The deciding game of the series will determine who holds on, to a possible at large regional bid. After the loss yesterday, Texas fell to #95 in the RPI rankings, Tech moved up to #78. Oklahoma, with another loss to OSU, fell to #93. Another Tech win today would get them back in reasonable position, for a regional bid. It would also put the death knell in Texas for one. As expected, it will be freshman right hander, Connor Mayes, with the start for the Horns, on the mound. He's the best option that Texas has left, he did pitch an inning in closing out Friday's win. He will just go as far as he can today, he shows the fight and determination, that you like and has good stuff too. Then its just, everyone else available. I guess with the coming construction, it could be the last weekend tailgate day at the Disch, for many fans. That's a real shame and the end of an era. Lift one up and say, "Hey Frank it's the bottom of the fifth," one more time guys and gals. That would be appropriate, I believe. There are several on this board that know what I am talking about. Frank, as in the basketball arena across the bridge. It's also Senior Day and Kirby Bellow, Parker French, Brooks Marlow, Ty Marlow, Grant Martin, and Collin Shaw will be honored with a pregame ceremony. Game on LHN and the audio is texas.leanplayer.com. Lineups on the way.
Connor Mayes, the freshman right hander, warms up, as the rubber game of the series is about to start. He has some good stuff and some bulldog in him, I think he is going to be a good one, for the Horns. He's still learning though. Cory Raley leads off, as the DH, batting right handed. A ground ball to second is a 4-3 out one. The center fielder is Zach Davis, batting also, from the right side. A ground ball to third and the throw to first is low and by Cantu, for a E-5. The runner goes to second. Stephen Smith, the right fielder, bats righty, with a man on and one down. A fast ball on the outside corner, a very generous call, but still a called strike three, two down. Left fielder, Tyler Neslony, bats lefty, with a man on second and two away. A hard liner is caught on a leap by Cantu, by the bag at first, it saves an unearned run and retires the side. Tech goes down without scoring and Texas comes to bat.
Right hander, Dominic Moreno, a righty , gets the start, for Tech. His numbers and those for Mayes are there for you above. Johnson leads off, for Texas, batting right handed. He K's swinging on a pitch low and out, but the ump has a big strike zone to protect, one down. Shaw bats lefty, with one out. A ground ball to short goes 6-3, for two away. Barrera bats righty, with two gone. A fly ball to right, retires the side in order. Texas has only scored in one inning, in the two previous games and that has to change today, most likely for a win. One inning gone and no runs.
Mayes is out again, for the second, for the Horns. Eric Gutierrez, the first baseman, leads off, batting right handed. He's jammed on a fast ball, but fights it off, for bloop single, to right field. The second baseman is Bryant Burleson, batting righty, with one on. A liner gets under the glove of Baker and into center, for another single. Orlando Garcia, the shortstop, bats righty, with two on. He bunts and the sac goes 4-3, for one away, as the runners move up. The catcher, Tyler Floyd, bats righty, with two on and one out. A one hopper back to Mayes, he holds the runners and then completes the 1-3 second out. Michael Davis, the third baseman, bats lefty in the nine hole, with two on and two down. Big early batter, for Mayes. A full count and he blows a fast ball right by him to retire the side. Mayes works out of the jam, so still without a run, bottom of two.
Moreno returns for Tech, on the bump, for Tech. Cantu leads off for Texas, batting righty. He rips a long drive to left center, but the center fielder, with a good jump on the ball, has it on the run, for one away. Hinojosa is still the DH, batting righty, with the broken hand, one down. He's having a hard time turning on a pitch, with that bad hand. He slaps a ball up the middle and the shortstop has it and from his knees, throws him out. Baker bats righty, with two away. He bunts and the third baseman charges and throws, but Baker beats it, infield hit. Gurwitz bats righty, with one on and two outs. Baker should be on the move. He is and the throw is into center, but backed up, it's a steal. Gurwitz can put the Horns on top now, with a two out outfield knock. He swings and misses at a pitch in the dirt, the 2-3 play, makes the K, to retire the side. Texas can't get the big hit needed to score, so 0-0, after two.
Mayes works the third, on the hill, for Texas. Raley, back to the top of the order, leads off, from the right side. A full count and a liner up the middle, for a lead single. Zach Davis bats righty, with one on. A ground ball gets by Boswell and it's another single, just like last inning, the first two reach. Smith bats righty, with two aboard. Again a sac bunt and the 1-3 play is made for an out. Neslony bats lefty again, with two on and one away. A fly ball to left is deep enough, for a SF. The runner tagged and moved to third also. Tech leads 1-0 Guteirrez bats righty, with one on and two away. He is hit by a pitch, to reach. Burleson bats with runners on the corners, with two outs, from the right side. Skip comes out and gives him a blow, now he returns to the dugout. The runner goes from first, on a delayed steal, there is no throw. Big batter to get now. A pop up to Marlow, at second, will end the frame, without further damage. Tech gets one to break out on top, Texas needs offense and quick. Tech leads 1-0, to the bottom of three.
Moreno will work with a lead in the Texas third. Marlow leads off, batting left handed. A little chopper to first, the 3U is one down. Boswell bats lefty, with one out. A full count and he K's on an outside pitch swinging, for two gone. Johnson is up again, as the top of the order comes, batting righty, with two down. A single up the middle is a runner and he should steal pronto. Shaw bats lefty, with two outs. A 3-0 count keeps Ben at first, now 3-1 and he can go now. A ground ball to first, right at the bag, the first baseman tags the bag, to retire the side, on the 3U. Should have let Ben steal there. Tech leads 1-0, three played.
Mayes around for the fourth and needs a quick inning. Garcia bats righty, leading off, for the Red Raiders. A fly ball to right and Shaw ranges toward the line and has it. Floyd bats righty, in the nine slot, with an out. A full count and a fast ball rides in and sticks under his left arm, he throws it back to Mayes and goes to first, on the HBP. How about that. Michael Davis bats lefty, with one on and one down, in the nine hole. He takes a fast ball over the heart of the plate, for the backwards K, two down. Raley bats righty, at the top of the order, with two outs and one on. A fly ball to shallow left and it retires the side. Bottom of four, Tech leads 1-0.
Moreno pitches the fourth, for the Red Raider. Barrera leads off batting right. The wind blows out to left, as it did yesterday. He swings at breaker, at the shoe tops, the K is one out. Cantu bats righty also, with one down. The count runs full and he walks on a low pitch, to reach. Hinojosa bats righty, with one on and one retired. He tries to pull an outside pitch and rolls it over, for the easy 6-4-3 double play, to end the frame. Four in the books and Tech leads 1-0.
Mayes works on in the fifth, for the Horns. Zach Davis leads off, batting right handed. A little liner to left, off the end of the bat and Johnson lets it drop, for a single, he kind of misjudged it. It puts a fast man on first. Smith bats righty, with one on. He bunts and the sac goes 5-3, one out. Neslony again bats lefty with a runner in scoring position, he has done so all three trips. His SF is the only run of the game, so far. A wild pitch puts him on third. The runner heads home, but time had been called. Mayes runs in and dives to make a tag on the runner, and gets shaken up on a non play. The trainer comes out, but Mayes is ok. Neslony is back in and the infield comes in. He gets him swinging on a big change up, for a big second out. Gutierrez, the big righty hitter, has two outs and a man on third. He lines a single to left, to score the run. A two out hit, that Texas seemingly never gets. Tech leads 2-0. Burleson bats righty, with one on and two gone. A fly ball to left and the wind carries it and it just gets out over the fence. A two run homer. Tech leads 4-0. Garcia bats righty, with two down. He K's looking, on a fast ball, to retire the side. Tech does what Texas doesn't and halfway through the deciding game of the series, leads now 4-0.
Moreno with a nice lead now, pitches the fifth. Baker leads off, batting right handed. A soft liner to second is one down. Gurwitz bats righty, one away. A foul pop behind the plate, caught by the catcher is two quick outs. Marlow bats lefty, with two retired much too quickly. A full count and a liner goes down the line in right, for a double. Boswell bats lefty, with a man on second and two outs. Another two out situation, that requires an outfield hit, to score. A balk is called, as Moreno didn't come to a complete set, on a pitch. Marlow to third, so an infield hit, or a defensive mistake scores the run now. A full count and he walks on a high pitch. Johnson bats at the top of the order, with runners on the corners, with still two down. Coach is out for a visit, to settle down Moreno and leaves. Johnson needs to turn on something and drive it to left, if possible. He K's on a change up in the dirt, to retire the side. Texas remains offensively challenged, so Tech leads 4-0, after five.
Mayes will stay in for the Horns, in the sixth. Floyd, the catcher leads off, batting righty handed. A liner to right center and Shaw charges and on the headfirst dive, can't make the play, the runner keeps going to second and slides under the tag, for a double. A good throw would have had him, but it one hopped Baker. Skip out and that is all for Mayes. Pitching change.
Travis Duke, the lefty, comes in, as he did yesterday, for the Horns. Mayes pitched ok, but he is not quite ready to be a weekend starter yet, he needs to get stronger and develop some more velocity and movement. Michael Davis bats righty, with one on. He bunts and the sac goes 5-3, as Boswell charges and makes bare handed play, a nice one for the out. Raley bats righty, at the top of the order, with a man on third and one down. Infield in again. A fisted liner to right falls for a single, it scores the run. Tech leads 5-0. Zach Davis bats righty, with one on. A liner to right and Johnson charges and makes the sliding catch, he fires toward first, but just not quite enough on the throw, to get him. The runner comes off first, and again a play continues on, as time had been called. The tag is made, but no play. An argument again, but to no avail. The runner left the bag, as he thought he was out, time was not called by him. He should have been called out, instead the ump called time himself. Bad call on both moves by the ump at first. Smith bats righty, with one on and two down. A grounder goes hard to third and backhanded by Boswell, the 5-3 retires the side. Tech plates another and leads 5-0, as this game slips away, just like yesterday, bottom of the sixth is next.
Moreno pitches the sixth and watches as his lead grows and grows. Shaw leads off, batting lefty. A one hop smash and Moreno gloves it by his head, the 1-3 is one out. Barrera bats righty, with one down. He lines a single to right, to reach. His first hit of the series. Cantu bats righty, with one on and one down. A full count and K's swinging on a high fast ball, that was ball four. Instead it's out two. Hinojosa bats righty, with one on and two outs. He sends a high pop to shallow center and three Raiders collide and they drop it, it's called a single. Barrera doesn't run it out and just goes to second. Base running is just a bad joke sometimes for the Horns It's two outs, your running on the ping of the metal bat, he didn't. This kind of thing happens way to often. Baker bats righty, with two on and two outs. A ground ball goes through, on the right side, for a single. Barrera has to hold at third, he should have been on third and scored a run. Gurwitz bats with the bases loaded and two outs, righty. Texas needs a bolt, to get back in the game. He swings at a pitch low enough for a cricket match and rolls it to third, the 3U, retires the side. That is the season in a half inning, base running mistakes and no discipline at the plate. It adds up to not scoring as it has, for about five years now. Tech leads 5-0, six played.
Duke pitches the seventh, for the Horns. Neslony leads off, batting left handed. A liner down the left field line, drops on the line, for a double. Skip out and another change.
Jake McKenzie is next in line to pitch, for Texas, a freshman righty, that pitched yesterday also. Guteirrez bats righty, with one on. A fly ball to shallow right, is one out. Burleson bats righty, with one retired and one on. Another fly ball to right and another out. Garcia bats righty, with two gone and one on. A ground ball to second and that retires the side. Stretch time at the Disch and some remember back to the days, Texas could really hit. Tech leads 5-0, bottom of the seventh.
Moreno's day is done and he leaves with a win coming most likely, to his ledger.LL Lefty, Dylan Dusek comes in, for Tech, in the Texas seventh frame. Marlow leads off batting lefty. A hanging curve is sent, on a line to center, for a lead single. Boswell bats lefty, with a man on. Boswell K's again, this time swinging at a high fast ball, one out. Johnson up, at the top of the order, batting righty, with one on and one out. He lines another hit to center, he continues to be the bright spot on offense. Shaw bats lefty, with two on and one down. He is blown away by a fast ball, swinging, two outs. Barrera bats righty, with two on and two down. Again a clutch hit is needed to score. Surprised they kept the lefty pitcher in, to face Barrera. A ground ball to third goes 5-3, to end the frame. Texas strands more runners, Tech leads 5-0, after seven gone.
McKenzie stays in to pitch the eighth, for Texas. Floyd, the catcher leads off, batting righty. A roller to second and Marlow charges and boots it, for a E-4. Michael Davis bats righty, with one on. He bunts and the 1-3 sac is good. Raley bats righty, at the top of the order, with one out and a runner at second. A fly ball to left, the wind carries it to the track, but Johnson has it, for two away. Zach Davis bats righty, with two gone and one on. He takes a fast ball on the outside corner, for a K, to retire the side. Botom of eight and Tech leads 5-0.
Dusek stays in, to pitch the eighth, for Tech. Cantu leads off, batting righty. A ground ball to first and the 3U is one out. Hinojosa bats righty, with one gone. A full count is reached and a low pitch will put him on, with a free pass. Baker bats righty, with one out and a runner on. He has a couple of hits today. A 2-0 count brings out the coach. Pitching change.
The new Tech pitcher is a right hander, in Matt Custred. He will face Baker, with an inherited 2-0 count, an out and one on. He completes a four pitch walk, to put two on. Gurwitz bats righty, with one out and two on. A full count and he walks, to load the bases on free passes. Texas needs all the help it can get and Tech is obliging, at present. Marlow bats lefty, on senior day, as a senior, the bases loaded, one out. He K's on a curve ball that's way inside and bounces in the dirt, for two gone. Boswell bats lefty, with the bases full and two outs. He walks and Texas finally scores on four walks, fire Smokey! Why does Tech leave this guy in? Tech leads 5-1. Johnson bats righty, at the top of the order, the bases loaded, two down. He is the tying run, with the wind gusting out to left. A full count and all the runner go and a gapper would score them all. A curve ball that was low, but called a strike ends the inning on a backwards K. Johnson is irate and gets tossed from the game, Augie out, but it won't matter. Terrible call, but Texas needs a big hit sometime. Four walks score a run and it should have been five walks. Tech leads 5-1, to the ninth.
Kyle Johnston is in to pitch the ninth, a freshman right hander, who throws hard. Smith leads off batting righty. He gets plunked by a pitch and tempers are kind of flaring, but Johnston is known for wildness. Neslony bats lefty, with one on. He grounds to the mound and a 1-6 force is made, a hard slide and words are exchanged and Smith is tossed I think. Most the team comes off the bench for Texas and now order is restored. Gutierrez is batting righty, with one out and one on. Runner goes and Barrera drops the ball on the tranfer, so no throw, stolen base. A ground ball to short goes 6-3, for the second out, as the runner holds. Burleson bats righty, with one on and two gone. Another grounder to short and another 6-3 out, retires the side. Bottom of the ninth and Tech is three outs away, from the series win.
Matt Withrow, who is the son of former Horn pitcher Mike Withrow, comes in, to pitch the ninth for Tech. The right hander pitched in Friday's game. Shaw leads off lefty. A liner to the first baseman is out one. Barrera bats righty, with one out. A full count and another walk. Takes a lot of those to tie the game though. Travis Jones is in to run for Barrera. Cantu bats righty, with one out and one on. Another full count and a fly ball to center is two gone. Hinojosa becomes the last hope for Texas to avoid losing the series, batting righty, with one on and two outs. A fly ball to center and that's the game and the series. Texas loses 5-1 and the series 2-1. Back in a few minutes.
So now we can finally say it, with all certainty. Texas "CAN'T" reach a regional, without winning the Big 12 Tournament. No ifs, ands, or buts. It's a done deal. They need a win against Baylor in the final series, to clinch a place in the tournament. The pitching staff held Tech scoreless for the first fourteen innings of the series, before cracking. The staff is very shortened by now, well documented injuries. The youngsters pitch pretty well, but with little to no run support, it really doesn't matter much. The Horns score a meaningless garbage time run yesterday, for their only run. Today the only run scores on four walks. Texas scored in only one inning in each game. They left 31 men on base in the series. This is exactly what was happening last season, till the pitching became super human. Texas rode the top notch pitching and defense all the way to Omaha. That's not going to happen this year, with the injuries and staff inexperience. It's frustrating enough with the lack of offense, but watching other teams play more fundamentally sound baseball is even more so. The continual base running mistakes, the lack of discipline by hitters, and just not executing in general, makes watching the team very hard at times. The success of last season, kept the underlying major flaws of the Texas Baseball Program from being addressed, yet again. Till that happens, by whatever means it takes to do it, we are in for more hard times, than good ones. It really is that simple and why some still refuse to see it, is beyond my comprehension.
Frustrating for you to have to do the PBP and see this pattern the team has been in for a couple of months. Injuries and little to no hitting killed this team this season.
Augie makes a million a year for this ****! The least he could do is cook a huge, free dinner for all us of suckers! Serve it at DFF.
Bless you NB for having the fortitude and dedication to come back day after day to report on this kind of ineptitude. Unfortunately the Horns can't figure it out with the most resources and best players at it's disposal. Good luck next year and Hook 'Em!!
