Baseball drops season opener to UNLV, 4-3 in 12 innings – TexasSports.com

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2/20/2016 – 2 p.m.

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AUSTIN, Texas—After jumping out to an early lead, No. 23 Texas Baseball fell in its extra-inning season opener to the visiting UNLV Rebels, 4-3, on Friday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

The Longhorns got on the board in the second when designated hitter Michael Cantu laced a one-out double off Rebels righthander D.J. Myers. After a two-out walk put newcomer Kody Clemens on first, sophomore second baseman Jake McKenzie singled up the middle to plate the game’s first run. Tyler Rand, batting in the nine spot, followed with his first collegiate hit, a single that allowed Clemens to score from second.

Sophomore Kyle Johnston started for the Longhorns and went four strong innings on the hill, giving up just one run on three hits. The righthander issued five free passes, one of whom came around to score in the top of the third to cut the Longhorn lead to 2-1.

The Texas offense answered in the bottom half of the frame, however, as Cantu’s bat came up big once again. With Tres Barrera on second after a single and an error, Cantu ripped a single to left, driving in his fellow catcher and putting the Longhorns up 3-1.

Texas cruised into the eighth inning with that lead in tact thanks to two scoreless from from lefty Josh Sawyer and a scoreless seventh by Blake Wellmann.

Wellmann took the mound once again in the eighth, but after a leadoff walk and a fly out, he was replaced by senior Travis Duke who issued a one-out walk to pinch-hitter Austin Anderson. After Duke picked up the second out of the inning, UNLV’s Connor Esmay hit a fly ball to right field that Longhorns outfielder Patrick Mathis couldn’t come up with and the two-out triple knotted the game at 3-3.

Freshman Chase Shugart threw two hitless innings in relief before giving way to Blake Wellmann in the 11th. Wellmann coasted through a 1-2-3 inning but in the 12th, Rebels catcher Andrew Yazdanbaksh hit a solo shot to deep left field, giving UNLV its first lead of the game and the win.

The Longhorns and Rebels return to action Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. contest at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Texas senior southpaw Ty Culbreth is scheduled to start against UNLV righty Kenny Oakley. Before the game, former Longhorns baseball star Drew Stubbs will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.