Texas won't miss the Big 12 Tournament, with the Kansas loss today. So what will be their seed there is the only question left, most likely 6-7, with KSU needing one more loss in Fort Worth to make that certain. The Horns will have to win the next two games against Baylor, to finish sixth, as the teams come into today game tied for that spot, as another Bear win will give them the tie breaker. Line-ups are being searched for, as you read this.
Veteran left hander Ty Culbreth, gets the start on the mound, for the Horns. He has an 8-3 record, tied for most wins in the Big 12, a major accomplishment, in this season. He is not going long in this game, as Texas starts saving arms, for the Tourney. The weather is fine and just a slight breeze blowing out to left. Leading off for Baylor is Steven McLean, the third baseman, batting righty. A full count and he walks, for a lead runner. Justin Arrington, the second baseman, bats lefty, with a man on. He bunts and the sac goes 1-3, one away, runner to second. The catcher is Matt Menard, batting right handed, one on and one out. Grounder to second, the 4-3 is two gone, runner to third. Kameron Esthay, the left fielder will bat lefty, with a man on and two away. He K's swinging, on a curve ball, in the dirt, Barrera with the tage comepletes the third out, on the 2U. Baylor threatens, no dice, Texas up to bat.
Daniel Castano, a left hander, with a 4-4 record and an era of 4.37, gets the pitching start for Baylor. Ty Rand will lead off for the Horns tonight, batting righty and playing left field. He grounds a comebacker to the mound, the 1-3 is the first out. Shortstop is Joe Baker, batting righty, with an out. Slow roller to second and the 4-3 is two away rapidly. Travis Jones, the DH, in his new place in the order, bats righty, with two gone. A ground ball, on the right side, gets by the diving first baseman, for a single and a two out runner. See no reason for Jones, not to run here. The Horn catcher is Tres Barrera, batting righty, with a man on and two outs. Comebacker knocked down by the pitcher, the 1-3 will retire the side. Both teams with a runner in the first, but neither scores.
Culbreth will pitch the second for the Horns. The Bears lead off with Darryn Sheppard, their right fielder, batting from the right side. A grounder toward the hole, on the left side does just get through, for a lead single. First baseman is Aaron Dodson, batting righty, with a man on. Baylor bunted in this situation in the first, but not this time and a fly ball to shallow right field is one down. The Bear DH is Joe Sabatini, batting right, with one on and one out. He sends a deep fly ball to center, but caught by Gurwitz, two away. Josh Bissonette, bats righty, with a man on and two gone. The Bear shortstop lines a ball over short, for a single and puts runners on the corners. The centerfielder is Richard Cunningham, batting lefty, with two on. A full count and the runner will move from first. A grounder to second and again a threat averted, on the 4-3 third out. Bottom of two and nobody on the scoreboard.
Castano will again be on the hill for the Bears, in the Horn second. Kacy Clemens will lead off batting lefty, for Texas, the first baseman. A liner gets over the leaping second baseman's glove, a lead single, for a runner. The centerfielder is Zan Gurwitz, batting righty, with a man on. He bunts and the throw from Castano is low and not handled at first. It's a sac and a E-1. Patrick Mathis, the right fielder, will bat lefty, with two on, from the left side. He doesn't square and takes a strike, he probably missed the sign and coaches let him know that. He squares now and fouls it off. He tries to bunt again and fouls it off, it's a rule K, for one down, bad execution and a mental error. Kody Clemens bats lefty, with two on and one away, as the third baseman, for Texas. He K's swinging on the sweeping curve ball, two away. The second baseman is Jake McKenzie, batting righty, with two gone. It takes a hit to score now and a fly ball to center is not one, side down. An ugly inning by both teams and it results in nothing across, so two played and 0-0.
Culbreth is on for his third inning of work, it might be his last, as pitchers are started to be lined up, for the must win Tournament effort. Leading off for the Bears is the top of the order, in McLean, batting right handed. A fly ball to center is one down. Arrington bats righty, with one away. A roller to second and the 4-3 is two down. Righty hitter is Menard, with two outs. He takes a curve ball, on the outside corner, for a called K, the side down in order. If Culbreth is done, he gave Texas three scoreless inning, in what would probably be his last ever appearance, at the Disch. Bottom of three and still 0-0.
Castano is back again for his third inning of work. The Horns lead off with the top of the order, in Rand, batting righty. A little dribbler to first base side of the mound, he can't pick it and it's another E-1, for a lead runner. Baker is up batting righty, with a man on. He squares and fouls it off, then swings away and fouls a pitch off, a full count and he walks, to put two on, same as last innning. Righty hitter is Jones, with two on. He squares and fouls a pitch off, then he swings away and a grounder to short and the with his momentum going to third, the shortstop goes to third, for a 6-5 force, one away. Barrera bats righty, with two on and one out. He lofts a pop up behind first base, two down. It's up to Kacy Clemens, batting lefty, with two on and two outs. He grounds a single through the right side and the throw to the plate is not in time, the run scores. Texas leads 1-0. Gurwitz bats righty, with two on and two down. He walks on four pitches to load the bases. Coach out for a visit, but leaves him in. Lefty batter is Mathis, the bases loaded and two gone. A ground ball to third and the third baseman goes to the bag, for a 5U, to end the inning. We have a tally, it's unearned, but it gives Texas a 1-0 lead, after three played.
Culbreth has indeed probably thrown his last pitch at the Disch. Kyle Johnston, the hard throwing Texas hurler comes in to to pitch the fourth, all about command for him. Esthay leads off, for Baylor batting lefty. He K's swinging on three pitches, the last a high fast ball, one away. Right handed hitter is Sheppard, with an out. He grounds to third and the 5-3 is two quick outs. Dodson will bat lefty now, as the switch hitter faces the righty Johnston. He lines a single to center, for a two out runner. Righty hitter is Sabatini, with one on and two gone. He also lines a hit to center, to put two aboard. Bissonette will step in, from the right side, with two on and two outs. He walks and the bases are loaded. It brings lefty hitter, Cunningham, to the plate, with the bases full and two outs. A two hopper to second and another Bear threat down the drain, side retired. You can see why these two teams struggle to score and Texas leads 1-0, bottom of the fourth.
Castano back again, as the Horn fourth begins. Left hitter is Kody Clemens, leading off. He takes a curve ball, for a called K, one down. Bottom of the order is McKenzie, batting righty, with one gone. A soft fly ball to shallow right is two down in a hurry. Top of the order is Rand, batting righty, two outs. Two hopper to third and the side down in order, on the 5-3. Four gone now and Texas leads 1-0.
Johnston will stay in and pitch the fifth, for Texas. The top of the order due for the Bears, it's McLean, batting righty. Grounded to short and the 6-3 is one away. Arrington will bat lefty, with an out. He swings through a fast ball, the K is two down. Righty hitting Menard, will step in, with two gone. He swings and misses a change up, in the dirt, the 2-3 putout is needed to record the K, side down in order. Halfway through the second game of the series and Texas ahead 1-0.
Castano stays around and pitches the fifth, for the Bears. Leading off for the Horns is Baker, batting righty. He K's swinging, on a head high fast ball, one down. Jones bats righty, with an out. He strokes a single to center, his second hit of the game. Righty batter is Barrera, with one on and one down. Jones takes off and is nailed out second on a good throw, by Menard, the 2-4 is two outs. Barrera now bats with nobody on, two outs. As often is the case, after a caught stealing, the batter reaches, this time on a walk. Lefty hitter is Kacy Clemens, with a man on and two down. A fly ball to left and the left fielder has it on the run, the inning over. We have played five and Texas leads 1-0.
Johnston will go at least one more, as he comes out for the sixth. Bears lead with Esthay, batting lefty. A roller to short and the 6-3 is the first out. Sheppard will bat righty, with one down. A pop to second is two very quick outs. Lefty hitter is Dodson, with two away. He walks and it's a two out runner. Sabatini bats righty, with a man on and two down. A wild pitch will send the runner to second. A full count and a slow curve is taken for a called strike three, the K will retire the side. Bottom of the sixth and Texas still leads 1-0.
The Bears will bring in Nick Lewis, with an era of 6.52, a right hander. Castano only gave up an unearned run, due to his error. Texas leads off the sixth with Gurwitz, batting right handed. A ground ball to short and the 6-3 is one away. Mathis bats lefty, with an out. He K's swinging on a change up, way low and outside, two gone. Lefty hitter is Kody Clemens, with two outs. A full count and he walks on the outside fast ball, a two out runner. Bottom of the order is McKenzie, batting righty, with a man on and two down. Again Clemens could go, to try and get in scoring position. He does go and steals the base easily, with a good jump. So a hit could double the Horn's run output. He walks on a passed ball, that puts runners on the corners now. Coach is out and lets him keep hurling. Top of the order is Rand, batting righty, two outs and two on. A shallow pop to center and the centerfielder comes in hard catches it chest high, side down. Runs are hard to come by in this series, Texas leads 1-0, after six.
Freshman right hander is Eric Dunbar, in for the seventh, after Johnston gave you three more scoreless frames. Brady Harlan goes into right field, for a struggling Mathis of late. Bears lead off with Bissonette, batting right handed. A routine fly ball to center is one away. Cunningham bats righty, with an out. He singles up the middle, for a runner. Top of the order is McLean, batting righty, with a man on and one away. A liner to second and the throw to first is wide and late, the 4U is two away. Arrington bats righty with two outs and one on. A grounder goes through, on the right side, to put two on. Righty hitter is Menard, two on and two away. A full count and the runners will go. A liner down the line in right will fall and the double will plate two runs. Baylor leads 2-1. That prompts a pitching change.
Senior Travis Duke, will enter the game for Texas, a left hander. He will face the lefty hitting Esthay, with a man on and two outs. A wild pitch sends the runner to third. A little liner off the fists, will drop in left, for a hit, the run scores. Baylor leads 3-1. Another pitching change.
Freshman righty hander is Chase Shugart, in for the Horns now. He faces righty hitting Sheppard, with a man on and still two outs. He K's swinging on three pitches, the last a big curve ball, to end the inning. Baylor breaks through and scores three runs, it's stretch time in Austin and the Bears now lead 3-1.
Thank you for the great P-B-P posts NBH7. Cannot watch the game at this point... Tme to rally Horns!!
The Bears stick with Lewis on the hill, as the Horn seventh commences. Texas leads off with Baker, batting right handed. He walks for a lead runner. Jones is in the right handed batter's box, with a man on. A full count and ground ball to third and it goes 5-4-3, a rally killer of a double play, two outs. So Barrera bats righty, with two outs. Another full count and another walk, the fourth for Lewis so far. Kacy Clemens up lefty, with one on and two away. He has two singles, in the game, half of the hit total, for the Horns. Jones has two singles also. A fly ball to center and the side down. Seven played and Baylor leads 3-1.
Shugart stays around and will pitch the eigthth, for the Horns. Baylor leads off with Dodson, batting lefty. He takes a fast ball down the middle, the called K is one down. West Tunnell will pinch hit, from the left side, with an out. He K's swinging, on a fast ball, two outs. Righty hitter is Bissonette, with two gone. A flair to right and Harlan comes in and simply drops it, off his glove. The E-9 will put the batter on second. Cunningham bats righty, with a man on and two outs. A full count and he walks, to put two on. Top of the order is McLean, batting righty, with two aboard and two down. He K's swinging on the slow curve and the side is retired, Shugart strikes out the side and works around the error, but Baylor leads 3-1, bottom of eitght.
Right hander is Joe Heineman, in now to pitch for the Bears, he pitched last night also. Texas sends up Gurwitz, batting righty, to lead off. He pops up the first pitch to second, one down. Brady Harlan will bat for the first time, from the left side. He came in and replaced Mathis, in right field. A slow chopper, by the bag at first is a 3U out two. Lefty hitter is Kody Clemens, with two outs. Another grounder to first and the flipt to the pitcher is a 3-1 third out. Side down in order and after eight, Baylor leads 3-1.
Shugart will start the ninth, for Texas, on the hill. Arrington leads off, for the Bears, batting lefty. A liner to third and Kody Clemens has it on dive to his left, one away, on the nice play. Right handed hitter is Menard, with an out./ He sends a shallow fly ball to right, again Harlan comes on and this time has it, but it didn't look good, two outs. Esthay bats lefty, with two outs. He K's swinging, on the fast ball, the side down in order. Bottom of the ninth and Baylor looks to clinch the series and the sixth seed for the Big 12 Tourney, they lead 3-1.
For the second time in two games, the Baylor closer Troy Montemayor, will come in and try to get the save, he mowed the Horns down in order last night. He leads the Big 12 in saves. The Horns lead off with the bottom of the order in McKenzie, batting righty. He walks, for a lead runner, the eighth walk of the game, for Baylor pitching. Top of the order is Rand, batting righty, one man on. He is the tying run. He takes a curve ball down the heart of the plate, the K is one down. Baker bats righty, with a man on and one away. He K's swinging on the low curve in the dirt, two down. Up to Jones, to keep the game going, batting righty, with a man on and two outs. Baker goes, as they don't hold him, it defensive indifference, as he is on second now. Another curve ball taken, on the outside corner, the K will end the game. Baylor wins the game 3-1 and the series, the Bears clinch sixth place in the Big 12, back in a bit.
Wow...3 Ks to end the game...another humiliating defeat for the Longhorns. It's too bad this team will qualify for the Big 12 tournament, because I'd really like tomorrow's game to put an end to this disaster. Augie's so far away from 2,000 wins now that coming back for the last year of his contract wouldn't make any difference. How do you want the $300,000, Augie? Small bills?
Same result nearly, in the second game, as it was in the first. Texas took the lead in the third, on an unearned run, the Baylor pitcher Castano, with the key error. Texas had four hits, all singles, two each by Jones and Kacy Clemens, who drove home the only Horn run. Texas never got another hit in the game, after the last Jones single, in the fifth. Eight Baylor walks gave the Horns chances that were never cashed in. Culbreth and Johnston combined for six scoreless innings, as pitchers are being used sparingly, as the Tournament nears. Eric Dunbar, who had pitched well all season had two outs and nearly three, as a double play throw was just late at first, after a caught line drive at second. Then Baylor strung together three hits, for three runs and that was it. Texas loses it's sixth game in a row, nine out of it's last ten. Texas will finish seventh in the Big 12, as TCU has beaten KSU, for the second straight game. The Horns will face OSU, in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament, as the Cowboys have clinched the #2 seed, by beating Kansas, in a double header today. Tomorrow's game means little now, but it's Senior Day and very likely the last home game of the year, at the Disch. I think that Ty Culbreth, Travis Duke, and James Barton are the only seniors. Texas drops to 21-30 for the season, needing a win tomorrow, to not go to the Big 12 Tourney, on a seven game losing streak. Will be back tomorrow, to see how this very dismal regular season ends.
I do not see bringing Augie back just so he can set some kind of personal record. He needs to go so he can work full time on the food network.
Once I heard that Augie only had a year left on his contract I thought for sure he would be back no matter the detrimental effect to the program. Now, however, with the awful baseball being played right now, I sense a resignation and buyout coming. He'll get hired somewhere else and get his 2,000th win there. Texas has enough baseball history; we don't need a coach to get to 2,000 wins for any sort of validation. Especially if it means setting the program back another full year. From the interviews I've seen Augie knows it's over. He's paid the lip service standard of "They brought me here to turn this program around and now I can do it again" thing. The problem is that he made this mess himself, he's not cleaning up after someone else. And on top of that, I don't think he believes what he's saying. There is no conviction there when I listen to him talk about it. It's just time. There is a shelf life to every coach and he's no different. I love how he was able to come in and turn around the program. He did a great service to The University. But his time is up and we need a new vision and new enthusiasm around the program.
