The weather has cleared and hopefully a long day of baseball begins. Texas faces the host team DBU, in the first elimination game, of the Regional. The outfield has taken a beating and will probably be treacherous still, even if most of the moisture is gone. It will be interesting to see if it has a bearing on this and other games to come. Texas must win four games in a row, to win this Regional and it starts with the talented and now desperate #1 seed DBU. Ty Culbreth will get the start for the Horns in this one. He needs another quality start, as runs are a hard commodity, for this Texas team usually. An offensive lift would be very welcome. The game is televised on ESPN2 today and the audio is texas.leanplayer.com. Lineups on the way.
Texas Lineup: Ben Johnson-LF Joe Baker-DH C.J. Hinojosa-SS Tres Barrera-1B Collin Shaw-RF Zane Gurwitz-CF Brooks Marlow-2B Michael Cantu-C Bret Boswell-3B Ty Culbreth-LHP
Texas left hander, Ty Culbreth, warms up, as Texas is the home team. The chopper was here again today, as one last measure to dry out the field. The infield is fine, it's the outfield that will be a problem. Culbreth is given the signal, by the home plate ump, play begins. Leading off for the Patriots is Drew Turbin, the second baseman, batting left handed. He K's swinging on the fast ball, in the dirt, one out. Camden Duzenack, plays short and bats righty, with an out. A ground ball to Boswell by the bag, at third and the 5-3 is two away. Justin Wall, the DBU, left fielder, bats righty, with two gone. A full count and he walks, on an outside pitch, for the first base runner of the game. The catcher, Daniel Salters, bats lefty, with one on and two outs. A little liner to left center and it gets down, for a single and dies, the runner goes to third. Runners on the corners, for righty hitter, Trooper Reynolds, the DH, with two on and two down. A ground ball to second and the flip to second goes 4-6, to retire the side. A threat, but nothing more, Texas comes to bat.
The DBU starter today is Cory Taylor, a right hander. Ben Johnson steps in, to lead off, for Texas, batting right handed. A come backer to Taylor and the 1-3 is one down. Baker, bats righty, with an out, as the DH. A soft fly ball to center and on the run, the center fielder has it, for two away. Hinojosa bats righty, with two gone. He swings through a fast ball and the side goes down in order. One played, no runs.
Culbreth returns to the mound for Texas, for the second. Tag Duce, the right fielder, will lead off the inning, for DBU, batting right handed. He pops up the first pitch foul, on the left side, Boswell has it, for one down. The center fielder, David Martinelli, bats lefty, with one out. The sharp slider, gets him swinging, for a K, two gone. Nash Knight plays third base, bats righty, with two outs. A fly ball to right is squeezed by Shaw, to retire the side in order. Good inning for Culbreth, bottom of two, no runs yet.
Taylor is back for the Patriots, on the hill, for the Texas second frame. Barrera leads, off as he plays first, in this game, batting righty. He swings through 95 mph heat, to K, one down. Shaw bats lefty, with one away. A grounder to short, the 6-3, is two down. Gurwitz bats righty, with two outs. He also K's swinging, on a fast ball, to end the frame. Texas down in order again, to the third, still not a run on the board.
Culbreth works his third inning, for Texas. First baseman Chane Lynch, in the nine hole, leads off, batting left handed. A liner to left center falls, then Gurwitz falls going after it, the outfield strikes. It's a lead double, due to bad conditions. Turbin bats at the top of the order, from the left side, with a runner at second. He fouls off a bunt and then swings and chops a ball over the drawn in Boswell, for another double. DBU leads 1-0. Duzenack bats righty, with a man still at second. He fouls off a bunt and then swings and grounds a ball through the left side, for a single, the runner holds at third. Skip to the mound and people rush to the bullpen. A conference and now Skip goes back to the dugout. Wall bats righty, with runners on the corners. A fly ball to right and the wind carries it and it's gone, for a homer. DBU leads 4-0. Salters bats lefty, still no outs. A fly ball to left, goes nowhere, as the wind knocks it down, for the first out. Reynolds bats righty, with an out. He K's looking, on an inside fast ball, for two away. Duce, bats righty, with two gone. Another fast ball taken and another backwards K, will retire the side finally. DBU with the big inning, the big blow, the three run shot by Wall. Texas either finds some offense or their season will end. DBU leads 4-0, bottom of the third.
Taylor, perfect so far, now has a big lead to work with, as the Texas third starts. Marlow leads off, for the Horns, batting left handed. A ground ball to second is a 4-3 first out. Cantu bats righty, with one away. He's been in a big slump lately. He takes a curve ball, that cuts the plate in half, for the backwards K, two gone. Boswell bats lefty, in the nine hole, two outs. A liner to left and it's down, for the first Texas safety, of the game. Johnson, at the top of the order, bats righty, with two gone and one on. Ben makes this team go, he needs to get hot. He swings and misses at a low fast ball and it retires the side. Three played and DBU leads 4-0.
Freshman right hander, Connor Mayes will come into the game, as Texas goes all in. They can't afford to give up many or maybe not any more runs, to have a chance to stave off elimination. Martinelli leads off, batting lefty, for DBU. A fly ball to left, is one down. Knight bats lefty, with one down. He grounds to second, for the 4-3 second out. Lynch also bats lefty, with two gone. He lines his second hit of the game to center, this one a single. Turbin bats again, at the top of the order, batting lefty. A grounball to the left of Marlow and he has it and the 4-3 put out retires the side. Bottom of four and DBU ahead 4-0.
Taylor continues on, for DBU, in the fourth. Baker leads off, for Texas, batting right handed. A liner to right and the right fielder goes back, a few steps and has it, one down. Hinojosa bats righty, with one gone. He shoots a liner to left, for a single, to reach. Barrera, bats righty, with one on and one down. A wild pitch, will send Hinojosa to second. A pop up to first, is caught and it's two dow. Shaw bats lefty, with two down and one on. A fly ball goes to center and that retires the side. Texas strands a runner in scoring position, at this point that can't be done, it will send you home. DBU leads 4-0, after four.
Mayes out, for his second inning of work, in the fifth. Duzenack bats righty, leading off, for DBU. A ground ball by Boswell and down the left field line, is a lead double. Wall bats righty, with a man on. His three run homer, put the distance between the teams. A wild pitch off Cantu, sends the runner to third. Infield comes in, they have to. A full count and a fly ball to center is plenty deep enough, for the SF, one down. DBU leads 5-0. Salters bats lefty, with one out. A liner to left and it's a single. Reynolds bats righty, with one on and one out A fly ball to left is two down. Duce bats lefty with one and two down. He grounds a ball that Boswell cuts off, but his throw to first is late, an infield hit. Two on and two down, for Martinelli batting lefty, with two on and two outs. He grounds a ball on the right side, that hits the runner going from first, it's an automatic 4U, to retire the side. DBU adds one more, they lead 5-0, halfway through game.
Taylor still in for DBU, in the Texas fifth. Gurwitz leads off, for Texas, batting righty. A soft liner to short, is one out. Marlow bats lefty, with one out. He sends a can of corn to center, it's two gone. Cantu bats righty, with two retired in the frame. A fly ball to center again and Texas down in order again. Seen this too many times, the offense struggles and you can feel the season slipping away. DBU leads 5-0, after five gone.
Mayes works on as, the sixth comes, for Texas. Knight leads off, for the Patriots, batting left handed. He takes a curve, for a called strike three, one down. The lefty hitting Lynch, batting lefty, with one out. He has two hits, so far. A ground ball to second and the 4-3 retires him, for the first time, two gone. Turbin bats lefty, with two outs, as the top of the order comes around again. He lines a shot to the gap, in left center, Gurwitz falls again, it's another double. Duzenack, bats righty, with one down and a man on second. He walks on four pitches, to put two on. Wall bats righty, with two on and one down. Skip out again and he leaves Mayes in, to face the righty power hitter. Wall back in the box and a liner to left, goes for a single, it scores another run. DBU leads 6-0. Skip out and a pitching change is made.
Travis Duke comes into to pitch for the Horns, the lefty has to shut the door, if Texas is to have any remote chance to win. Salters is up, batting lefty, with two on and two outs. Another liner to left, another single and another run. DBU leads 7-0. Reynolds bats righty, with two on and still two outs. A fly ball to center and that will mercifully end the inning. DBU plays add on and lead 7-0, to take complete command of this one, bottom of the sixth.
Taylor works in a rocking chair now, as the Texas sixth comes. Boswell leads off, battting left handed, in the nine hole. A full count and he walks, the first time today, the Horns have a lead base runner. Johnson, at the top of the order, bats righty, with a man on. He just hasn't done much lately, and it hurts the Horns, to say the least. A ground ball to second and it goes 6-4-3, for a double play, two down. That is the season in a nutshell offensively, no clutch hitting, against good pitching, most of the time. Baker bats righty, with two gone. He is plunked by a pitch to reach. Hinojosa bats righty, with two outs and one on. A wild pitch, will put Baker to second. He walks to put two on, the double play is killing you now. Barrera bats righty, with two on and two outs. A sharp ground ball goes by the shortstop, for a hit and an rbi. The center fielder slips and Hinojosa goes to third, on the E-8. DBU leads 7-1. Shaw bats lefty, with runners on the corners, two outs. A full count and Barrera goes now. A pop up to second will retire the side. Texas breaks up the shutout, but one run, just won't get the job done now. DBU leads 7-1, after six played.
Kyle Johnston, the freshman flame thrower, will pitch the seventh, for Texas. It's good for him to get some action in a regional. Duce leads off, batting lefty, leading off, for the Patriots. He K's swinging, on a heater, but Cantu misses the pitch, then his throw is wide, to first and he reaches on a K. It's a strikeout and a passed ball. Martinelli bats righty, with one on. He K's swinging, for one away. Knight bats lefty, with one on and one down. A ground ball to second and the 4-6 force is out two, as the relay is wild. Lynch bats lefty, with one on and two gone. He lines out to Boswell, at third, to retire the side. They stretch in Dallas, as the Patriots are looking forward to another game, at least. They lead 7-1.
Taylor sticks around for another inning, as the Patriots look to save arms. Gurwitz leads off batting right handed. He can't check his swing and K's on an outside fast ball, for one away. Marlow bats lefty, with an out recorded. A liner to center, goes to the center fielder, two gone. Cantu bats righty, with two away. A fly ball to center, keeps him still slumping and the side is down, order. It's just a matter of playing out the string now, it's all DBU, leading 7-1, after seven.
Johnston will get another inning of experience, as DBU eighth starts. Turbin, the lead off hitter, will lead off the inning, batting lefty. He K's swinging, on a pitch in the dirt, then he kicks the ball, on his way to second, it's K, with 2U put out. Duzenack bats righty, with one out. He lines a single to left, to reach. Wall bats righty, with one on and one down. A pitch in the dirt, then a throw to second by Cantu, is wide and the runner just beats it. It's a wild pitch. Wall drops a liner to right, for a rbi single, as the onslaught continues. DBU leads 8-1. Salters bats lefty, with one out and one down. A grounder to second goes 4-6-3, the double play will end the inning. DBU puts up another, Wall has six rbi's now, the Patriots lead 8-1, bottom of eight.
Taylor is still out there, in the eighth, for DBU. Boswell leads off batting lefty, for Texas. He has one of the three Texas hits, all singles. He K's swinging, as Taylor still has gas left, on the fastball. Johnson bats righty, with on down, at the top of the order. It could be the last swings for him, in a Longhorn uniform, as he will sign and go pro. He takes a fast ball, on the outside corner, the K, is two down. Baker bats righty, with two retired. A ground ball to third goes 5-3, to retire the side in order. Taylor still going strong, and Texas down to three outs left, in their season. DBU leads 8-1, after eight played.
Thanks NB for your play by plays this year. About the only good thing about this team. Just a no show today. Unless Augie retires, which I don't expect, some changes should be forthcoming. Ok Charlie, you are on deck.
Color me disappointed but relieved. Now Augie, after some really good years here, can "retire" and we can start to move on from here. No band-aids with firing assistants or promises of soul-searching and making changes. All good runs inevitably come to an end and this is where this run needs to do that.
Johnston will try to finish the Texas season on the mound, as the ninth rolls around. A pinch hitter, is Daniel Sweet, batting lefty, leads off, for the Patriots. A little tapper back to Johnston goes 1-3, for one away. Duce bats righty, with an out. He K's swinging on a fast ball, Cantu drops it, but applies the tag, for the 2U, to complete the K. Martinelli, bats lefty, with two down. He walks, for a two out runner. Knight bats lefty, with one on and two gone. A ground up the middle, gets through, for a single. He keeps going, as Gurwitz slips again, the throw can't be handled by Marlow, it was in time, but it's a double. Skip out and another pitching change.
Another freshman, in lefty Jon Malmin, will come in, and get some experience in a regional. He faces lefty hitter, Nash, in the nine hole, with two on and two gone. A ground ball to short goes 6-3, to end the inning. Texas three outs to Austin, as the bottom of the ninth comes, down to DBU 8-1.
Thanks NB for keeping the faith all year. No real surprises this weekend Oregon State and DBU are better teams and Texas used up its magic last weekend in Tulsa. Interested to see how Augie comes back from this very disappointing season and which recruits make it past the MLB draft. Just a few months to Longhorn football and then the clock will turn to another baseball season, see you next February!
Taylor goes for the complete game win, in the Texas ninth. Hinojosas bats righty, leading off, for the Horns. He could also go pro, but I don't know if he will be drafted high enough. A dribbler in front of the plate and the catchers jumps on it, the 2-3, is one down. Barrera bats righty, with one gone. A full count and he walks, for a base runner. Shaw bats lefty, with one on and one down. This is the senior's last at bat. He K's swinging, on a fast ball, two gone. Gurwitz bats righty, with one on and two outs. He wears a fast ball in his lower back, to reach the hard way. Marlow, another senior, bats lefty, with two on and two gone. Taylor is laboring now, but tries to finish the game. A liner to center is caught, and that's the game. DBU wins 8-1, on a complete game effort, by Taylor. They move on and Texas is eliminated. It's been a mostly a hard year, for the Horns. Going to to take a short break and sum this one up and the season.
I feel like a lot of people are not aware of the injuries we had. Augie has made the postseason two years in a row including a 3rd place national finish. Augie won a big 12 tournament title despite having significant pitching injuries. He deserves to come back.
