The Horns committed five errors, walked 12 Cowboys batters, and hit two more as the Texas relievers lost multiple leads. Coming into this series with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, it had that feel of the most important series of the season. One that could dictate how the rest of the season unfolds for the reeling Texas Longhorns. Instead of walking into Stillwater and making a statement at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, Texas ultimately looked like a group full of disinterested baseball players. Yeah I get it, the Cowboys are a great squad and this was a tough road series. Make any excuse you want, but if Texas considers itself a postseason contender, this was a must-win series. After two blowouts, the Horns were more competitive on Sunday, but their effort was all for not after the Texas bullpen failed yet again to hold a lead in the 11-10 walk-off loss. Head coach David Pierce shook things up today, as he said he would following the series loss to Kansas State last weekend, starting freshman right-hander Ty Madden, and sending fellow freshman right-hander Coy Cobb to the bullpen. Madden pitched just two full innings, allowing one hit, a pair of walks, and just one unearned run before Pierce made the move to sophomore right-hander Kamron Fields, who has three saves this season. Through six complete, the Longhorns secured a 5-3 lead. However, the game was far from over with just three innings left because the bullpen arms for Texas once again failed to hold a lead for the Longhorns. In the series, Pierce’s team simply allowed too many big innings by the home team. On Sunday, it was more of the same as the Cowboys answered with a 30-minute home half of the sixth, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring six to take a 9-5 lead. Despite the big inning and blown lead, Texas refused to go quietly. As they shouldn’t. Texas responded with a rally of their own in the seventh inning, plating three runs to even the score at nine. The big knock came off the bat of senior first baseman Tate Shaw, who sent a two-run home run over the right-field fence to pull the Longhorns within 9-7 and definitely set the tone for inning. SEE YA, BALL! @tatershaw22 goes yard to pull the Horns within two! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/6xsw3oews6— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) April 20, 2019 Texas had a great opportunity to score the go-ahead run in the eighth after sophomore third baseman Ryan Reynolds worked a two-out walk, who then went first to third on a Shaw base hit to shallow left center field. The door slammed shut on the rally attempt as freshman second baseman Lance Ford was caught looking at strike three to end the top half of the inning. Luckily, Texas had one more rally left in the tank. In the ninth, Texas ironman Michael McCann, the senior catcher who has taken such a beating this season, led things off with a single but was forced out on a fielders choice off the bat of junior center fielder Duke Ellis. The two players switching positions on first played out to as a key moment in the game. Freshman left fielder Eric Kennedy then singled, allowing Ellis to utilize his speed going first to third. Junior right fielder Austin Todd followed by sending a shallow fly ball to right field, and honestly off the bat, I didn’t think that it would be deep enough to score Ellis. Pierce took a chance in his fourth game as the third-base coach, sending Ellis against the strong-armed Cowboys outfielder. Ellis tagged and slid in safely after right fielder Cade Cabbiness airmailed his throw to the backstop. Longhorns led 10-9 with a chance to close it out. Unfortunately, Fields wasn’t available after throwing 56 pitches earlier in the game. So the bottom of the ninth was “closer by committee” for the Horns as Tristan Stevens, Matt Whelan, Donny Diaz, and Mason Bryant were all tasked with closing out the ninth. On par with the 2019 Texas bullpen, things got interesting — no such thing as a routine inning for this ‘pen recently. With just one away, Oklahoma State loaded the bases after Diaz issued back-to-back walks, forcing Pierce to turn to yet another reliever. After what should have been strike three on an egregious missed call by the home plate umpire, Bryant sent the very next pitch to the backstop, allowing the Cowboys to tie the game. Bryant lost his man and ended up walking Simpson with first base open to again load the bases. The Cowboys walked it off the very next batter after Andrew Navigato sent a fly ball over the head of Ellis, plating the winning run. 11-10. Swept. This game was a must win, and to lose in that fashion is a gut punch. A gut punch this team might not recover from, especially given all the mistakes — five errors, 12 walks allowed, and two Cowboys batters hit by Longhorns pitchers. Texas will look to bounce back on Tuesday as Texas will make the short drive to San Marcos to take on Texas State. First pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. Central.

After a strong showing in San Diego, Texas built upon its momentum against some of the best collegiate rowing teams in the country. The fourth-ranked Longhorns traveled to Princeton to face Princeton and Yale, ranked seventh and ninth, respectively, in the Eisenberg Cup on Saturday. Originally scheduled for a 7 a.m. start, race times were delayed due to weather concerns. Texas head coach Dave O’Neill discussed how the weather affected race conditions, especially in the early varsity eight race, where the Longhorns finished behind both Princeton and Yale. "The tailwind and rough water presented an added challenge, but it was nothing that our first eight couldn't handle," O'Neill said. "Basically, the tailwind rewards the crew that rows the better rhythm and stays relaxed, and both Princeton and Yale proved that this morning.” Texas’ other boats ended up overcoming the obstacles. In the second varsity eight race, despite Yale leading in the first 1000 meters, the Longhorns took over in the final stretch, crossing the finish line at 6:15.50 and around five seconds ahead of the competition. The success continued for Texas with the first varsity four, which passed Yale late in the home stretch to finish at 7:04.30. O’Neill complemented the rowers on their resilience. "The final push to get the bow ahead was terrific,” O’Neill said. “I was impressed with their composure and toughness throughout.” Ending the day was the second varsity four, which also closed a gap created by Yale in the first 1000 meters. As this group crossed the finish line at 7:10.30 with another victory, the team finished the regatta winning three out of four races. The Longhorns will have a quick turnaround by hosting the Longhorn Invite at Walter E. Long Park on April 27.

It had been 18 games and 1,827 days of futility against Oklahoma, and twice, it came down a matter of inches. It wasn’t that the Sooners were worlds of talent better than Texas. But the top-ranked Oklahoma squad showed exactly why it has been five years since the program has fallen to Texas. They came up with clutch plays to end a pair of close games at Red & Charline McCombs Field, then displayed their powerful lineup to close out the sweep over the No. 11 Longhorns with a 9-2 win on Saturday. “They’ve been on the big stage a lot longer than we have,” Texas head coach Mike White said. “They’re just a little more seasoned than us. … We can practice all we want, and trust me, we probably practice the same stuff they do, but they’ve just been on the bigger stage longer.” In the series’ second game, the Longhorns threatened to halt Oklahoma’s dominance in its tracks. Texas manufactured a run in the sixth inning to tie the game up at two runs apiece and send it to extra innings. The eighth inning quickly turned into chaos. Oklahoma plated one run on a sacrifice fly. Thinking the runner may have not touched the plate, the Texas dugout pleaded for the Longhorns to go back and tag her. Second baseman Janae Jefferson took notice and extended the play by attempting to go back and make the tag. The Sooner runner on third made a heads-up play and ran home as well, and both runners were ruled safe. Trailing 4-2, Texas got two quick outs in the bottom of the inning, but then picked up two base hits. Jefferson laid down a bunt and the Oklahoma infielder overthrew the first baseman, scoring the runner from second. Outfielder MK Tedder was sent around from first but was thrown out at the plate, ending the game. White tried to argue for obstruction on the play, but to no avail, as the Longhorns fell 4-3. “Either way, it would’ve been a close play, obstruction or no obstruction,” Tedder said after the loss. “I was just trying to give it my best shot.” The wacky ending to game two followed a game one loss in which two of Oklahoma’s runs came in a mistake-filled fifth inning for the Longhorns. An error and two other defensive misplays gave the Sooners a sliver of light that they jumped all over, spoiling pitcher Miranda Elish’s excellent start and taking the 3-1 win. “We’re right there,” outfielder Kaitlyn Washington said. “Maybe one error away from being where they’re at. We’ve just got to turn the page.” With pitcher Shea O’Leary sidelined with an ankle injury, Elish was forced to make appearances in all three games. In the weekend’s final matchup, the fatigue of both Elish and pitcher Brooke Bolinger was evident, as the Longhorns fell 9-2 with a limited bullpen. “It hurt a lot,” White said. “(Oklahoma was) the better team, there’s no doubt about that. If we had more options with those other players, that would’ve helped out.” A record 3,903 people filled up McCombs Field over the weekend’s three games. Rare appearances were even made by the Longhorn Band and Bevo XV. But someone must have forgotten to tell Oklahoma. The country’s best team took care of business, and the Longhorns’ losing streak will continue until the next meeting.

The Kennedale star has the potential to become the first defensive back in his class to grab a Texas offer. The top-ranked in-state safety for the 2021 cycle is on the Texas Longhorns radar after a phenomenal first half of his high school career. Kennedale safety JD Coffey has made an early splash due to his play on the field and willingness to compete at a high level during the offseason circuit. After being a key contributor on defense as a freshman and sophomore, Coffey has tallied 127 tackles and 12 interceptions. With a prospect like Coffey scanning the field and being the last line of defense, it’s important to account for his whereabouts on every play if you’re a quarterback or a skill player being targeted. Coffey is a total ballhawk with tremendous ball skills that finds himself in great position to create turnovers for the defense. He has the closing speed to cover a good amount of ground in coverage and when flying downhill to attack ball carriers. Coffey’s size suits him well at his position and he’s equipped with a frame that will develop tremendously over time. The four-star standout is regarded as one of the best safeties in the nation, but the offers have yet to pour in for Coffey. Illinois State and Utah are the only two programs to extend an offer to Coffey up to this point, and he’s hoping to see his list expand as time prevails. “It’s going very good,” Coffey told BON about his recruitment. “A lot of schools are now starting to get in touch with me and show a lot of interest. I would like to see more schools getting in touch with me and start to have a relationship in some way.” Hitting the road to visit schools and meet with coaching staff’s has been important to Coffey during this offseason. Over the last few months, he has made his way to Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Utah, and most recently, to Texas for the spring game. Coffey’s visit to Austin last weekend was eye opening for him, as he paid close attention to the Longhorns secondary and formed an understanding of what is expected on the defensive side of the ball. “The spring game was a great experience and I really enjoyed watching the defense work together,” Coffey expressed. “Watching the defensive backs play aggressive and control the field was very interesting to watch.” The uplifting atmosphere that Tom Herman and his staff have formulated over the years is an aspect of the Texas program Coffey is intrigued with. “The competitiveness throughout the whole program is something that I like a lot,” Coffey said. “The staff pushes for greatness and it shows on the field.” Safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Craig Naivar has made an effort to keep in touch with Coffey. The two have formed a close connection early. “I stay in contact with coach Naivar a lot,” Coffey said. “We have a good relationship and he tells me to continue to grind and stay on the books.” The Longhorns haven’t put an offer out to a defensive back in the 2021 cycle yet, but Coffey is anticipating an opportunity to become the first Texas target from the secondary in his class. “UT is definitely one of my favorite schools and being a part of their team is a dream,” Coffey said. As a prospect that is months away from beginning his junior season, Coffey has already accomplished on-field statistics that most seniors will never reach. With that being said, Coffey is gearing up to continue his phenomenal play and achieving prestigious goals in the classroom as well. “I want to continue to excel on the football field and push myself to be the best,” Coffey said. “Off the field, I want to receive all-academic next year.” Coffey plans to make more visits to Austin as his recruitment carries on. At 6’0.5, 180 pounds, Coffey is ranked as the nation’s No. 179 prospect, the No. 6 safety in the country, and as the No. 6 player in the state for the 2021 cycle, per 247Sports.