Baylor vs Texas-Big 12 Tournament-Division Championship-Game 1

It's always Baylor, Baylor, Baylor, at least it seems that way for two weeks, now, with a dash of Texas Tech. No, it's not the Big 12 version of the "Brady Bunch," it's the Big 12 Tournament and this is the Division Championship, of what I call, the "Texas Division." It's another "breakfast" game at 9 am, so get whatever you need to prop your eyes open and join me.

Texas has two chances to win it and most likely face OSU in a championship game, for all the marbles, the biggest marble being a regional bid. OSU has two shots at OU, to reach that game.

Problem is the weather is supposed to be nasty starting this afternoon and then get worse, with a 100% chance of rain tonight and all day tomorrow.

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Texas has to hope all games are played and that they win it all, to reach a regional, have to see how it goes, going to be a long two days, it seems.

Freshman right hander Connor Mayes, will get the ball, in the first game, as I expected. He looks to continue the brilliance, of the first two starters, he has the stuff and usually the right attitude, but it still says freshman, by his name. It will be his first ever Tournament action. Go get'em kid.

The game is on various Fox Sports Channels, today it's on Dish channel 448 and the audio is texas.leanplayer.com.

Lineups coming up:

 

Texas Lineup:

 

Baylor Lineup and more information:

 

Right handed freshman, Kay Theron, warms up, for the Bears, as they are the home team, for this game. He has pretty hefty era, as you see above. The home plate ump signals for the game to begin.

That means Ben Johnson, looking to get untracked and have a big day, to get the offense rolling.
He steps in right handed and we are underway, in the division championship, game one.
A roller up the middle and the shortstop has it, the throw is accurate, for a 6-3 out one.

Baker, the DH, today, bat righty, with one down.
This time a grounder up the middle, with more steam, goes through, for a single and the first Horn base runner.

Hinojosa bats righty, with one on and one away.
A drive to left, but it's caught, just short of the track, for two outs.

Barrera bats righty, with one on and two outs.
He won the last game, with a hit, in the ninth.
A blast to left, the park can't hold it, it's long gone, for a two run homer.

Texas leads 2-0.

Shaw bats lefty, with two gone.
He K's swinging, through a heater, to retire the side.

Texas with a good start, leads 2-0, Baylor to the plate.

 

In a battle of freshman, on the mound, right hander, Connor Mayes, has the ball today, for Texas, to try and win the division. He wants to follow in the footsteps of the first two starters and give a quality outing.

The center fielder, Logan Brown, bats righty, leading off, for Baylor.
He takes a fast ball, on the outside corner, a called third strike, for one down.

Adam Toth, bats lefty, playing in right field, with one gone.
A high pop up goes to shallow left center, Hinojosa has it, for two away.

Duncan Wendel, plays at third base, bats righty, as two are retired.
A fly ball to right, that's the inning.

Mayes sets them down in order, after one played, Texas leads 2-0.

 

Kay back on the hill, for Baylor, in the second, after being touched for two runs, in the first.

Gurwitz bats righty, leading off, for the Horns.
A ground ball up the middle again, the shortstop has it, does a 360 and fires, but not in time, an infield hit.

Marlow steps in lefty, with a man on.
He squares and lays down the bunt, the sac goes 1-3, Gurwitz moves up to second.

Cantu bats righty, with one away, a man in scoring position.
Gurwitz is picked off second 1-6, boy I hoped the base running blunders, were being held in check, bad mistake.
Now Cantu K's swinging, to suddenly end a promising inning, that hurts.

Bottom of two, Texas leads 2-0.

 

Mayes back to the bump, for the Horns, in the Bear second.

The left fielder, Kameron Esthay, bats lefty, leading off.
A fly ball to Johnson, in left, is one down.

Mitch Price, the first sacker, bats righty, one out.
A ground ball to short goes right through the wickets, for an E-6, the first error of the tourney, for Texas.
Texas suddenly making mistakes.

Darryn Sheppard, the DH, bats righty, with one on and one down.
He K's swinging on a big overhand curve ball, for two away,
Nice response by Mayes, after the Hinojosa miscue.

Matt Menard, the Baylor catcher, bats righty, with a man aboard.
The rain has started, as forcast.
The hammer curve is taken on the outside corner, for the backward K, to end the frame.

Mayes works around the error, Texas leads 2-0, after two, but can they beat the weather.

 

Kay back out, for the third, for Baylor.

Boswell leads off batting lefty, for Texas.
A squibber in front of the plate, is handled by the catcher, the 2-3 put out is recorded.

Johnson bats again, as the top of the order, is back, batting righty, with an out.
A little fisted liner, to second, is two gone.

Baker bats righty, with two away.
After the Gurwitz pick off, Kay has settled down.
Baker had a hit his first trip and later scored, on the Barrera blast.
He swings at a pitch in the dirt, to strike out and retire the side.

Bottom of the third, with light rain falling, Texas leads 2-0.

 

Mayes back again, as the third frame for the Bears starts, he is perfect so far, save the error.

The Baylor shortstop, Justin Arrington, leads off batting lefty.
A can of corn to left, Johnson has that easily, one away.

The second baseman is Jeremy Ducoff, batting right, one down.
He swings through high heat, another K, for two gone.

Brown is back up, as the top of the Bear order comes again, batting righty.
Two outs as he steps in and another off speed pitch is swung on and missed, the K will end the frame.

Mayes looking sharp, as he mixes off speed offerings, with the fast ball, Texas leads 2-0, a third of the game complete.

 

Kay back out again, has pitched well. since the base running mistake, by Gurwitz. The rain seems to have abated for now.

Hinojosa bats righty, leading off, for the Horns.
A fly ball to shallow left center, the center fielder ranges over, has it for one away.

Barrera bats righty, with one down.
His homer is the two runs in the game, so far.
He pops up foul, buy the seats on the right side, the first baseman staggers, but has it, for two out.

Shaw bats lefty, with two gone.
A pitch hits Shaw, but he is not allowed first, as the home plate ump says he turned into it, he didn't, but he still bats.
Augie disagrees, to no avail.
A ground ball to short goes 6-3, the Horns go in order.

Texas leads 2-0, bottom of the fourth.

 

Mayes back on the rubber, as the Baylor fourth comes, hoping to stay sharp.

Toth leads off, for the Bears, batting left handed.
A ground ball up the middle, gets through, for a lead single, the first Bear hit.

Wendal bats righty, with a runner on.
A 2-0 count brings the first visit by Skip, of the game.
He goes back to the third base dugout, play resumes.
Mayes responds, as a pop up to shallow right, is squeezed by a backing Marlow, for one away.

Esthay bats lefty, with one down and one on.
A four pitch walk will put two on.

Price bats righty, with an out and the tying runs aboard.
There's the big change again, it's again taken on the outside corner, for a big K, two outs.

Baylor sends a lefty pinch hitter in Aarron Dodson, to become the DH.
He bats with two on and two down.
Again the big overhand curve and a swing and a miss, the K gets Mayes out of trouble.

A threat, but nothing more, so after four played, Texas maintains the 2-0 lead.

 

Kay hurls on, for the Bear, as the fifth comes. The Texas bats have gone back into hibernation, after the pick off.

Gurwitz leads off, batting righty, for Texas.
A ground ball up the middle is cut off, by the shortstop and the 6-3 is one down.

Marlow bats lefty, with one out.
A full count and a pitch just low, is a walk and breaks the nine straight out streak, for the Horns.

Cantu bats righty, with one on and one out.
He has been slumping lately, with several K's, in the Tourney.
A fly ball, in the gap in right center, the center fielder has it on the move, for two gone.

Boswell bats lefty, in the nine hole, with a man on and two outs.
Another walk, will put two on.

Johnson bats righty, at the top of the order, with two on and two down.
Texas has a chance to play add on and Ben is due.
Coach out of the dugout, it's the head man Smith, but he leaves Kay in.
Ben steps in and looks for the clutch rbi hit.
A high pop behind the mound is caught by the first baseman and the threat is gone.

Halfway through this Division Championship Game, it's Texas leading 2-0.

 

Mayes back out again, the Baylor fifth commences.

Menard leads off batting righty, for the Bears.
A lazy fly ball to left to Johnson, is a quick first out.

Arrington bats lefty, with one away.
A high pop on the left side, Hinojosa has it, as he sets foot on the outfield grass, two gone.

Wes Tunnell will pinch hit, batting lefty, with two retired.
A full count and a fly ball down the left field line, Johnson over and makes the catch, side down.

Mayes still keeping the great starting pitching string alive, could use a couple more runs, Texas leads 2-0, after five.

 

Kay still going strong at the moment, works on, as the sixth starts.
McClean comes into the game to play second.

Baker leads off batting righty, for Texas.
He lines a single to left, on a hop, for a lead runner.

Hinojosa bats righty, up to bunt, with a man on.
He does and the 1-3 sac, will move Baker to second.

Coach Smith out of the dugout and this time, he makes the change.

Pitching change.

 

The new Bear, on the mound, is right hander, Joe Kirkland.

Barrera step in to face him, right handed, with one on and one down.
This is the same set up, with Baker on second, he launched the homer, that is responsible, for all the offense in the game, so far.
A full count and a low and outside offering puts him on, on the walk.

Shaw bats lefty, with two aboard, one down.
He has a chance to add to the lead, any extra runs are big.
A pitch in the dirt and Baker moves up on it, with heads up base running, it's a wild pitch.
Barrera held at first.
Shaw needs some contact, preferably a fly ball.
A pop out to second will not get it done, two down.

Gurwitz bats righty, with still two on and now two outs.
Need a clutch hit now, to score.
A full count and Barrera will be on the move now.
A pitch in the dirt put him on and loads the bases.

Smith out again and he wants a lefty pitcher.

Pitching change.

 

That left handed pitcher, for Baylor is Brad Kuntz, to pitch, to the lefty hitter, Marlow.

Marlow steps in the lefty box, with the bases jammed and two outs.
A chance for some much needed breathing room, for Texas and Mayes.
It qualifies as a very big moment, in the game, for both sides.
Marlow checks his swing as Baylor heads for the dugout, he keeps batting.
A one hopper to the plate fills the count.
It's the biggest pitch of the game, the runners all go and a line drive to second, makes the Horn threat go wanting.

Runs still hard to come by, Texas leads 2-0, bottom of six.

 

Mayes out again in the Bear sixth, he tries to keep the Bear offense in "hibernation."
It's his birthday also, we find out, happy 19th, for Connor, so far.

Brown leads off, at the top of the Baylor order, batting righty.
A liner to left and Johnson has it, for one away.

Toth bats lefty, with one down.
He has the only hit of the contest, for the Bears.
He walks on four pitches, to reach again.

Wendal bats righty, with one down and one aboard.
Every out and base runner is crucial in games like this, as Texas fans are well aware of this season.
A fly ball to center and Gurwitz seemed to misjudge it, going back, but then has it on the run, for two gone.

Esthay bats lefty, with one on and two away.
A liner to right is a single, as again the tying runs are on base.

Price, the righty power hitter, who tied the first game against the Horns, with a homer, bats with two on and two outs.
A 2-0 will bring out Skip again, for a try at settling Mayes down again.
Skip is gone and now back to the business at hand.
He walks on four pitches, to load the bases.

Aaron Dodson, bats lefty, with the bases loaded, two outs.
Texas had this opportunity last inning, now it's the Bears turn.
A foul pop, by the stands, on the left side, Boswell over and then has to reach back and down and stabs it, the big threat is over. Good job, freshman!

Both teams waste big threats, Texas still with the 2-0 advantage, after six in the books.

 

Kuntz back out, for the Bears, as the seventh starts .

Cantu leads off batting righty, leading off, for Texas.
He tries to get something started.
A foul pop is caught over the shoulder, on the run, by the first baseman, the nice play is one gone.

Boswell bats lefty, in the nine hole, with an out.
He swings and misses, on the high and outside heat, two down, on the K.

Johnson once more, will bring the top of the order, batting righty, with two outs.
He looks to reach, for the first time today, but also K's swinging, to retire the side.

They stretch in OneOK Ballpark, the Horns cling to their 2-0 lead.

 

Mayes come out again to pitch in the Bear seventh.

Menard, the Baylor catcher, leads off, batting righty.
A slicing fly ball, to right field and Shaw, on the dead run catches it just fair, before crossing the foul line, good play, for one down.

Arrington bats lefty, with one gone.
A grounder to short and Hinjojosa gloves this one, the 6-3 play is two retired.

Steven McClean bats righty, as he came into the game, to play second.
He bunts and Mayes tries to bare hand it, but drops it, it's ruled an E-1, for a two out runner.

Brown bats righty, at the top of the order, one on and two outs.
A well struck ground ball goes right to Marlow, the 4-3 will end the frame.

Rave on freshman, you may have to, for Texas to win it, they lead 2-0, after seven.

 

Kuntz back out for the eighth, as the Texas frame begins.

Baker leads off batting righty, for the Horns.
He has two hits today.
This time he K's swinging, on a tailing fastball outside, for the first out.

Hinojosa bats righty, with one gone.
He sends a liner to the gap, in left center, that falls, it's a stand up double.

Barrera up again batting righty.
He has another shot at bring home a run.
No he won't as he is put on intentionally, for two aboard.

Shaw has the opportunity, batting lefty, as Baylor plays the percentages, rightly so.
A fly ball to left and it drops, but Hinojosa had to hold up, to see if it could be caught.

Gurwitz bats righty, with the bases loaded and one down.
He pops up to shallow left, not deep enough, to score the run.
So frustrating at times, this is.

Coach out again and he won't pull him, with lefty hitting Marlow up.
He doesn't and leaves the scene.

Marlow does bat lefty, with the bases loaded again, with two outs, he did so his last trip and lined out.
A hanging high fast ball on an 0-2 pitch is deposited into center, on a line, for a huge two rbi single, the throw to third gets away and Marlow moves to second on the E-8. Bad pitch by the Baylor pitcher cost him dearly.

Texas leads 4-0.

Cantu bats righty, with two on and two out.
A check swing grounder to short, ends the frame.

Texas breaks through, for two big two out runs and lead 4-0, bottom of the eighth.

 

Mayes back again, with a bigger lead now, in the Bear eighth.

Toth leads off batting lefty for Baylor.
He has been a hard out today, with a hit and a walk.
A full count and thankfully he swings at a pitch in the dirt, Cantu applies tag to complete the K, one down.

Wendal bats righty, with one gone.
He K's also swinging, on a foul tip, hung onto by Cantu, two outs.

Esthay bats lefty, with two away.
He lines to Barrera, at first, to retire the side, in order.

Mayes doing what all the Texas pitchers have done so far, pitching great.

Texas leads 4-0, after eight played.

 

Kuntz pitches the Longhorn ninth, for Baylor.

Boswell leads off batting lefty, for Texas.
He pop it up and the third baseman takes charge and has it behind the mound, for one down.

Johnson will bat righty, again, at the top of the order, with one out.
He tries to reach, for the first time, but a shallow fly ball, to center, will be two away.

Baker bats righty, with two gone.
A ground ball, on a big hop, to third and the 5-3, retires the side in order.

Texas needs three outs to reach the championship game of the Big 12 Tournament, leading 4-0, bottom of nine.

 

Mayes out, trying for the third consecutive complete game of the Tournament, for Horn pitchers.

Price leads off batting righty, for Baylor.
A two hopper to short and Hinojosa has it, the 6-3 play, is an important lead out.

Dodson, bats lefty, with one down.
A full count pitch comes and he swings through the fast ball, for the tenth K of the game for Mayes, two outs.

Cameron Miller will pinch hit, batting lefty, with two gone.
Mayes is one out away, from a real gem today.
A fly ball to center and Gurwitz has it, the game is over.

Texas wins it 4-0, as the freshman Connor Mayes twirls the shutout, with ten strike outs. The Horns are in the championship game, and await an opponent of either OSU or OU.

Back in a moment, listening to the post game and the press conference, see the link from yesterday's game.

 

In the month of May, Texas goes 2-2 against Tech and 4-1 against Baylor, so we are now playing in the Big 12 Championship Game! Hooray new Big 12!

 

Texas has one opponent to beat and maybe the weather, to become the Big 12 Tournament Champions.

I have said many times and it's worth saying again, this team and for the last few years, goes only as far, as the pitching can take it. It did it last season and now with a beat up, overworked staff, with minimal offensive support, is trying to do it again, with some young arms helping. For the first time ever, a team has three consecutive complete games, in the Tournament.

The contribution of the freshman, both offensively and of course on the mound have made a big difference lately. The platooning of right handed freshman position players have allowed mostly ineffective left handed batters, to be benched, against left handed pitching. They are then back in against the right handed starters, and are more potent.

I have liked what Mayes does on the hill, all season, the freshman has good stuff, mixes his pitches well, and has a lot of poise, for now his 19 years, as today is his birthday. If anybody can replace a Parker French, this may be the guy, maybe Morgan Cooper, if all goes well, with his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

It's a waiting game for Texas and all of us now, can the Horns beat the next opponent and the weather, stay tuned.
Sounds like a soap opera, doesn't it? This season has been one so far, can Texas make the cliff hanger ending, a good one for all of us, we'll find out one way or the other tomorrow, maybe.

Yes, I am now saying, there's a chance.

 

French will start tomorrow, according to Augie, in the press conference. He says his arms feels good, but what would you expect him to say,

He is the ace and a senior, he wants the ball, probably going to need somebody out of the pen, finally though. You have everybody out there, none have been used.

 

Great work, HORNS... and NBH!!!!!!

 

How's the weather? The bottom just fell out of the clouds here in The ATX. Any chance the Bedlam Boys will get in the necessary games to allow us the chance to sneak into the Tourney with a win tomorrow?

 

OSU is up big, bottom 9. It looks like UT / OSU tomorrow. Go Horns!