After a lost weekend by Texas, it's Sam Houston State comes to Austin for the midweek game. The Bearkats are 5-8 on the season, but have a three game sweep over OU, then a win against Wichita State. They have also a two game winning streak against the Horns. The game has been moved to 6 pm., because of possible bad weather, there is rain over a large part of Texas today. Game telecast on LHN, maybe having to wait to after the softball game, the audio is on texassports.com. Line-up next.
Overcast skies and a threat of rain in Austin, but will try to get the game in before the bad weather strikes. Right hander Morgan Cooper, will get the start on the mound for Texas. He still tries to get back to full speed, after Tommy John surgery. He could be a big part of the staff, if he does. Leading off for the Bearkats is the centerfielder Bryce Johnson. He steps in from the left side, as he is a switch hitter. The runs full and a ground ball goes up the middle and through, a lead single and runner. Second baseman Riley McKnight bats righty, with one on. He squares and lays down the bunt, the sac goes 1-3, one away. The left fielder Zach Smith, bats lefty, with one on and one down. He lines a single to right, the runner holds at third, to put runners on the corners. Hunter Hearn, the right fielder bats righty, with runners on the corners, one down. The runner at first goes and is gunned down at second, two away. The runner at third holds. Now Heran K's swinging and the 2-3 out at first ends the frame. Bearkats threaten, but no damage done. Texas comes to bat.
Sam Houston will start a right hander Cody Brown, who is 0-1 on the season. Travis Jones, who has assumed the leadoff spot, bats righty, he plays left field in the game. Brown who has control problems this season, walks him on four pitches, a lead runner for the Horns. The shortstop is Bret Boswell , batting lefty, with one on. He squares to bunt, the pitch is in the dirt and back to the screen, the wild pitch moves Jones to second. He pops a foul fly down the line in left, the left fielder has it and the runner has to hold. Joe Baker bats right handed, he plays second base, with one on and one down. Jones heads for second and the Baker hits a little pop to third, the third baseman has and goes to second for a 5U-4 DP, that ends the frame. Both teams threaten in the first, neither scores, still 0-0, after one played.
Cooper back for his second inning of work, for Texas. The Sam Houston catcher is righty hitting Jordan Cooper. He is called out looking at the slow curve, the K is one out. Barrett Koerselman, the Bearkat DH, bats righty, with one down. Another breaking ball and another called strike three, this K means two retired. First baseman is Josh Biles batting righty, two gone. Ground ball to third and the 5-3 means the side down in order. Better inning for Cooper and to the bottom of two, no runs on the board.
Brown will be back on the hill for the Bearkats, in the Texas second. Tres Barrera, catching tonight, leads off, for the Horns. Another lead walk for Brown, puts a runner on. First baseman Kacy Clemens, bats lefty, with one on. He squares and lays it down and the 1-3 sac is good. Patrick Mathis will be the DH, batting lefty, with one one and one down. He is back from injury, but not running run well yet. He grounds a ball through on the left side, the single scores Barrera on the first hit by the Horns. Texas leads 1-0. Kody Clemens plays third and bats lefty, with one on and one out. He sends a fly ball to right and the right fielder turns and runs back to the track and hauls it in, for two away. The right fielder is Brady Harlan, batting lefty, with one on, one in, and two down. He grounds to third and the 5-3 will end the inning. Texas breaks out in front 1-0, after two.
Cooper comes out again, with a lead, as the third starts. Third baseman Taylor Beene, batting right handed, leads off for the Bearkats. A fly ball to left is an easy first out. Nine hole hitter is the shortstop, Andrew Fregia, batting righty, one away. A grounder to third and the 5-3 out is recordes as Kacy Clemens digs out the low third from his brother, two gone. Lead off hitter is back, in Johnson, batting lefty, two down. He grounds to short and the 6-3 is another inning down in order for Cooper. Bottom of the third and Texas leads 1-0.
Brown back out, as he will start the third for Sam Houston. Leading off for Texas is nine hole hitter Zane Gurwitz, playing centerfielder. A liner goes down the right field line, to the wall, it's a lead stand-up double. Top of the order is Jones, batting righty, one on. Grounder to short and the 6-3 out is made, Gurwitz takes big chance going to third, but the throw was to first, thankfully. One down and one at third for Boswell, batting lefty. Infield in. A grounder to second and the 4-3 is two down, the runner has to hold at third. Now it takes a hit from Baker or a miscue from the defense, for the runner to score. Baker bats righty, with two outs, man at third. Baker lines a single to center and it does score the run, on the single. Texas leads 2-0. Barrera bats righty, with one on and two away. Baker is picked off first and it goes 1-3-6 to end the frame. Texas adds a run and leads now 2-0, after three played.
Cooper, who is pitching well again, is back to the bump, for Texas, in the fourth. Leading off for Sam Houston is McKnight, batting righty. A fast ball blown by him is another K, swinging this time, one out. Smith bats lefty with one down. A fly ball to left and Jones runs it down by the foul line in left, two gone. Hearn bats righty, with two gone. He also K's swinging on a fast ball, the side retired in order again. To the bottom of four and Texas leads 2-0.
A new pitcher comes in for the Bearkats, in righty junior Dakota Mills, in the fourth. The softball finally game finally ends in a 3-2 Texas win and the baseball game is on. Leading off for the Horns is Barrera, he was at the plate when Baker was picked off first, he bats righty. He is walked for a second time and another lead runner. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with one on. He bunted his first time and may well again. He does square and it's popped up to first, the first baseman has it for one down, runner of course holds. Mathis bats also lefty, with one on and one down. He flies to center and it's two away. Kody Clemens bats lefty with one on and two away. A wild pitch moves Barrera up to second. Clemens who drove a ball to deep left his last at bat, but caught on the track. He needs a knock for the Horns to play some add on and score the run. This time another drive to left and it's long gone this time. The first homer at for him at Texas adds to the lead. Texas leads 4-0. Harlan grounds off the first baseman, he recovers and feeds the pitcher for a 3-1 third out. Texas does add two more and leads 4-0, after four.
Cooper will pitch the fifth and try to qualify for the win, could maybe go one more after this. Leading off for Sam Houston is Cannon batting righty. He flies to fairly deep center, but caught by Gurwitz, one down. The DH is Koerselman, batting righty, one away. He is hit by an inside fast ball to reach and that breaks a long streak of retired hitters for Cooper, like 11-12 in a row, would have to check. One on and one out for righty hitter Biles. He takes a fast ball looking, on the inside corner, the sixth K of the game is two down. Beene bats righty, with one on and two outs. A full count and the runner will be off on the pitch. Several pitches fouled off and he finally K's swinging on the change that had him way out in front. Halway through the game and Cooper is in line for the victory now, as Texas leads 4-0, bottom of five.
Another pitcher for the Bearkats is right hander Miles Manning, a senior, in the fifth. Leading off for the Horns is Gurwitz batting righty. He doubled his last trip. He lines a single to right center, another lead runner. Top of the line-up is Jones, batting righty, one on. He squares and then pulls it back and fouls it off on the hack. Two strikes puts the bunt off and a one hopper deep in the hole on the lefty side, the throw is wide to first and by the first baseman. It's an infield hit and a E-6, to put runners on second and third. Boswell bats lefty, with two in scoring position. Big chance to put even more on the board. He swings over a change up and the K is one down. So Baker bats righty, with two on and one down. The infield will come in, after the out. Baker can plate two with a hit through to the outfield. He lines a one hop single to center, it scores one more, as it was hit too sharply for Boswell to score. Texas leads 5-0. Barrera bats righty, with runners at the corner, one in, and one down. Baker goes and easily beats a throw to second, stolen base. Boswell held at third. Barrera walks for the third time to load the bases. Lefty hitting Kacy Clemens bats with the bases loaded and one down. Need something out of the infield. A liner to the wall in the gap, goes to the wall, it will clear the basepaths, except for Clemens, with a double. Texas leads 8-0. Coach out and a pitching change.
The Bearkats bring in a right hander named Dane Lovejoy, a big lefty. He faces Mathis batting lefty, with one on and one out. A pop to shallow center and the second baseman has that for two away. Kody Clemens bats lefty with two down and one on. He had his first homer in his last at bat. A wild pitch will move his brother to third. The count runs full and a grounder up the middle gets through and another run scores. Texas leads 9-0. Harlan bats lefty, with one on and two out. He K's on a high fast ball, to finally retire the side. Texas probably puts this one out of reach, as the lead now 9-0, after five in the books.
Cooper will come out for one more, his final one you would believe, since he is on a pitch count still. The Bearkat sixth will start with righty hitter Fregia, he pops up foul by the platea and Barrera drops it, for an E-2. Now he lines a single to left, should have been out, but reaches. Top of the order is Johnson, batting lefty, with a man at first. A ground ball goes to second and the 4-6-3 DP will clean up the error. McKnight bats righty, with two down. He K's swinging on the curve and it retires the side. Now they take away the error on Barrera, don't know about that, it was still a misplay, but it's a home game. Cooper has another very good start, but probably done, as Texas leads 9-0, bottom of the sixth.
The Sam Houston bullpen is being emptied now, as another pitcher is righty freshman Colin Cameron. Gurwitz bats righty leading off, at tail end of the Horn order. A ground ball to second and the 4-3 out is the first time that the lead man has been retired tonight. Top of the order is Jones batting righty, one down. A ground ball this time to short and the 6-3 is two away. Boswell bats lefty, with two gone. He reaches for the first time, as an inside pitch just nips him on the arm, the HBP puts him on first. Righty hitting Baker steps in, with one on and two outs. He shoots another hit through the middle, his third and Boswell keeps going to third. Runners on the corners for Barrera, batting righty, with two down. He has walked all three at bats tonight and scored all three times. Not this time, as a ground ball to third goes 5-3, to end the inning. Texas threatens again, but doesn't score, six gone and it's 9-0 Horns.
As expected Cooper leaves and righty freshman Beau Ridgeway, will come in, for the seventh. Smith will lead it off for the Bearkats, batting lefty. A liner to the gap in left center and Gurwitz on the dead run has it for a nice play and one down. Pinch hitter is lefty Jaxxon Grisham, with one down. He lines a single to center, to put a runner on. Cannon bats righty, with one on and one out. A full count and a pick off attempt at first is in the dirt and by Clemens. It's an E-1, as the runner takes second. Cannon is hit by an inside pitch and that puts two on. Koerselman bats righty, with two on and one down. A liner to center falls and it loads the bases. Skip is out and he is probably telling the freshman to get that fastball down, he keeps getting ahead of batters, then running deep in the count. Biles bats righty, the bases loaded, one down. A liner on a high breaking pitch is laced down the line in left field, for a double. Two score on that. Texas leads 9-2. Beene bats righty with two on. He flies to right, it's deep enough for a SF. Texas leads 9-3. Two down and one on for the nine hole hitter Fregia, batting righty. He takes a fast ball on the inside corner, for a K, to end the inning. Sam Houston breaks up the shutout, getting three, so they stretch at the Disch, Texas still ahead 9-3.
Yet another pitcher for the Bearkats, is righty Austin Woyt, a freshman right hander, in the seventh. Kacy Clemens lead off for the Horns, batting lefty. A nubber to the lefty of the mound and the pitcher fields and goes to the bag, for the rare 1U play and the first out. Lefty hitting Mathis having a good night as the DH, bats with one down. He walks to put a man aboard. Tate Shaw will pinch run and end the night for Mathis, getting him off the bad leg. Kody Clemens bats lefty, with one on and one down. He has a couple of hits in the game, including his first homer. His third hit will sneak through by the shortstop, to put two on. Harlan bats lefty, with two on and one down. He is the only Horn not to reach the base paths tonight. He walks to load the bases and he reaches for the first time. Nine hole hitter is Gurwitz, batting righty, with one out and the bases full. A liner off the lefty fielder's glove and then the wall is a long single, as the runner's went back to tag. It plates a run. Texas leads 10-3. Top of the order is Jones, batting righty, the bases still juiced and one gone. He takes a curve on the inside corner, for a called strike three, the K means two down. Boswell will bat lefty, two down, the bases still loaded, one in. A fly ball to the edge of the track in center, but hauled in, that will retire the side. Texas gets one back and leads 10-3, after seven.
Another righty freshman is Nolan Kingham, he comes in to pitch the eighth. He faces the top of the order in Johnson, batting lefty leading off for the Bearkats. He walks for a lead base runner. McKnight bats righty, with one on. A grounder up the middle to Baker by the bag, it goes 4U-3 for a double play. Lefty hitting Smith, bats with two gone. A long fly ball to the gap in left center will ride the wind to the base of the wall and hop off it, it's a double. Grisham bats righty, with one on and two outs. A comebacker to Kingham goes 1-3, the inning ends. Botom of eight and Texas in command 10-3.
Sam Houston keeps playing musical pitchers, the next one is sidewinder right hander Nate VanDyke, in the eighth. Baker will lead off for Texas, batting righty, having a good game at the plate, as many Horns are tonight. He grounds to third and the 5-3 is one gone. Righty hitter Barrera doesn't have a hit, but has reached on three walks, bats with one down. He has one now as a grounder gets through, on the left side, for a single. Kacy Clemens back again, batting lefty, with one on and one down. He walks on four pitches and that puts two on. Coach out and a pitching change, as the game starts to drag now.
The lates Bearkat pitcher is right hander Spence Rahm. He faces Tate Shaw, as he came in for Mathis and is the DH, two on and one out. Shaw bats lefty and is the brother of Collin Shaw, an outstanding defensive right fielder, last season. He rolls one to the second baseman, he fields and tries to tag Clemens going by and drops the ball. The E-4 loads the bases. Kody Clemens bats lefty, the bases full and one down. He K's swinging at a curve ball for two away. So Harlan bats lefty, the bases still loaded, two away. He lines a single to right and that will score two more. Texas leads 12-3. Gurwitz gets another at bat, with two down, runners on the corners. The righty hitter flies out to left and that retires the side. The ninth comes and Texas should break their four game losing skid leading this one 12-3.
The freshman closer righty Chase Shugart comes in to finish the game, he looks to get back on track, after his first bad outing of the season on Sunday. Cannon leads off righty, for Sam Houston. He K's swinging on the tight slider, for one down. Koerselman bats righty, with one down. He singles up the middle for a base runner. The righty hitting Biles hits, with one on and one down. He swings through a fast ball, for another K and two gone. A pince hitter is righty Jake Vasquez, with one on and two away. The last hope for the Bearkats takes a fast ball on the outside corner, the K will end the game. Texas wins 12-3 and ends a four game losing streak. Post game and then back.
Texas takes care of business in another midweek game, against Sam Houston this time. Now the competition gets much tougher again, with the first road series of the season. It's against another ranked California team in UCLA, in a three game series at Westwood. Morgan Cooper had another very good outing on the mound and that gives hope for more in the future, in maybe a different role, than a midweek starter. The bats will be needed against a Bruin team, that wins with a quality pitching staff. Hopefully they remain hot in the California sun or smog, whichever it may be. It all starts on Friday night and see you then.
Nice midweek win but after last weekend its hard to get too excited about it. Lets see what happens out in LA this weekend.
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Thanks for the updates. Had it work late Tuesday. Still think this team had potential on offense and pitching.
