The bats were on full display after rain put a hold on the series between Texas and South Carolina. The two offenses combined for 14 runs on 25 hits in a windy day at the ballpark, but three home runs gave Texas the 9-5 victory.
Ivan Melendez got the party started in the first inning as he drilled a two-run home run off the centerfield batter’s eye. It would not be the last time Melendez would strike in this game.
HALFWAY UP THE BATTER’S EYE.
THE TITANIC WITH ANOTHER BLAST!
Texas leads, 2-0, in the 1st!#HookEm 🚢 pic.twitter.com/O1iDKGqCwI
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) March 12, 2022
Texas ace Pete Hansen did not have his best stuff today. The Gamecocks scratched five runs on nine hits against the lefty but Hansen battled through six innings, picking up the win.
The turning point in the game took place in the top of the fifth inning. South Carolina retired the first two Texas hitters before the Horns exploded for four straight hits, taking a 7-4 lead. Trey Falitne blasted an opposite-field home run over the right-field wall.
THAT’S THE TREY WAY!@TFaltine SENDS ONE AND IT’S 7-4 TEXAS!#HookEm pic.twitter.com/SgLBfE16Hf
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) March 12, 2022
After his two-run bomb in the first inning, Ivan Melendez gave the Horns some breathing room with a monster home run into the Texas bullpen. The Titanic added an emphatic bat flip for good measure.
THAT BALL HAD A FAMILY!
TWO TANKS FOR THE HISPANIC TITANIC! TEXAS LEADS, 9-5!#HookEm | @ivanmelendez17_ pic.twitter.com/0LuDqfJDRU
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) March 12, 2022
Travis Sthele and Jared Southard threw three shutout innings in relief to take game one of the series.
Texas and South Carolina will play a rare Sunday doubleheader to finish up the three-game set.