Going through all nine batters in the first inning, No. 1 Texas baseball completed their second top ten sweep of the year, run-ruling No. 8 Auburn Tigers 14–2 on Saturday afternoon.
Graduate first baseman Kimble Schuessler, having one of his most productive series, arguably had his biggest day on Saturday. Schuessler went 3–5, firing the Longhorns’ first and last home run of the game as he collected a double and a career high eight RBI to close his weekend.
Head coach Jim Schlossnagle had pure admiration for his first baseman after his performance this weekend.
“What a day for Kimble Schuessler, man,” Schlossnagle said. “What a guy, what an incredible leader. Baseball player, competitive athlete. One of the top four or five pure competitors that I’ve ever coached and (I’m) honored to be on his team.”
With the game tied up at 1–1 and two runners on base, Texas had figured out what Auburn pitcher Andres Alverez was dishing out at the plate. Continuing his parade in the box, Schuessler found the right pitch, rifling the ball out of the park for a three-run home run to put Texas up 4–1.
It did not take long for Texas to further its lead over Alverez and the Tigers. Just after the massive three-RBI home run, freshman infielder Adrian Rodriguez, on the next pitch, got in on the action, shooting his own home run out to center field.
Sophomore outfielder Will Gasparino shot a shallow line drive along the left field line for a double as he advanced junior shortstop Jalin Flores into scoring position. Imitating Gasparino on the next at bat, Schuessler found the same spot for his own double-tacking on another two RBI to his name.
“(Rylan) Galvan kind of acts in the box, kind of dances around,” Schuessler said. “I’ve been trying to incorporate that into my game. Just have a little bit more swag out there and I think I kind of got into that this weekend.”
The same way that the Longhorns opened the afternoon, they closed the game in the same fashion, putting five more runs on the board.
The two-sport freshman sensation outfielder Jonah Williams fired his third hit of the afternoon just two pitches later, and sophomore infielder Casey Borba shot the game’s third home run, etching his team closer to the run rule.
It seemed that Longhorns were on fire and nothing that Auburn could throw at their opposition could do the trick. Swapping out for their sixth pitcher of the game, proved not to help the Tigers’ cause – with two runners on base, Schuessler came up to the plate one last time.
Schuessler did not need another pitch, capitalizing on Auburn sophomore pitcher Jett Johnston’s first throw, the veteran infielder rocketed his second home run of the game, walking off the Tigers to seal Texas’ fourth series sweep of the season.
“(Schlossnagle) does something cool,” Schuessler said. “He gives us a lineup card, I guess the MVP of the day. I got one on Friday night and this is my second one tonight, so I’ll definitely be hanging it up in my room.”
Texas will hit the road for a mid-week showdown with the Texas State Bobcats Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Bobcat Ballpark in San Marcos, Texas.
