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No. 24 Texas baseball takes series from No. 17 Texas Tech in Lubbock
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns claimed Sunday's rubber match against the Texas Tech Red Raiders 9-7 to win the opening series of Big 12 Conference play in Lubbock.
The Longhorns clubbed their way to a 22-8 win in the series opener Friday then lost 7-2 Saturday before picking up the final game.
"We played really well Friday night and had some sort of letdown for whatever reason Saturday," Longhorns head coach David Pierce said. "We truly showed the Texas fight today, though."
Texas outfielder Max Belyeu hit a home run in every game of the series and had a big game Sunday. He went 4 for 5 with a home run and two doubles, driving in three runs and scoring twice. His homer was a solo shot in the fourth inning and he hit a 2-run double in the second.
Belyeu hit .500 in Lubbock, 7 for 14, with three homers and seven RBIs to lift his batting average to .341.
Jared Thomas collected three hits and Peyton Powell had two, including a solo home run in the fifth. Catcher Kimble Schuessler also had two hits for the Longhorns.
For the series, Texas scored 33 runs on 40 hits with a .330 batting average (40 for 121).
On the mound, the bullpen saved the day Sunday for the Longhorns. Gage Boehm ate up the final four innings to earn a save, needing just 47 pitches to retire 15 batters. He struck out three and didn't walk anyone, allowing one run on two hits. Easton Tumis was credited with the win in relief after 1 2/3 innings of holding the Red Raiders scoreless.
"It was ugly early, but we never gave in," Pierce said. "Gage was huge to get four innings from him. He just attacked the strike zone."
Starting pitcher Charlie Hurley lasted just one inning, allowing three runs on four hits including a home run and a double. Tanner Witt relived Hurley and pitched the next two innings, facing 10 batters and allowing three solo home runs.
Texas (9-6, 2-1 Big 12) begins a 10-game homestand Tuesday hosting Incarnate Word at 6:30 p.m. The Longhorns don't have a Big 12 series next week and welcome the Washington Huskies for a 3-game set starting Friday.