AUSTIN, Texas – Duke Ellis hit a two-run ground rule double in the 12th inning to give No. 13 Texas Baseball a 6-5 win over Xavier in the series opener on Friday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The Longhorns (18-11, 3-3 Big 12) and Musketeers went back-and-forth in a wild game that saw seven combined runs scored in extra innings.
Ellis went 2-for-5 with three RBI, with both hits coming in extra innings. Senior left-handed pitcher Brandon Ivey picked up the win, pitching one scoreless inning with a strikeout.
Things were looking promising for Texas through the first seven innings. Bryce Elder started and threw six scoreless innings with six strikeouts. He issued just one walk and allowed only six hits.
Texas opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning. Masen Hibbeler, Lance Ford and Ryan Reynolds started the inning with three-straight singles to get the first run in. After a sacrifice bunt by Tate Shaw moved both runners into scoring position, Ford scored on a wild pitch.
The Longhorns were up 2-0 until Xavier rallied with two in the eighth. eThe Musketeers loaded the bases with one out off of reliever Kolby Kubichek. Cole Quintanilla came out of the bullpen and a hit batter and sacrifice fly drove in the tying runs.
Both Texas and Xavier scored a run in the 10th inning, with Ellis providing a two-out RBI single in the bottom half.
The Musketeers scored two runs in the top of the 12th and appeared to be in position to win the game before the Longhorns’ late-game heroics. Every Longhorn batter that came to the plate in the 12th reached base. Reynolds, Shaw and Caston Peter all singled to get the first run home. Zach Zubia walked to load the bases before Ellis’ walk-off hit.
The Longhorns and Musketeers will continue the series on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
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