to muster up offense against the Islanders (11-16) on Tuesday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, losing 5-0. Freshman pitcher Nolan Kingham, who started for the Longhorns, lasted just 2/3 of an inning before being replaced by freshman Blake Wellman. Kingham walked the leadoff batter before giving up a 2-run homer over the left field fence by Zacarias Hardy.
Kingham was replaced by freshman Blake Wellmann, who kept the Islanders scoreless for 2 1/3 inning while giving up two hits and striking out three.
Texas rotated a slew of relief pitchers in the mid-late innings in attempt to keep the Islanders’ 2-0 lead within reach. Nick Kennedy and Travis Duke each pitched scoreless innings, while Beau Ridgeway worked the mound in the 6th and 7th innings giving up one hit and no runs.
Sophmore RHP Connor Mayes took the mound in the 8th and retired the Islander batters in order. Mayes returned in the 9th and walked the leadoff batter. He was then dinged for three singles resulting in two additional runs. The Islanders’ led 4-0 and Jon Malmin replaced Mayes on the mound. Malmin got the Longhorns out of the inning, but not before giving up another Corpus Christ run on a single by Zacarias Hardy.
Texas was unable to show signs of life in the 9th inning, which ended with Zane Gurwitz grounding in into a double play.
Longhorns head coach Augie Garrido expressed his frustration with his team’s lack of ability to produce runs against the Islanders.
“We didn’t show up. They jumped out with a two-run home run in the first inning and got the momentum from that. As the game went on we had several opportunities with runners in scoring position and didn’t produce a run. We had the leadoff hitter on and got him to second with one out two successive innings in a row and struck out four times during that stretch. Later on we had the bases loaded after a baserunning mistake that contributed to an out and failed to score. So we put it all together. Don’t take too much away from what they did; the pitcher did pitch well. He certainly kept us off balance. We were very ineffective.â€
Corpus Christi pitcher Aaron Hernandez threw a solid 5 2/3 innings and struck out nine batters, a career high for the freshman.
The Longhorns will face Kansas State in a 3-game series in Manhattan, Kansas beginning Friday.
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