UT Beats A&M, Will Host Super Regional Series in Austin This Weekend

By Chris O'Connell in Blog, Sports on June 3, 2014 at 9:47 am | 19 Comments

When lefty ace Dillon Peters went down with an injury last week, ending his season, the pitching situation looked dire for the Longhorns. Though Texas has some great, young talent, there were questions about who would start once Nathan Thornhill, Parker French, and Lukas Schiraldi had their turns in the NCAA Tournament Houston Regional. Now that the Aggies had forced a third game, with the winner advancing to the next round, coach Augie Garrido would have to get creative with his pitching staff. As of yesterday morning, Garrido still hadn’t named a starter, quipping, “TBA is on the mound right now. He throws with both hands.”

Then came Hollingsworth. The sophomore reliever had never started a game in his college career at Texas before last night. After his two-hit, complete-game win, in which he gave up one (unearned) run, it certainly won’t be his last. The righty worked his way out of multiple jams last night at Reckling Park, fighting through a few early-inning walks and a couple bad breaks.

Hollingsworth was helped greatly by shortstop C.J. Hinojosa, who went 3-for-3 with an RBI and Mark Payton, who walked three times and stole two bases. Once again, the Longhorns had to overcome some defensive woes and base running gaffes, with a pair of errors by 3B Zane Gurwitz and one particularly boneheaded play, when in the bottom of the 2nd, Hinojosa singled sharply to left, tried to stretch it out to a double, and was gunned down by about 20 feet.

A bottom of the 7th rally tacked on two insurance runs for the Longhorns, who, without the overaggressive base running, could have been up by four or five runs by the end of the inning. This just in, hindsight is still 20/20.

Hollingsworth walked the first batter in the top of the 9th, prompting Longhorn fans—and there were many among the Recker Park-record-breaking 6,825 in attendance last night—to beg Garrido to take him out. Hollingsworth induced a groundout by Jace Statum, then battled back from a 3-1 count against red-hot Krey Bratsen for another. With two outs, and nearly 7,000 burnt-orange and maroon fans on their feet, Blake Allemand fouled out to Gurwitz to end the game, ending the Aggies’ season and sending the Longhorns on to the Super Regionals.

Meanwhile, in Baton Rouge, the University of Houston slaughtered LSU, 12-2 to win their Regional. There was much confusion on where the Super Regional would be hosted until the game ended, when it was announced that the Longhorns would host U of H in Austin.

The best-of-3 series will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, with game two the following afternoon at 1 p.m. Game 3 (if needed) is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. Texas is 1-0 against Houston this year.

Stray thoughts:

You want some highlights? Of course you do.
Those who think the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry is over are fooling themselves. This game was hard-fought, and even got a little testy when Brooks Marlow was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the 6th. Pitcher Parker French didn’t like it, and let the Aggies know it from the top of the dugout steps.
Hollingsworth and Payton were named co-regional MVPs, which were both much deserved. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Payton has an OBP of infinity now.
The real goat of the game, at least on social media, was the undecided Longhorn/Aggie hybrid kid. This was one thing both Longhorn and A&M fans could agree on: This kid needs to change his shirt or take off his hat.