The No. 2 Texas Longhorns extended their winning streak over the Incarnate Word Cardinals to 10 games in a 16-4 run-rule victory in seven innings at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday in an opportunistic performance that took advantage of 11 hits.
In striking out just five times, the Longhorns drew 10 walks, and had six runs score without the benefit of a base hit, notched an unearned run, and flashed some power with home runs by junior second baseman Ethan Mendoza and junior catcher Carson Tinney,
his fourth in the last three games.
Texas scored two runs in the first two innings on wild pitches and two more runs on groundouts, taking a 4-0 lead before junior third baseman Casey Borba doubled with the bases loaded, clearing the bags in the second inning with the help of an error by the UIW left fielder.
In the six-run second inning, the Horns added their final tally on a bunt by junior Ashton Larson, who started his first game at first base for Texas after playing two games at the position for LSU as a freshman.
Texas scored six more runs in the third inning when freshman left fielder Anthony Pack Jr. also cleared the bases with the help of an error, this time on a single and a mistake by the Incarnate Word center fielder. A single by redshirt senior shortstop Temo Becerra and runs scored on a hit by pitch and a walk fully commenced the route.
The final two runs for the Horns came on solo shots by Tinney in the fourth and Mendoza in the sixth.
Tinney finished 2-for-2 with two walks and four runs scored as eight Texas players picked up base hits in the contest.
In center field, the fourth error of the season by junior Aiden Robbins led to two unearned runs for Incarnate Word in the third inning, the final frame for starter Kade Bing, the junior left-hander who earned his first nod this season. Junior right-hander Hudson Hamilton picked up his first win of the season in relief as redshirt junior left-hander Ethan Walker, senior right-hander Max Grubbs, and freshman right-hander Brody Walls closed the game out without much drama.
Texas heads to College Station this weekend for a grudge match that features head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s return to Aggieland with first pitch against No. 18 Texas A&M at 7 p.m. Central on SEC Network.
