No. 1 Texas baseball avoided dropping its second loss of the season in front of a rowdy crowd in San Marcos on Tuesday. The Longhorns took down Texas State in a 9-8 slugfest.
Preseason All-American closer Aaron Nixon has a flair for the dramatics. The sophomore walked the bases loaded in the ninth before closing the door on the Bobcats with a huge strikeout.
BALLGAME!@ANixon42 finishes it with the đź—ˇ and the Horns beat the Bobcats, 9-8, in San Marcos!#HookEm pic.twitter.com/H1O2ZfpeVj
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) March 9, 2022
Texas cruised to a 3-0 lead through the first few innings of the ballgame before Texas State exploded for six runs in the bottom half of the third. Freshman Daylan Pena deposited to grand slam over the left-field wall to cap off the six spot and give the Bobcats all the momentum.
GRAND SLAM @daylan_pena13!!!!#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/zSzl6YnhYL
— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) March 9, 2022
Texas did what all great teams do in the next inning. The Horns responded with a six-spot of their own to regain the lead. Ivan Melendez hit this three-run moonshot to put Texas out in front for good.
THE HISPANIC TITANIC IS AT IT AGAIN!
HIS 3-RUN BOMB PUTS THE HORNS BACK ON TOP, 9-6!#HookEm pic.twitter.com/Q1rrqKYkJj
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) March 9, 2022
Texas received valuable innings from Coy Cobb, Travis Sthele, Luke Harrison and Aaron Nixon out of the bullpen to hold on for the 9-8 victory.
These two teams will meet up again on Wednesday at Disch Falk Field in Austin. Texas RHP Justin Eckhart will get his first start on the mound this season.
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