Longhorns blast way to series win over Baylor with 21 runs in two games

Billy Gates
·2 min read

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a series-opening loss in 11 innings on Friday to Baylor, the Texas Longhorns baseball team made sure it didn’t happen again.

The Longhorns capped a 2-1 series win with an 11-1 eight-inning win over the Bears on Sunday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, and sophomore outfielder Max Belyeu had much to do with it.

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AUSTIN, TX – MARCH 23: Texas Longhorns pitcher Ace Whitehead (28) gets a high five from Texas Longhorns catcher Rylan Galvan (6) after closing out another inning during the Big 12 baseball game between the Texas Longhorns and the Baylor Bears on March, 23, 2024, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

All three of his hits sailed over the wall for home runs, driving in six runs. Belyeu hit solo shots in the first and fourth innings but saved his best for last. He launched a grand slam on a 2-2 pitch over the right-field wall. The big swing was part of a 5-run eighth inning that led to the end of the game via 10-run rule. Jack O’Dowd’s RBI groundout plated Ryan Galvan to end the game.

Following Ace Whitehead’s complete-game performance on the mound Saturday, Max Grubbs turned in an impressive outing Sunday for the Longhorns. Grubbs allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts and a walk, needing 97 pitches to get through 26 batters.

Baylor went through five pitchers after starter Mason Green lasted just one inning, allowing five runs on five hits.

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Designated hitter Kimble Schuessler homered for the Longhorns as part of a 5-run first inning. Jared Thomas, Jalin Flores, Porter Brown and Schuessler had two hits each. The Longhorns had 14 hits as a team.

On Saturday, Texas claimed a 10-2 win as Thomas had a monster game with four hits and four RBIs. He belted two home runs, a solo blast in the second and a 2-run shot in the eighth. Will Gasparino hit a 3-run home run in the first to put the Longhorns up 4-0 early on and Belyeu collected three hits.

Whitehead struck out five and walked one in 119 pitches to go the distance, allowing two runs on six hits. Baylor grounded out 13 times against Whitehead.

Texas (15-9, 4-2 Big 12) finishes a 10-game homestand at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. They’ll hit the road for a Big 12 series against Kansas State beginning Thursday.

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