Bats come alive in alumni game for Longhorns

In the Longhorns last “scrimmage” before their opener against Rice on February 17, the team’s bats came alive in a game that sported 16 hits. Texas’ White squad came out on top 9-2 against an Orange squad that had the alumni play the first three innings.

Senior outfielder Zane Gurwitz and freshman infielder Ryan Reynolds both had three hits for the White team. Junior right-hander Morgan Cooper and senior left-hander Jon Malmin combined to hurl 5.2 innings, allowing just two runs (both earned) on three hits, while striking out eight batters.

Cooper showed lots of poise on the mound, as he was tasked in his three innings with getting out a lineup that consisted of Drew Stubbs, Ben Johnson (Royals), Erich Weiss (Pirates), Cameron Rupp (Phillies), Tres Barrera (Nationals), Brooks Marlow (Astros), Mark Payton (Yankees) and CJ Hinojosa (Giants). The only blemish on his line tonight was a Stubbs’ home run in the third inning.

The White team jumped out in front early in the bottom of the second inning, after Brew Boswell crushed a solo bomb to right field. They did not stop there, though.

Junior backstop Michael Cantu mashed a double, followed by a single to left field from junior outfielder Travis Jones. Ben Gurwitz and freshman infielder David Hamilton hit back-to-back two-baggers to make it 4-0. Ryan Reynolds finished up the five-run frame with a double to left field, rounding out the score to 5-0 at the end of the second inning.

Texas will open up their 2017 season on February 17 against 23rd-ranked Rice at home at 6:30 p.m. CST.