Clemens provides the power, Kingham the pitching to lead UT
The dates have changed. As has the venue. The opponents are different, too. One year later, however, the scenario remains the same for Texas’ Longhorns.
Behind Kody Clemens’ homers and Nolan Kingham’s health, Texas stormed to an 8-3 win over Texas A&M in an NCAA regional game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday. With a 2-0 record in its regional, Texas controls its postseason fate. The Longhorns must win one more game in the double-elimination competition to advance to a super regional.
Texas found itself in a similar situation last year at Long Beach State. But after winning its first two games, UT saw its season ended by two straight losses to the host Dirtbags.
“We’re going to try to turn the page pretty quick, focus on tomorrow and not get too high on this one,” senior first baseman Jake McKenzie said. “We want to go get it done with tomorrow night. That’s the message to the team.”
Added Texas coach David Pierce: “They’ve been very reserved and understanding one pitch at a time, playing the inning and just continuing to play. They did that tonight and I expect that again tomorrow.”
Texas was designated the visitor Saturday, but Clemens homered at UFCU Disch-Falk Field for the 14th and 15th times this year. A three-run shot in the first inning gave the season’s second-biggest crowd something to cheer about. His solo shot to lead off the sixth boosted Texas to an 8-1 lead.
With 21 this season, Clemens trails only Kyle Russell’s 28 in UT’s record books. All but one of his home runs have been hit in wins. He is 13-for-27 with four home runs, nine RBIs and eight runs in six games against Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
“He’s a baseball player, he loves the moment,” Texas A&M coach Rob Childress said. “He did a great job for them tonight and certainly the difference in the game.”
While complimentary of Clemens, Childress called Kingham “the story of the night.” A 6-3 righthander, Kingham allowed nine hits and two earned runs. He struck out eight Aggies while allowing one walk over 7⅔ innings. In last year’s postseason, Kingham went 7⅔ innings in a 3-2 win over UCLA.
Kingham had been battling a viral infection throughout this week. He told Pierce on Thursday that he wasn’t sure if he could pitch on Friday, a day on which he usually starts. Pierce had Blair Henley as a backup plan if Kingham faltered against the Aggies, but the sophomore instead was saved to start Sunday night.
Sunday night, Texas played the winner of the afternoon tilt between the Aggies and Indiana. If Texas lost, the regional will be decided today.
Around the bases: Texas improved to 244-126-5 all-time against Texas A&M. UT has won three of four meetings in the NCAA tournament . ... Texas sophomore Ryan Reynolds was hit by his 17th pitch, the second-most in school history . ... UT entered the day tied with Morehead State team for the third-most double plays in the NCAA. The Longhorns recorded their 66th and 67th double plays while the Eagles turned two once in a loss to St. John’s. total production from 45 of their 57 games.
“Thank God for the first inning for us,” Lemonis said. “Sometimes we preach to our guys you can win it in the first inning and we were able to do that today.”
Texas A&M starter Kaylor Chafin faced only seven Hoosiers, and he exited with a 6-0 deficit and one out on the scoreboard. The left-hander was making only his fourth start of the season. (He had a 3.19 ERA over 26 appearances). Chafin had last pitched during Texas A&M’s opener at the SEC tournament on May 22.
Down early, Texas A&M slowly chipped away at Indiana’s lead. The Aggies doubled nine times and outhit Indiana 17-14, and the deficit was narrowed to two runs with one out in the ninth inning. With two teammates aboard, Allonte Wingate then grounded into the Aggies’ fourth double play of the afternoon.
Lloyd, who started the game at first base, pitched the final four outs for the Hoosiers.
“When you’re down 9-0, you’ve got to be perfect,” Texas A&M coach Rob Childress said. “We as were close to perfect as you could be. We weren’t perfect, we were awful close and that’s why we didn’t win the game today.”
One day after losing an 8-3 game to UT, Texas A&M finished its season with a 40-22 record. Childress said he opted to start Chafin because he was an experienced redshirt senior. No seniors, however, appeared in the batting order. Childress conceded an MLB Draft that begins Monday could impact his roster, but freshman outfielder Zach DeLoach was optimistic about the program’s future.
“We feel really confident,” DeLoach said. “We got a lot of freshman experience. I think Coach Childress believed in us this year, just to give us an opportunity. Giving us this opportunity will get us more prepared for next year.”