Pitching stabilizes for No. 2 Texas in 5-0 win over No. 5 Auburn

For the second straight week, the No. 2 Texas Longhorns bounced back from a blown lead in the ninth inning on Friday to secure a series victory, this time on the road against the No. 5 Auburn Tigers thanks to a 5-0 win on Sunday at Plainsman Park that saw Max Weiner’s pitching staff remain on control enough to deliver a resounding shutout.

It was far from perfect, as five Longhorns pitchers combined to walk seven batters, resulting in constant traffic on the base paths as the Tigers left 12 runners stranded, went 1-for-15 with runners on base (. 067), and hitless in nine at bats with runners in scoring position. The command issues started with starter Dylan Volantis — the sophomore left-hander walked four batters in four innings to elevate his pitch count with the help of three hits allowed, but managed not to allow a run in his 94-pitch outing that forced a long day for the Texas bullpen.

Volantis threw 53 strikes and 41 balls. Freshman right-hander Sam Cozart delivered some needed length from the bullpen, pitching 2. 2 innings despite walking two batters and committing a throwing error that necessitated fellow freshman right-hander Brett Crossland to finish the seventh inning with runners on first and second, a tasked accomplished by inducing a groundout to second base.

Crossland pitched a perfect eighth before getting into his own trouble in the ninth thanks to a leadoff double, but bounced back to strike out the next batter before senior right-hander Max Grubbs recorded the final two outs to win the series. Several good plays in the field helped the pitching staff as the Horns played the type of elite defense that head coach Jim Schlossnagle expects from his teams. At the plate, Texas also struggled to take advantage of opportunities afforded by the Auburn pitching staff, recording nine hits and drawing eight walks, but also striking out nine times and leaving 11 runners on base.