After eking out a 3-2 extra inning game last night, to finally win one these all to often marathon affairs, it's game two time. The time had been changed multiple times, due to bad weather, ironically is right back to the original time of 6 pm. These two struggling teams slugged it last night, well figuratively, that is. These low scoring affairs have become the norm and it's lead to nine extra inning games so far. These figures will help explain this a little. Texas enters the game with a team batting average of .243, which is 265th out of about 300 D1 teams playing baseball. Kansas comes in with a team earned run average of 5.93, which is 249th out of those same 300 D1 teams. It's leading to a stalemate and close games, even with Kansas at 15-23 for the season and 3-7 in the Big 12. Texas would seem to have an advantage as they have has faced the two best Kansas pitcher's, who only had era's of 3.90 and 4.45. They would seem pretty well spent, for the series now. So the rest of the staff is, to say the least pretty bad. If Texas can't produce runs against them, then well, I don't even want to think about it. Texas has used a lot of pitchers, but they have a lot of them, despite injuries. Most are good to very good. One of those that pitched last night will get the start in this game. That is left hander, Ty Culbreth. I don't think he will go further than five innings at the most, because of that work. It seems with Hollingsworth still unable to start, that it's mix and match time for the pitching staff. Chad may be able to give the Horns a few innings. It's a must win really, considering the competition, and the remaining schedule. The live streaming is espn.go.com. The audio is GEN_1119144623.aspx. Lineups coming up.
Drew Morovick, a big right hander, will start for the Jayhawks, on the mound. Ben Johnson leads off right handed, for Texas against him. On the first pitch, a long drive to left is caught, up against the wall, for one down. Shaw bats lefty, with one away. A soft liner to right and the right fielder charges and makes the catch, on a head first dive. Hinojosa bats righty, with two outs. Another liner, this one to left, is also caught, to retire the side in order. Some noise from the Horn's bats, but nothing produced. Kansas comes to bat.
Ty Culbreth, gets his first start of the season, mostly out of necessity. He's a junior lefty. Colby Wriight, the second baseman, leads off, from the right side. He grounds to first, for a 3U first out. The left fielder is Connor McKay, batting righty. He sends grounder back to the mound and it's a 1-3 out two. Matt McLauglin, also swings righty, plays third, with two gone. A full count and he K's swinging, after fouling off numerous pitches, to end the inning. Both teams down in order and nothing, after an inning.
Morovick is on the rubber again, as the second for Texas is starting. Cantu is again catching tonight, he leads off batting right handed. A liner to center and this one drops for a lead single. Marlow bats lefty, after the first hit and runner of the game. He shows no sign of bunting and a ground ball to first is a 3U-6 double play after the tag on Cantu. Barrera bats righty, with two gone. So naturally he lines a double to the left center gap, after the twin killing. Clemens bats lefty, with a man at second and two away. The Horns need a clutch job from him, to dent the scoreboard. The count goes full and he walks, on an outside pitch, to put two on. Boswell bats lefty, with two on and two down. Another full count will put the runners in motion. He walks on a low pitch to load the bases. Gurwitz bats righty, with the bases loaded and two outs. It's a big early situation, need to score, after all this traffic. A long drive to center is just over the center fielder's outstretched glove on a leap. It's a base clearing triple! Texas leads 3-0. Pitching coach out and frankly this guy is throwing meat balls. Texas needs to jump all over him and put this game out of reach. If they hadn't scored here, it could have been another long tedious game. Johnson bats righty, with one on and two away. He pops to shallow right, to end the frame. Texas gets three, on the two out triple, and leads 3-0, bottom of two.
Culbreth is back out with a 3-0 lead, in the Kansas second. Michael Tinsley, the catcher, leads off righty. A little flair goes just over the glove of Hinojosa, for a lead single. Blair Beck, bats righty, playing first, with one on. He lines a single to right, to put two on. The righty fielder, Joven Avenir, bats lefty, with two on. A slow chopper to first is a 3U out, as the runners move up. Dakota Smith, the Dh, bats righty, with runners at third and second and one away. The count runs full and he walks to load the bases. Joe Moroney, the center fielder, bats righty, with the bases juiced and one down. The count runs full and another big pitch comes early in the game. A fly ball to center is deep enough for the SF. Texas leads 3-1. Justin Protacio, the shortstop bats lefty with two on and two outs. He grounds a single to right, as another run scores. Texas leads 3-2. Wright, the lead off man, bats righty, with runners on the corners and two down. He K's swinging to end the rally, Culbreth is struggling after pitching last night. Kansas gets back in the game and Texas needs to keep scoring. Horns lead 3-2, after two.
Morovick back on the hill, for the Jayhawks, in the third. Shaw leads off lefty. A check swing comebacker to the the mound is a 1-3 out one. Hinjosa bats righty, with one away. He lines a drive to right, caught by the right fielder, two line outs for C.J. so far. Cantu up righty, with two outs. A fast ball is blown by him and the K will retire the side in order. Hope Texas's offense isn't going back into a shell. They lead 3-2, bottom of the third.
Culbreth is going to work the third, for the Horns, hoping to give Texas a couple more innings. He's working out of his element as a starter. McKay leads off right handed against him. A sky high fly ball to center is one away, in the mitt of Gurwitz. McLauglin will bat righty, with one gone. A ground ball to short is backhanded by Hinojosa and his strong throw is a 6-3 out two. Tinsley, bats lefty, with two down. He pops up foul and Boswell has it to retire the side in order. Both teams go in order in the third, after the offensive second inning. So Texas leads 3-2, after three.
Morovick continues on for the Jayhawks, in the fourth. Texas needs hit this guy again. Marlow leads off, from the lefty side. A fly ball to right is one down. Barrera bats righty, with one away. He doubled his first trip. He flies to right center, the center fielder goes over and has it for two down. Clemens bats lefty, with now two outs. A liner to right field, is a two out single. Boswell bats also lefty, with one on and two outs. Another fly ball, this one to right again, will end the frame. Bottom of four and Texas leads 3-2.
Culbreth will work on for the Horns in the fourth. Beck leads off, from the right side. He lines a single to left field for a lead runner. Afenir will bat lefty, with one on. Culbreth may just be out of gas. This is his longest outing of the year, after pitching last night. A sac bunt goes 1-3, the runner moves to second. Smith bats righty, with one down and the tying run at second. He drives a ball over Gurwitz's head, for a double and a run. Game tied 3-3. Skips is out and he leaves him out there, kind of surprised by that. Moroney bats righty, with a man on second and one away. A pop up foul, on the right side is caught by Clemens. Protacio bats lefty, with one on and two gone. He flies to Johnson in left, to end the inning. Kansas ties the game 3-3, after four played.
Morovick will stay and pitch the Texas half of the fifth. Gurwitz leads off, at the bottom of the order, batting righty. His triple plated all the Horn runs. A ground ball to second is a 4-3 first out. Johnson bats at the top of the order, righty, with one down. He is grazed by a pitch and reaches on the HBP. The struggling Shaw is up, from the left side, with one on and one away. Johnson goes as a ground ball to third is a 5-3 out, Johnson keeps going and the throw to third is late and wide. Hinojosa, bats righty, with a runner at third and two gone. He is also just nicked by a pitch, to reach. Cantu bats righty, with runners on the corners and two outs. A double steal wouldn't be a bad play. Speaking of bad play, Hinojosa is picked off first 1-3 to retire the side. More base running mistakes hurt the Horns. Halfway through the second game of the series, tied 3-3.
Culbreth is gone, he did what he could under strange circumstances. Flame throwing right handed freshman, Kyle Johnston, is in. You hope he has his command or he won't last long. Wright, at the top of the order, leads off right handed. He walks him and that is the wildness you fear, when he pitches. McKay bats righty, with one on. A hopper to short is a 6-4 force, the relay was late. McLauglin bats righty, with one on and one down. He is hit by a pitch and Johnston is his own worst enemy, at times. Tinsley bats lefty, with two aboard and one away. A ground ball off Johnston, he recovers the ball and firs to first, for a 1-3 second out. The runners move up and the trainer is out to look at Johnston. He took it off a knee and is taking some warm up pitches. He stays in. Beck bats righty, with runners at second and third, with two outs. He has been a tough out, with two hits already tonight. A ground ball up the middle and Marlow has it and throws against his body, to retire the side on a nice play. Johnston labored, but gets out of it and after five, tied still at 3-3.
Morovick is still pitching, as the sixth starts. This is like last night, never thought the Kansas starter, would still be in this long. Cantu leads off batting right handed. He lines a single to center, for his second hit of the game. Marlow bats lefty, with one on. He bunts and the 1-3 sac is good, as Cantu moves to second. Coach out to the mound for a visit. He leaves him in. Barrera bats righty, with the lead run at second and one down. The count is full and he walks on a pitch in the dirt, to put two on. Coach out and that is all for Morovick. Pitching change.
The new Kansas pitcher is Sean Rackoski, another right hander. This is what Texas wanted, as the pitchers coming from now on, haven't been good this season. At least there era's say they aren't. This guy's is 6.39. Clemens bats lefty, with two on and one down. He walks to load them up again for the Horns. Boswell up and Texas needs to put the hammer down, on these type of pitchers. Got to put the ball in play at least, no strike out. A ground ball toward the hole on the right side is knocked down by the first baseman and he gets the out 3-1, as a run scores. Texas leads 4-3. Gurwitz bats right handed, with two on and two outs. He needs another big hit and break this thing open. He K's swinging and that ends the frame. Texas gets one and takes the lead 4-3, to the bottom of the sixth
Johnston will pitch the sixth for Texas, he hopes to gain control of his stuff and hold the new lead. Afenir leads off, from the lefty side. He blows the fast ball by him and the K is one down. That is the stuff he has, with some control Smith bats righty, with one down. A ground ball up the middle, gets under Hinojosa's glove, for a single. Maroney bats righty, with one on and one down. He K's swinging also, for two gone. Protacio, will bat lefty, at the tail end of the order, with one on and two outs. A ground ball to second and the 4-3 will end the inning. Six played and Texas leads 4-3.
Rackoski is back to the bump, with his hefty era. Texas needs to rack him up and sink him in the corner pocket. The top of the order is Johnson, batting righty. A full count and a pitch over his head is ball four. Shaw will most likely bunt, as he bats lefty. He has been struggling mightily at the plate. He squares and fouls it off. So with two strikes, he takes a pitch on the inside corner, for a called strike three. Hinojosa bats righty, with one on and one down. Johnson may just straight steal now. He goes and had it stolen, but Hinjosas fouls the pitch down the right field line. A little fly ball to right is two gone. Cantu bats righty, with one on and now two outs. Johnson needs to go now. He goes and has it stolen, but nearly came off the bag. Now it's up to Cantu. A full count pitch and a ground ball to deep short and it's an infield hit. Marlow is batting lefty, with runners on the corners and two outs. Still need the big hit to plate somebody. A fly ball to center won't do the job. They stretch in Lawrence and Texas clings to a 4-3 lead.
Johnston is back again for the Kansas half of the seventh. You wonder how long he can go, with control. The top of the order is due and that means Wright, bats right handed. He walks him on four pitches. McKay bats righty, with one on. A 1-0 count and out comes Skip. Pitching change and it was needed.
Connor Mayes, the freshman right hander, comes in the game. He has pitched well this season and he will need to continue in that mode, if Texas is to keep the advantage. McKay back in righty, with a 1-0 count and one on. A ground ball in the hole, on the left side, goes for an infield hit, to put two on. McLauglin bats righty, with two on. He fouls off a bunt attempt and takes a strike. A ball off Cantu's mitt is a huge passed ball. That's a killer. Full count and a ground ball off of Mayes's glove is another infield hit, to score a run. Game tied 4-4. Bad luck there. Tinsley bats lefty, runners on the corners. A big curve ball gets him swinging, for a big out one. Beck bats righty, with two on and one down. A double play ball can get you out of it now. There it is on a comebacker that goes 1-6-3. Kansas ties it, but great pitching by Mayes to not let in any more. Seven played and tied at 4-4.
Sam Gilbert comes in to pitch for Kansas, another right hander. His era is 6.87. Barrera leads off batting right handed. A full count and he walks to reach. Stell will pinch run for him. Clemens up to bunt, no doubt. He does and the 3-4 sac is good, Stell moves to second. Boswell will hit lefty, with the lead run at second and one away. A fly ball to deep left, but not deep enough, it's caught on the track. Gurwitz is again up, in a big situation, batting righy, with the lead run at second and two gone. A fly ball to left center and it's also run down, to retire the side. You strand the lead run and lose Barrera, so to the bottom of eight now, tied 4-4.
Mayes stays on to pitch the Kansas eighth. Afenir leads off lefty. A fly ball to center is one away. Smith bats with righty, with one down. Another fly ball to center and another out. Moroney bats righty, with two gone. A full count reached and a fly ball to shallow right and that retires the side in order. Eight played and tied 4-4.
Gilbert, of the almost 7.00 era is going to pitch the ninth. It would behoove Texas to score off him. The top of the order is up too, in Johnson, batting righty. He lines a single to left and the left fielder boots it and Johnson goes to second. Announcers say it's a double, I say it's a single and an error. I guess they scored it a double. Shaw up lefty to bunt. He fouls two off and now has to swing away. If they don't pay enough attention, Ben will steal third. Shaw K's on a low pitch, Texas hurts itself again. Hinojosa up righty, with Johnson on second and one down. A long liner to left and the left fielder reaches out and has it, great play. If Shaw had gotten the bunt down, Texas would have the lead. So frustrating. Cantu is up righty, with Johnson still at second and now two away. He has three hits, but needs a fourth, to give the Horns the lead. A full count and a ground ball to third goes 5-3 to retire the side. Texas had it and let it slip away again, so Kansas has a chance to win it, or we got to extra innings again.
Mayes stays in for the Kansas ninth. Protacio leads off, lefty, in the nine hole. A fly ball to left is one away, he has the fly ball pitch working it seems. Tommy Mirabelli, batting righty, came in last inning and he flies out to left. McKay bats righty, with two down. He sends a bomb to left field and it's long gone. Kansas wins 5-4, on the homer. So typical after Texas couldn't take advantage of pitcher's everybody else hits. Well it wasn't extra innings, back in a few.
A patchwork Texas staff without another starter did ok, but the bats couldn't score more than four off of bad Kansas pitching and shot itself in the foot on mistakes. Base running mistakes, a passed ball and stranding runners killed Texas once more. If you had a healthy Hollingsworth, you think you win that game, but he wasn't available. Sometimes you just need to score some runs. This was one of those times and you had a very vulnerable Kansas pitching staff to get those runs. It's just the latest disappointment in season full of them, so far. You have to win tomorrow or you can pack up the equipment, in my opinion.
I'm not sure what offense is the worst this year...football or baseball. An absolute JOKE losing to the worst team in the conference.
Just no killer instinct, that's for sure. I don't know how many times this year the Horns have had chances to put teams away, only to let them right back in it. Incredibly disheartening.
