As Tanner Witt sits, UCLA hands No. 1 Texas its first loss of the 2022 baseball season

To end a weekend in Houston, Texas suffered its first loss of the 2022 baseball season.

Texas dropped a 5-1 decision to UCLA in its final game at the Shriners College Classic on Sunday. The top-ranked Longhorns did beat No. 17 Tennessee and No. 7 LSU at Minute Maid Park this weekend, but the loss to UCLA prevented UT from recording its first 12-0 start since 2005.

On the mound, Lebarron Johnson was tagged with the loss after he gave up a tie-breaking single in the fifth inning. Johnson was one of six pitchers used by Texas on Sunday. Sophomore Lucas Gordon started for the Longhorns after expected starter Tanner Witt was scratched. Texas coach David Pierce told reporters there was a muscular issue near Witt's elbow but Sunday's scratch was just a precautionary move.

Texas had trouble figuring out UCLA starting pitcher Kelly Austin, a left-handed freshman who struck out eight Longhorns over 5 1/3 innings. As a whole, Texas was held to five hits.

The Longhorns did produce one highlight with their bats. In the fourth inning, UT first baseman Ivan Melendez hammered a home run over the wall in left field at Minute Maid Park.

Over his two seasons at Texas, Melendez has crushed 16 home runs. His first homer was hit in 2021 at Arlington's Globe Life Field.

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The next game on the schedule for Texas is a trip to Texas State on Tuesday. The following day, the Bobcats will visit UT at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Texas State (10-2) won two games at No. 11 Arizona this weekend.