The Texas baseball team got out the brooms on Saturday.
The consensus No. 1 team in college baseball, Texas secured a sweep of No. 9 Auburn at UFCU Disch-Falk Field with a 14-2 win that ended in the seventh inning because of a mercy rule. Texas has won all six of its SEC series this season, and the team has also swept Mississippi State, Missouri and Georgia.
The Longhorns (33-5, 16-2) opened this series against Auburn (27-13, 9-9) with a 3-2 win on Thursday and Friday’s 8-3 victory.
More: Texas baseball midseason grades: As and Bs all around — except for these groups
Next up for Texas is a trip to Texas State on Tuesday. The Longhorns will host rival Texas A&M next weekend.
Texas vs Auburn baseball: Live updates
Final: Texas 14, Auburn 2 (7 innings)
Due to a mercy rule, Saturday’s game ended after Texas scored five times in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kimble Schuessler hit a three-run homer to cap the series and set off a celebration at home plate.
Schuessler finished the game with a career-high eight RBIs. Before Saturday, Schuessler had never driven in more than three runs in a game.
During the seventh inning, Texas hit two homers. Casey Borba also crushed a Hayden Murphy pitch over the fence in left field. That homer scored Jonah Williams, who had reached base with his third single of the day.
Mid 7: Texas 9, Auburn 2
For the first time this series, Auburn didn’t need an Ike Irish homer to score. In the seventh inning, Bub Terrell sprinted home on an Aiden Moffett wild pitch to cut into the Texas lead.
With two outs in the seventh inning, Texas also made a call to the bullpen and Jason Flores called it an afternoon. Over 3 ⅔ innings, Flores allowed two hits, one run and a walk. He struck out three batters.
For Flores, those 3 ⅔ innings matched the season-high outing that he had established against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 4 and matched at Mississippi State on March 16.
End 6: Texas 9, Auburn 1
Through six innings, eight of UT’s nine starters have reached base. Seven of those players have gotten at least one hit, and five Longhorns have recorded a multi-hit game.
Oddly enough, Ethan Mendoza is the only Texas player that Auburn has kept off the bases today. The UT leadoff hitter is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts so far. Mendoza entered today with a team-leading .359 batting average and his 26 walks ranked second among the Longhorns.
Mendoza is due up third in the seventh inning.
Longhorns honor ex-pitcher Corey Knebel
As part of its TraDISCHions series, UT has honored former relief pitcher Corey Knebel throughout today’s game. Knebel threw out the ceremonial first pitch and was recognized ahead of the sixth inning.
Knebel pitched at Texas from 2011-13. Knebel’s 37 career saves rank second in the Texas history books, and only Burt Hooton (.158), Ron Roznovsky (.171) and Huston Street (.172) allowed a lower opponent batting average than Knebel (.175). Knebel’s 19 saves during the 2011 season remain a school record.
After he was selected in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft, Knebel enjoyed an eight-year career in the big leagues.
End 5: Texas 9, Auburn 1
Texas loaded the bases in the fifth inning before Rylan Galvan added to the Longhorns’ lead with a two-run single. On the play, Jonah Williams showcased his speed and scored from second base while beating a throw home from Auburn left fielder Cade Belyeu.
Mid 5: Texas 7, Auburn 1
Auburn threatened to cut into UT’s lead in the fifth inning. Jason Flores, however, struck out Auburn leadoff hitter Eric Snow to leave two runners on base.
End 4: Texas 7, Auburn 1
Both teams were retired in order during the fourth inning. This is the first time today that Texas hasn’t gotten on base.
End 3: Texas 7, Auburn 1
Texas stranded two runners in the third inning, but the bigger question as we head to the fourth inning involves the UT pitchers. Texas has replaced starting pitcher Ruger Riojas, who threw three innings of two-hit baseball. Freshman Jason Flores is now pitching for the Longhorns.
So, what’s the deal? Is Riojas injured? Was he working with a pitch count since he threw a career-high 114 pitches at Kentucky this past Sunday? Is Texas saving him since the future availability for ace Jared Spencer, who left Thursday’s game with a sore arm, is uncertain? Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle will have to answer those questions after the game.
End 2: Texas 7, Auburn 1
Auburn opened the second inning with a new pitcher on the mound, but Ryan Hetzler didn’t fare much better than his predecessor. One inning after he hit a three-run homer, Texas senior Kimble Schuessler doubled home two of his teammates. He has already driven in a career-high five runs today.
Five of UT’s eight hits today have been extra-base hits.
End 1: Texas 5, Auburn 1
Texas wasn’t down for long. Down by one run after the top of the first inning, Texas scored five times in the inning’s bottom half. The biggest swing of the frame came from Kimble Schuessler, who hit a three-run homer. That was the second homer of the week for Schuessler, whose solo blast was the game-winning play in Thursday’s 3-2 win.
On the pitch following Schuessler’s shot, Adrian Rodriguez hit a homer that was upheld by a review.
As Auburn starter Andreas Alvarez threw 35 pitches, Texas finished the inning with five hits. Rylan Galvan doubled in the inning, both Jalin Flores and Jonah Williams singled and Will Gasparino drove in a run with a grounder that Auburn committed an error on. Williams also recorded his second career steal in the inning.
Mid 1: Auburn 1, Texas 0
In news that will surprise nobody, Ike Irish has homered at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. With two outs in the first inning, Irish hammered a pitch from Ruger Riojas off the scoreboard in right field. That was the fourth homer hit by Irish in this series, and he has been responsible for all six of Auburn’s RBIs in Austin.
Texas vs Auburn starting lineups
Texas batting order
- DH Ethan Mendoza
- C Rylan Galvan
- SS Jalin Flores
- CF Will Gasparino
- 1B Kimble Schuessler
- 2B Adrian Rodriguez
- RF Tommy Farmer IV
- LF Jonah Williams
- 3B Casey Borba
Auburn batting order
- 3B Eric Snow
- 2B Chris Rembert
- C Ike Irish
- 1B Cooper McMurray
- RF Bub Terrell
- CF Bristol Carter
- DH Chase Fralick
- LF Cade Belyeu
- SS Deric Fabian
Texas starting pitcher
RHP Ruger Riojas (7-1, 3.35 ERA)
Auburn starting pitcher
RHP Andreas Alvarez (1-0, 6.43 ERA)
What time does Texas baseball play Auburn?
- Time: 12 p.m. CT
- Date: April 19
- Location: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
How to watch Texas baseball vs Auburn
- TV: SEC Network+
- Radio: The Longhorn Radio Network
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