Tag: david pierce

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.

Ty Madden Shuts Down Rice, Texas Wins Series Against Owls

The Texas Longhorns picked up where they left off on Friday. Ty Madden pitched six scoreless innings and Texas win 4-0.

Texas took the field once again playing in Houston as they faced the Rice Owls for the second game of a three-game series. Ty Madden took the mound looking to keep Rice at bay and did so through six strong innings for the Longhorns. Madden surrendered just four hits in his first outing of the season. He struck out seven.

Pete Hansen made his Longhorns debut pitching two shutout innings, striking out two and gave up one hit. Another freshman pitcher finished out the game with a scoreless ninth inning. Andre Duplantier II struck out one and retired the side with two more flyouts. The Longhorns trio completed a shutout and gave up a total of five hits. The Rice Owls left four on base, the fifth was thrown out trying to steal second.

The Longhorns were able to put four runs across the plate throughout the game. Douglass Hodo III and Brendon Dixon both went yard in this one in the 2nd and 9th innings. Four different Texas players drove in a run with Eric Kennedy’s RBI single in the first and Trey Feltine drove Kennedy home with an RBI single. Texas now 2-0 on the young season. They will go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon.

 

Zubia, Elder lead the way for Texas’ first win of the season

The Texas Longhorns traveled to Houston to take on the Rice Owls. Zach Zubia and Bryce Elder led the way to beat Rice 7-4.

The Texas Longhorns traveled to Houston to take on the Rice Owls in the first of a three game set. The Longhorns started off the year with Zach Zubia getting them on the board first with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first. After falling behind in the second inning. After Austin Todd drove in Murphy Stehly, Zubia came back to the plate with a runner on.

Overall, Zubia drove in four runs on the evening. Newcomer Stehley flirted with hitting for the cycle in his first game after transferring from Orange Coast College.

On the mound Bryce Elder set the tone for the team with six strong innings. He gave up two earned runs on four hits. Elder also struck out six. Cole Quintanilla and Tristan Stevens combined to pitch two innings. Quintanilla gave up one earned run. Donny Diaz came in to close the door in the ninth inning. He finished a perfect 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to give Texas their first win of the year.

Texas Baseball Returns To The Mound

The Texas Longhorns baseball team returns to the mound for the first time in 2020 as they take on the Rice Owls in Houston, Texas.

Baseball is finally back.

The Texas Longhorns baseball team will take the mound against the Rice Owls starting on Friday evening. This marks the third time over the last six seasons that the Texas Longhorns and Rice Owls will meet on opening weekend of the NCAA Baseball season. Texas has owned the series going 6-4 over those three seasons.

Last season the Longhorns finished 7-16 conference record and 27-27 overall. Texas is looking for a stronger showing in their fourth season under David Pierce. Pierce was an assistant coach for Rice from 2003-2011. He helped lead Texas to a Big 12 Championship in his second-year but fell to the bottom in 2019. His overall record at Texas is 108-74 and an even 35-35 in conference play.

TV: Conference USA TV

Radio: 104.9 The Horn/1260 AM

Probable Starters:

  • Friday at 7 p.m.- Junior RHP Bryce Elder (2-4, 2.93 ERA)
  • Saturday at 5 p.m.- Sophomore RHP Ty Madden (4-1, 3.40 ERA)
  • Sunday at 1 p.m.- Sophomore RHP Coy Cobb (1-3, 3.45 ER)

Texas leads the all-time series versus Rice 229-58-2

Texas baseball coach David Pierce mourns close friend in helicopter crash

Texas baseball coach David Pierce lost a dear friend in the tragic helicopter crash yesterday, which also took the lives of eight others.

The tragic helicopter crash amid foggy conditions in Calabasas, California was devastating in a number of ways.

Nine precious lives were taken too soon. Joining NBA legend Kobe Bryant on the flight to watch their daughters basketball game was a dear friend of Texas baseball coach David Pierce.

John Altobelli, a 56-year-old head baseball coach at Orange Coast College, had a close relationship with Pierce. They had been college roommates and remained in contact throughout the years, last spending time with each other earlier this month.

John, his wife Teri, and youngest daughter Alyssa were among the nine deceased. Pierce shared a heartfelt statement earlier this morning regarding the death of his close friend.

Pierce reiterated the impact Altobelli had on the baseball community and how he positively changed the lives of many ballplayers. Altobelli’s daughter Alyssa was best friends and teammates with Kobe and Vanessa Bryant’s daughter Gianni.

Pierce and Altobelli played collegiate baseball together at the University of Houston in 1984 and 1985.