Texas baseball shuts out Kansas 4-0 behind Blair Henley’s stellar performance

Just as the looked liked the season was falling apart, David Pierce and company are regaining their footing to start Big 12 play.

Texas Longhorns baseball (11-9, 2-0 Big 12) shut out the Kansas Jayhawks (12-6, 0-2 Big 12) 4-0 on Saturday behind a fantastic seven inning start by sophomore Blair Henley.

Henley continued his season long trend of bending, but never breaking against the Jayhawks. While the righty allowed five hits, four walks, and two hit by pitches, he was able to strikeout four and never let a Jayhawk cross home. On the day, Kansas left nine runners stranded, compared to Texas’ six.

Perhaps just as exciting as Henley maintaining top form is that Beau Ridgeway showed signs that he could be returning to his former self. The junior stopper finished out the final two innings and allowed only one hit and struck out three to get his first save of the season.

As for the Texas offense, the Longhorns kicked off in exciting fashion with a first inning long bomb from Kody Clemens. The homer was Clemens’ fifth of the year, which is a team high. The son of Roger has enjoyed a breakout year, as he is hitting a team best .368 on the season.

It may not have been in glamorous fashion, but Texas gradually expanded its lead throughout the game through a plethora of ways. Clemens came through again with an RBI single to score Masen Hibbeler in the third. In the sixth, an RBI groundout to the pitcher by Ryan Reynolds scored Clemens, and in the seventh, Duke Ellis notched a sacrifice fly to left field to score Jake McKenzie.

Despite not enjoying the 14 run offensive burst the ‘Horns had on Friday evening, Texas’ seven hits and four runs was more than enough behind stellar pitching. That’s signature Texas baseball, and hopefully a sign that this team is finding its footing.

Texas will try for the sweep in game three against Kansas on Sunday at 1 pm CST. You can catch the game on the Longhorn Network or 104.9 the Horn.