How sweep it is, Texas finishes off Rice in series finale

The Texas Longhorns completed their opening series sweep of the Rice Owls, thanks to Donny Diaz who closed the door on the comeback.

The Texas Longhorns and Rice Owls met in the final game of their opening series. The Owls were looking to avoid the sweep on opening weekend. Texas hasn’t lost to the Rice Owls since they opened the 2017 season when the two teams split a four-game series.

Coy Cobb was on the mound for the Longhorns and went 4.1 innings, striking out four and allowed six hits. He was pulled in favor of Tristan Stephens who walked one batter but finished the inning unscathed. Texas had to go to the bullpen early, using six pitchers on the day.

Texas built up a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. The Longhorns had a doubles party with Austin Todd, Zach Zubia, D.J. Petrinsky and Trey Faltine all getting into the act. Zubia drove in two for Texas. Petrinksy, Faltine and Brendan Dixon each driving in a run apiece. It would fall on the bullpen to bring it home for the Longhorns.

Kamron Fields came into the game for Stevens and immediately gave up a home run to Rice’s Austin Bulman to close the gap to three runs but he settled down to get out of the inning with no further damage. Fields got into trouble in the seventh allowing two runners. Andre Duplantier came on in relief. He was able to get out of a bases loaded jam when Bulman hit into a fielder’s choice.

In the eight inning it was up to Dawson Merryman to get this game to the ninth inning. Merry walked the first hitter. After a strikeout, the Owls hit into an inning-ending double play. Merryman returned to the mound in the ninth and gave up a two-run homer without recording an out. Donny Diaz came in to record his second save of the season. The Owls left the tying run at first following a strikeout and two pop ups to end the game.