The brooms are out

The atmosphere was a little more laid back Sunday afternoon for the regular season finale at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. With the series win and regular season Big 12 Championship already decided, the No. 5 Texas Longhorns (42-14, 21-6) completed the series sweep of the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies with an emphatic final score of 9-1.

Starting pitcher Austin Wood lasted eight full innings and retired the first 13 Aggie batters he faced. Pat McCrory made short work of the ninth inning, forcing a lineout and two strikeouts to close out a very successful game, series and regular season.

After two hard fought wins, the Horns exploded for six runs in the fourth frame to begin the blowout. Chance Wheeless led off the inning with a single to left field, advanced to third on a Bradley Suttle double and scored on a Russell Moldenhauer RBI sacrifice fly. Preston Clark launched a 2-RBI home run over the left field wall, scoring Suttle to stake the lead at 3-0. Nick Peoples was hit by a pitch and Travis Tucker walked to place runners at first and second base with Jordan Danks stepping up to the plate. Danks homered to right field, scoring Peoples, Tucker and himself to extend the lead to six runs.

Texas would tack on three more runs in the sixth inning. Chais Fuller scored on a wild pitch after his own single up the middle, a Nick Peoples fly out and a Travis Tucker double put him on third base. Consecutive walks by pitchers Matt Ueckert and Kyle Thebeau helped load the bases. Bradley Suttle's two-out two-RBI single down the right field line scored Jordan Danks and Tucker, pushing the lead to 9-0 and beginning the early exits of many happy Longhorn fans.

The Aggies refused to concede defeat, using five pitchers and avoiding the shutout with one run in the eighth inning. Brian Ruggiano his a leadoff single, advanced to second base on a Parker Dalton single and reached third on a Brandon Hicks fly out. A wild pitch by a tiring Austin Wood allowed Ruggiano to cross home plate.

KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME

The Horns squandered a scoring opportunity in the third inning with the bases loaded and only one out. Kyle Russell's fly out and Chais Fuller's failed attempt to run home ended the threat with no runs. Chance Wheeless's leadoff single in the bottom of the next frame did more than begin the offensive onslaught in the final warm-up for the Big 12 Tournament. The senior's shot sent a message to the rest of the conference and the country that this Texas team takes every game seriously.

BATTLE ON THE HILL

Winning Pitcher - Austin Wood (-), Texas

Losing Pitcher - Player (-), Team

Save - Player (-), Team

Austin Wood - eight innings, five hits, one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts

For Texas fans at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, one can never get enough of the Jackson Five's "ABC." The more the song is played, the better the pitching staff is performing. Through the first four innings, Austin Wood's job was easy as one-two-three. Head coach Augie Garrido let his starter pitch through his struggles in the later innings, providing Wood with valuable experience heading into postseason play.

Pat McCrory - one inning, two strikeouts, no hits, runs o walks

BREAKING DOWN THE BATTER'S BOX

Star of the Game - Travis Tucker finished the game 2-2, including a double, with two runs, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a stolen base. Jordan Danks batted 1-3, including a home run, with a three RBI's, two runs and two walks. Bradley Suttle hit 2-4, including a double, with two RBI's, a run and a walk.

Frustrating day at the Office - Kyle Russell failed to record a hit in five at bats. The superhuman sophomore was very mortal with two strikeouts and zero walks.