Longhorns sweep Baylor, now ranked 7th
by Steve Durham
April 7, 2014
(Austin) - Longhorn RHP Nathan Thornhill threw eight shutout innings to complete a series sweep of Baylor with a 4-0 victory. Thornhill picked up his career-high fifth win and lowered his ERA from 0.88 to 0.73, best in the Big 12. The Longhorns are now ranked 7th by Baseball America.
Baylor's Dillon Newman was also strong on the mound, but it wasn't enough. Newman didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, but that batter ended up scoring the only run he allowed.
After Newman was lifted in the 7th, up 1-0, Texas took advantage of Baylor's bullpen. Gurwitz singled. Ben Johnson bunted for a single. The Bears intentionally walked Mark Payton to load the bases and bring up Tres Barrera. He smacked a high line drive to the gap in right center to score two runs. That's all Texas needed.
Although listed at six feet tall, Nathan Thornhill appears to be the smallest pitcher on the Longhorns starting staff. He thrives on control, not power. Working at 88-89 most of the day, he retired the side in order in the first, second, fifth and eighth innings.
Thornhill uses the defense as much as any other pitcher with 11 fly outs and 8 ground outs and just two strikeouts. The team is fielding at .981 for the season and Mark Payton had the highlight-reel play of the day in the sixth when he charged hard and made a diving grab in shallow center field.
Despite the 4-0 lead, Texas used closer John Curtiss in the ninth. Curtiss has been coming back from Tommy John surgery and worked at 93 mph until his thirteenth pitch, which hit 95. That was encouraging for him and the Longhorns who once used Thornhill as a closer. The return of vintage Curtiss would be a nice boost.
Texas is now 26-7 and 6-3 Big 12 play (winning 11 of their last 12).
The official attendance was 5,597 and the game lasted 2:51.
Next Game: Tuesday vs. (#12) Rice at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. 7PM.