No. 13 Texas completes series sweep of Xavier in walk-off fashion with 6-5 victory

The No. 13 Texas Longhorns picked up a much-needed series sweep after defeating the Xavier Musketeers on Sunday afternoon, 6-5. With the win, the Longhorns improve to 20-11 overall.

The sweep should provide a much-needed confidence boost for this Texas club who is set to host long-time rival Texas A&M on Tuesday night.

Texas jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Xavier SP Conor Grammes struggled to find the strike zone, issuing five free passes in the inning. Two of which came with the bases loaded.

Starting pitcher Coy Cobb struggled briefly in the top of the third inning after hitting the leadoff batter, who eventually came across to score after stealing second base and advancing and scoring on a pair of ground outs.

With an opportunity to end the inning, Cobb instead issued a two-out walk followed by a base hit. The two-out threat would go no further as Cobb worked a strikeout for the final out of the inning.

The score remained 3-1 Texas up until the top of the sixth when a couple of defensive miscues allowed two Musketeers to reach base. One run crossed on a ground out before Cobb worked yet another inning-ending strikeout.

In the seventh, Texas added an insurance run after Austin Todd led off the inning with a picture perfect bunt base hit. Todd eventually reached third after a ground out and bloop base hit coming off the bat of Ryan Reynolds.

Second basemen Lance Ford followed with an RBI single up the middle to put Texas up, 4-2.

Cobb’s day was done after seven complete after David Pierce went to fellow freshman Mason Bryant to start the eighth.

Coy Cobb - 7 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 R (1 earned), 8 SO (career high), 106 pitches

Unfortunately, that’s where things quickly turned ugly as Texas’ bullpen woes continued.

Bryant issued back-to-back walks to begin the inning and Pierce quickly turned to Tristan Stevens, who was tasked with limiting the damage, leading to a sacrifice bunt followed by a sacrifice fly that allowed Xavier to pull within one, 4-3. One intentional walk and base hit later and the score was tied, 4-4.

With Xavier taking a 5-4 lead in the ninth, it appeared the sweep was out of reach.

But, these are the 2019 Texas Longhorns.

Of course it wasn’t.

Despite two quick outs, Texas still had some magic left as Lance Ford singled to give the Longhorns some life.

Michael McCann, who entered the game for the injured Caston Peter, worked a walk and all of the sudden the winning run was on base.

How many times have we heard this story this season?

Refusing to lose, Tate Shaw calmly took his place in the batters box and delivered with a game-ending, two-RBI double to the wall in left-centerfield.

Mission accomplished. Sweep complete.

Time after time, this team continues to prove the game isn’t over till it’s over.

The Longhorns return to action on Tuesday as they are set to battle No. 10 Texas A&M in Austin at 6:30 P.M. CT.