Houston drops pitchers’ duel to No. 20 Texas

TX – Houston’s Robert Gasser went seven solid innings against Texas on Friday, keeping the No. 20 team in the country scoreless as the Cougars sought their biggest win of the young season.

“That’s why he’s pitching for us on Friday nights,” coach Todd Whitting said about Gasser, who lowered his season-ERA to just 0.75. “He’s tough as nails, he pounded the strike zone, fastball had great life, working away from their right-handed hitters. I thought he pitched outstanding.”

But when the Longhorns pulled ahead for good in the top of the eighth, all Gasser could do was watch.

UT loaded up the bases on UH reliever Derrick Cherry thanks to a double from Mike Antico and three straight walks. Trey Faltine, who Gasser had retired to get out of two separate jams, then walked on five pitches, bringing Antico home for a one-run lead.

Texas’ Ty Madden – who went all nine innings and struck out 14 – led the charge from there, allowing a single runner over the last two innings as Houston fell 1-0 at Schroeder Park.

“(Ty Madden’s outing was) about as good an outing as I’ve seen in a long time,” Whitting said. “I was sitting there watching him pitch, and that reminded me a little bit of (Stephen Strasburg). (…) He didn’t give us anything to hit.”

The game quickly became a pitchers’ duel between the southpaw Gasser and the righty Madden.