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Feb. 22, 2013

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AUSTIN, Texas - Head coach Augie Garrido recorded his 700th win during his 17-year tenure at Texas as the NR/No. 24 Texas Longhorns beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 8-2, Friday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. With the victory, Texas improved its all-time record against Nebraska to 29-28. The Longhorns' 4-1 start to the 2013 season is their best since the 2009 campaign.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Parker French (2-0) was credited with the win with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. French allowed eight hits, two runs (both earned) and one walk. Junior pitcher Ty Marlow relieved French for two-thirds of the seventh inning, allowing no hits. Junior right-hander Corey Knebel, credited with his second save of the season, came in to close for Texas at the top of the eighth inning and allowed just one hit in 41 pitches while recording all six outs via strikeout.

Nebraska's four hits in the top of the second inning contributed to an early 2-0 lead over the Longhorns. Senior infielder Josh Scheffert hit a double to left field bringing in sophomore infielder Blake Headley to give the Cornhuskers (0-5) their first run. Sophomore outfielder Austin Darby returned the favor during the next at-bat, bringing home Scheffert with a single to center field for the 2-0 Huskers' lead.

The Longhorns responded in the bottom of the fourth inning with three hits and an RBI. Junior outfielder Mark Payton got on base first with his single down the right field line. Freshman infielder C.J Hinojosa advanced Payton to second base with a single through the left side and then Felts singled up the middle to bring Payton in and cut the Cornhusker lead to 2-1. The RBI by Felts was his first of the season.

Texas claimed a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Junior right-handed pitcher Brandon Pierce walked both junior infielder Erich Weiss and Hinojosa. With Jacob Felts at bat, Weiss and Hinojosa pulled off a double steal. Pierce then walked second baseman Brooks Marlow to set up a bases-loaded situation after Marlow fell behind 0-2 in the count. UT first baseman Codey McElroy, who also fell behind 0-2, came back to drill a full-count single to left to plate Weiss and Hinojosa as Texas assumed its first lead of the evening, 3-2. McElroy finished with a 2-for-3 evening and two RBI.

The Longhorns broke the game open with five runs in the eighth.

The series continues tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Longhorn Network with an audio stream on TexasSports.com. Gametracker live stats will be available on TexasSports.com with live Twitter updates @Texas_Baseball.

Notes: Head coach Augie Garrido earned his 700th win during his 17-year tenure at Texas with the victory over Nebraska...Texas' 4-1 start on the season is its best mark since starting the 2009 season (5-0)...Texas is now 29-28 against Nebraska all-time in baseball...Corey Knebel registered his 30th career save and needs 11 to tie the school career record (41, Huston Street)...the Longhorns have 13 stolen bases this season (2.60 per game) with the school record being 2.66 stolen bases per game in 1982 when the Longhorns set a school record with 173 swipes in 65 games...junior catcher Jacob Felts singled up the middle in the fourth inning for an RBI, his first RBI of the season...sophomore first baseman Codey McElroy, a transfer from Eastern Oklahoma State College, drilled a single through left field in the sixth inning for two RBI - his first RBI as a Longhorn...Augie Garrido needs 42 wins (1,851) to tie Gordon Gillespie for the most wins (1,893) by any college baseball coach at any level.

NU	 020-000-000---2-9-0
TEXAS	 000-102-05x---8-9-0 

WP - French (2-0)   LP - Pierce (0-2)   S - Knebel (2)  

T - 2:55   ATT - 6,004

Pierce, Roeder (6), Hirsch (7), Hoppes (8), King (8) and Lubach.

French, T. Marlow (7), Knebel (8) and Felts. 

Post-Game Quotes

Texas head coach Augie Garrido
On his 700th win at Texas: This sport is the ultimate team sport. Honestly, my comments represent all the players who are the most important component to any kind of winning. I have recognized that it is about them and the assistant coaches, whom work so hard, the faculty, the university. It is about everyone. This game is about teamwork so I do not know what percentage of credit I should take. I do know that I am half way to where (former Texas head coach) Cliff (Gustafson) was. It is meaningful because it affects so many people in so many positive ways.

On the Texas efforts tonight: It was a grind. I am really proud of them. It was a tough night to hit. We stayed with it and finally capitalized. It was the first nine-man rally we have had, where we bat all nine batters in the same inning, which is one of our objectives. We want to do that has often as possible. Tonight they did it, which is a first.

On the defensive adjustments: They were mainly to give two guys that have worked really hard in practice a chance to play and take pressure off two new players who may have the feeling that they have to do well. It was to send the message that we will reward the guys that work hard in practice...give them opportunity to play. If you never reward players that work hard, where is the hope?

Sophomore first baseman Codey McElroy
On the start of his first season at Texas: I have been getting on trying to square the ball, not worrying about what happens or rather when I hit. If I square it up, we call that a quality at-bat, and that is what we want to do, we are not worrying about the outcome. I have been staying with the plan to square the ball up.

On getting his first two RBI: It felt good. I am from Oklahoma so it felt good to get those up here in Texas.

Sophomore pitcher Parker French
On his start: I thought my stuff in the first inning was good, but I kind of got it elevated, which took over the second inning. I got the ball at the belt, they are going to do that, they have been aggressive all night. After that I settled in and started to throw the ball at the knees and changing it up. I got some swing and misses off that.

On his changeup: After the second inning, my slider did not feel great so Jacob (Felts) and me talked about it and that was the pitch we wanted to go with. We used it in some big situations in the fifth and sixth inning against some lefty bats.

On the effect of the cold weather: It does not matter; you have to pitch it in. I had to stay warm in the dugout; our training staff does a good job of keeping us warm. We just have to go out there and compete.