The Texas Longhorns gave up three home runs Tuesday but they were able to hit two themselves.
They gave up a grand slam. And they hit one.
They gave up 14 hits. They got 15.
For every large number the University of Texas-San Antonio offense put up Tuesday, the Longhorns matched them.
It was enough. Barely.
The Longhorns came away with a 14-9 victory in front of 4,560 fans at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
“There was a lot of adversity in this game. It’s not always going to be smooth, and it’s never going to be the same game twice,” Texas coach Augie Garrido said.
Texas fell behind early as starter Kyle Walker struggled, giving up four runs in 2 1/3 innings.
The Longhorns came back quickly thanks to Bradley Suttle, whose season would be receiving more attention if it weren’t for Kyle Russell’s home-run barrage.
Suttle turned a three-run deficit into a one-run lead when he lifted an 0-1 pitch over the right-field fence for a grand slam in the third inning.
“I think that’s the first one of my career,” said Suttle, who sparked a seven-run third to give the Horns a 7-4 lead. “I know it’s the first one in college. And I can’t remember if I had one in high school.”
He can’t remember?
“Nope,” Suttle said. “That probably means I didn’t have one.”
But Suttle is having a season to remember, leading the Longhorns (26-9) in batting average (.424) and RBIs (43).
Not to be outdone, Russell belted his 18th home run of the season in the fourth inning, a fly that cleared the left-field fence, putting him two away from tying Jeff Ontiveros’ single-season record of 20.
“Suttle’s the guy who should be getting all the attention,” said Russell, whose homer put the Horns up 9-4. “He’s been doing this all season.”
Suttle’s home run helped Walker, who retired the first five batters he faced, a development Texas pitching coach Skip Johnson called a “step in the right direction.”
It also helped Hunter Harris (2-0), who pitched for the first time since March 6, going three innings and giving up three runs on six hits.
UTSA (17-12) made it a one-run game in the sixth inning, when Michael Rockett cleared the bases with a grand slam off Austin Wood. The ball landed just right of the scoreboard
“Whoever is teaching the hitting over there is doing one heck of a job,” said Garrido, whose Horns have given up 23 runs to the Roadrunners over the past two meetings.
Johnson was positive his staff moved in the right direction Tuesday, including a good inning from right-hander Drew Bishop, who pitched a scoreless ninth in his first appearance as a Longhorn.
