Stanford vs. Texas Game 1

As mentioned time for a step up in competition for the Horns. Though Stanford has been struggling the last couple of seasons, they took 2-3 from Fullerton in Palo Alto.

The Cardinal has struggled to find offense, just like Texas has. Who finds some in this series will win it, in all likelihood.



Going to look for the starting line-ups. The game is broadcast on LHN and the audio is
Texas Longhorns Athletics - TexasSports.com/audio: FREE streaming audio. Game time is 6 pm.

 

The Longhorn line-up:



The Stanford starters are:

Tommy Edman--SS
Quinn Brodey----LF
Mikey Diekroger-3B
Nico Hoerner-----2B
Jonny Locher------RF
Brett Hanewich----DH
Matt Winaker-------1B
Alex Dunlap----------C
Jack Klein------------CF
Kris Bubic-------------P

 

Tonight is the start of a four game series with Stanford. There will be some line-up changes and a different starting pitching rotation for the Horns

 

Tall and lean freshman right hander Nolan Kingham, will get the ball tonight. He has looked good in limited action so far. He will start, but there will be several other arms looked at during the course of the contest, most certainly.
It's a clear and cool night in Austin and it's time for baseball.

The Cardinal shortstop is Tommy Edman leading off as he steps into the left handed batter's box. Kingham gets the sign from the home plate ump and we get under way.

Edman runs the count full and on a check swing, walks on an inside fastball, Kingham not missing by much, but missing.

Quinn Brodey also swings from the left side and plays left field.
Not bunting and a high fly to center is the first out of the game.

Mikey Diekroeger, the third baseman bats lefty too.
He grounds to short and the 6-4-3 dp is turned to retire the side.

Nothing for the Cardinal and Texas comes in to take their first hacks.

 

Stanford will also start a freshman in left hander Kris Bubic, a rather large speciman.

Zane Gurwitz, as he has in every game, leads off batting righty and playing centerfield.
He K's swinging on three pitches, going for an outside change of pace.

The Longhorn second baseman is Joe Baker, in his first action of the season, batting righty with one down.
He goes down swinging the same way, swinging at a down and away slow change.

Patrick Mathis is in right field, batting lefty. He has been hot of late and finally shown the power he is capable of also, with the only two homers that Texas has so far.
He K's looking, at a fast ball on the outside corner, to end the frame.

One gone in Austin and no damage done yet by either squad.

 

Kingham back out for the second inning.

Leading off for the Cardinal is Nico Hoerner, the second sacker, batting righty.
A ground ball to third and the throw is just dropped by new first baseman, Kaleb Denny. It's an E-3, to put him on.

Right fielder Jonny Locher, the right fielder bats righty.
With nobody down he does bunt and the 1-3 sac bunt moves the runner along, one away.

The real DH and not the listed pitcher that Marques always deploys is Beau Branton and he bats righty.
A comebacker goes 1-3, as the runner holds at second for the second out.

Lefty hitting Mat Winaker, the first baseman hits with one on and two down.
Another comebacker goes off Kingham's glove to second and the 1-4-3 retires the side.

Another runner, but again no damage occurs. Bottom of two and still no runs.

 

Why is that kid playing first ?

 

The big lefty Bubic is back out for Stanford, in the Texas second.

Tres Barrera, the catcher tonight for the Horns leads off, batting right handed.
He fouls off multiple pitches and chops one to short, the 6-3 is in time for one down.

Michael Cantu, at DH in the game bats righty, with one out.
Texas is getting as many righty hitters into the game as possible, they face a lefty starting pitcher, for the first time. They are also looking at players early in the season.
Cantu can't catch up to a fast ball and it's the fourth K of the game for the Horns, two away.

Kaleb Denny, the son of David and coming back after not playing due to injuries last season, plays first and bats righty, with two away. He is supposed to be a very good hitter.
He slaps a high fast ball through the hole on the left side, for the first hit of the game and the first runner for Texas.

Travis Jones plays third and bats righty, with one on and two gone.
A high pop behind the mound is caught by the second baseman, that's the inning.

Two played and still nobody across the pay station.

 

Kingham back on the hill for the Cardinal third.

The catcher Alex Dunlap, leads off batting from the right side.
The count runs full and a squibber to the right of the mound goes 1-3 on the accurrate throw, one down. The first time in the game the lead hitter has been retired by Kingham.

Jack Klein plays centerfield and bats righty, with one down, in the nine hole.
He walks on an inside fast ball and as in every inning so far, the Cardinal has a base runner.

Edman, at the top of the order, bats lefty with one on and one out.
A 3-0 count brings Skip out for a visit to try and help the Los Vegas freshman find the strike zone.
Skip back to the dugout.
The count is fought back to 3-2 and a flair to center is caught by a backing Boswell, for two gone.

Brodey will bat again lefty, with one on and two down.
An outside fast ball is another free pass to put two aboard.

Diekroeger bats from the lefty side, with two outs and runners at first and second.
Yet another comebacker and the 1-3 will retire the side.

Kingham struggles with command, but no harm done.
Bottom of the third and still no runs plated.

 

Bubic with some big strides heads back to the bump for Stanford, as the Texas third commences.

Shortstop Bret Boswell bats lefty, to lead off for the Horns.
He blows a heaters by Boswell, the K is one away.

The bottom of the Horn order is righty hitter Ty Rand playing left.
He lays down a bunt on the left and side and the third baseman charges and the throw is late, as the great speed of Ty beats it.

The top of the order is Gurwitz, batting righty with one on and one down.
Rand goes and just outruns the baseball, the throw is there, but late, stolen base.

Gurwitz back in and he walks on four pitches, as Bubic seemed rattled by Rand.

Baker bats righty, with two on and one down.
Another ball and the pitching coach comes out.
He returns and Baker back in the box.
Ball four is taken, but it's called a strike, it was high, but he still bats. Bad call could cost the Horns.
A hammered liner to left is caught, but Rand tags and moves to third.

Runners on the corners for the power hitting Mathis, with two gone, batting lefty.
He flies to center and the wind knocks it down, so the frame ends.

Texas threatens, but again no damage is done.
Three full in the books, not a thing in the run column.

 

Kingham will pitch the Stanford fourth frame.

Leading off for the Cardinal is Hoerner, batting righty.
Mathis has been replaced in right field, as he may have some sort of injury. Brady Harlan replaces him.
Meanwhile Hoerner grounds to second and the 4-3 is the first out.

Locher bats righty, with one down.
He follow suit and a ground ball to second is the second 4-3 play and second out. I second that.

The DH Branto bats lefty, with two gone.
Another ground ball, this time to short and the 6-3 will retire the side in order.

Bottom of the fourth comes and still nada in scoring runs.

 

Bubic again back out for Stanford.

Barrera leads off the Texas fourth, batting righty.
He grounds toward the hole on the left side, the throw is a bit up the first base line, but the tag is applied by the first baseman, the 6-3 play is one away.

Cantu bats righty with one gone.
He takes a big breaker for a called strike three on the outside corner, two gone.

Denny bats righty again, with two outs, he singled his first at bat as a Longhorn.
The count runs full and a high breaker is cut on and missed, the side down in order.

Four innings recorded and still 0-0.

 

Kingham tries to go five and it could be his last, in this early season.

The Cardinal leads off with lefty hitting Winaker, as the bottom third of the order is up.
A liner to center on a high fast ball is the first hit of the game for Stanford.

One on for righty hitting Dunlap, with one on.
He squares, but pulls the bat back and lines sharply to left, but right at Rand, for one gone.

The nine hole hitter is Klein, batting righty, one on and one down.
He inside outs an inside fast ball and it sneaks throught the right side of the infield, for another hit.

Edman bats lefty, with one down and runners on first and second.
Another Stanford threat and after a ball delivered, Skips slowly stroll out to the mound again.
He leaves Kingham in.
Edman back in and a chopper on the right side goes 4-3, for the second out, as the runners move up.

Brodey bats lefty, with runners at second and third, two away.
Skip out and wants a lefty arm to face him.

Pitching change.

 

That lefty arm belongs to senior Travis Duke and this is one of his roles, facing the lefties in tough situations.

Nice outing for Kingham, in his first start, Duke needs this out to keep him from a possible loss.

Brodey steps in and the runners lead from second and third.
A nubber in front of the plate and Barrera pounces on it and a strong throw, just nips him at first.

Duke does the job and Kingham is off the hook.

Halfway through the first of four games and though some threats, still nothing scored.

 

The Texas fifth frame arrives and Bubic sticks around for it.

Jones leads off for the Horns, batting righty.
It's the bottom third of the order do.
He walks on four pitches, for a lead runner.

Boswell bats lefty, with one on.
Out comes the pitching coach and he may leave him in to face the lefty hitter. He does, so Boswell back in.
Bret squares and lays it down toward third, the 5-3 sac is good.

Rand bats in the nine hole, with Jones at second.
Coach back out and this time the change will be made.

Pitching change.

 

Right hander Colton Hock is the new Cardinal hurler, Bubic had a good outing, but as Kingham in the last inning, he could still be the losing pitcher.

Rand steps back and tries to plate the first run of the game and give Texas the lead.
A liner on a hop right to the second baseman, who was holding Jones at second, lucky for Stanford, the 4-3 will record the second out, as Jones goes to third.

Top of the Horn order in Gurwitz, batting righty, he could still give Texas the lead, man on third and two outs.
A full count reached and a big curve is hacked on and missed, the threat goes a wanting.

Five played in full and not a run on the board. We said runs would be at a premium and even one is not seen so far.

 

A lot of two out runners on third, need that clutch hit, very familiar situation these past several years.

 

Texas brings in another freshman arm in righty Blake Wellman, a tall and thin pitcher, in the sixth.

Middle of the order up for the Cardinal.
Diekroeger leads off batting righty.
A high pop on the right side is caught by second baseman Baker for one gone.

Hoerner bats righty, with one away.
A foul pop on the third base side and Jones has it, as he falls into the Stanford dugout and can't hold it, good effort though.
A full count comes and a ground goes to third and the 5-3 is two outs.

Locher bats righty with two gone.
A fly ball to right and that retires the side in order, a good inning for Wellman.

To the bottom of six and it's 0-0.

 

Hock remains in the game for Stanford for the Horn half of the frame.

Baker leads off batting righty, trying to get something started.
Baker with another liner, but it's caught in center, one down.

Brady Harlan bats lefty, he came on for Mathis, one gone.
His first at bat as a horn is a bunt and the third baseman charges and makes the play 5-3, for the two down.

Barrera bats righty with two gone.
He singles sharply back through the box, for a two out runner.

Cantu bats righty, as the DH, with one on and two outs.
Another liner, this time to right, but caught and that ends the inning.

Six down at the Disch and still nada y nada.

 

Wellman will come back for the Cardinal seventh.

They lead off with the DH Branton, batting right handed.
He gets a fast ball in on hands and a pop to short is an easy first out.

Winaker bats lefty, with one down.
He grounds to second and the 4-3 is two gone.

The catcher Dunlap bats righty, with two away.
A walk is Wellman's first base runner.

Klein bats righty, with two gone and one on.
He has done some damage with a hit and a walk.
He hits a slow roller off the end of the bat toward the hole, on the right side, Baker goes to a knee and tries to barehand it and can't make the play.
The infield hit puts two on.

Edman bats lefty, at the top of the order, with two on and two down, as another Stanford threat is mounted.
He grounds to second and Baker goes the short way 4-6, another jam is squashed.

They stretch in Austin and the crowd hopes for a Texas run, as there are no tallies in the game.

 

Hock stays in for Stanford.

The Texas seventh starts with Kody Clemens pinch hitting for Kaleb Denny, as one legacy bats for another.
Clemens bats lefty.
He swings through a fastball and the K is one down.

Kody's big brother will pinch hit for Travis Jones, hitting lefty also.
The elder Clemens in Kacy, grounds to third and the 5-3 is two quick outs.

Boswell bats lefty with two down.
A very sharp overhand curve is taken for a called strike three, the Horns down in order.

The game grows late and the pressure builds, as to the eighth, not a run in sight yet.

 

Thanks for updates NB, keep wandering back to computer hoping to see a run, great pitching performance lets take advantage of it.

 

A little surprising to me, Wellman stays in for the Stanford eighth. He will be on a very short leash.

Brodey leads off batting lefty for the Cardinal.
The first pitch is skyed to left, a quick one away.

Diekroeger bats left too, with one gone.
A grounder up the middle but Boswell is shaded that way and the 6-3 means two down.

Heorner bats righty and flies to left center on the first pitch.
Gurwitz has it and the side is quickly down in order.

Wellman with a very solid outing and I think he is surely done now.

Bottom of eight and Texas looks to break up the double shutout.

 

Hock also having a good outing, but what pitcher isn't, stays in.

Rand leads off batting in the nine hole, from the right side.
Would love to see him on with his speed.
Another hard liner, this one to right and the right fielder playing shallow, comes in and makes a diving headfirst sliding catch.
If he doesn't make that play, it could have been a inside the parker with Rand's speed.

Gurwitz bats again righty, at the top of the order, one down.
He K's swinging through a fast ball, two gone.

Baker bats righty, with two outs.
He takes a high fast ball by the third baseman for a two out single.
He may be running.

Harlan bats lefty, with one on and two gone.
He also K's swinging, on a fast ball and the Horns are still striking out at an alarming rate.

So to the ninth and nobody can score, it seems.

 

Another freshman arm is the closer Chase Shugart, a right hander for the Horns.

Leading off for Stanford is right hitter is Locher.
He is fisted by a fast ball and a pop down the third base line is caught by Boswell, one down.

A pinch hitter is righty hitting Matt Decker, one is retired.
A ground ball in the hole on the left side and Boswell backhands it on a knee, a very strong and accurrate thow is a nifty 6-3 play for the second out.

Winaker bats lefty, with two gone.
A high shallow fly to center and Gurwitz squeezes it, the side again down in order.

Texas pitching shuts out Stanford for nine innings and hopes the offense can score a run in regulation, it would be a game winner.

 

Hock just keeps going in the bottom of the ninth.
Texas has done much against him.

Barrera leads off batting righty, for the Horns.
A sharply hit grounder to second is gobbled up and the the 4-3 is one down.

Cantu steps in as the DH, batting right handed, one away.
He walks and the winning run is aboard.
A pinch runner for Cantu is Shaw.

Kody Clemen bats lefty with one on and one down.
He grounds to second and the force is all they get. The 4-6 is the second out, as the relay pulled the first baseman off the bag.

Kacy Clemens bats lefty, two outs and one on.
The count runs full and he walks to put two on and the winning run in scoring position.

Coach comes out for a visit, but leaves him in.

Boswell bats lefty, with two on and two outs.
He could win it with a clutch two out hit.
A high fast ball is cut on and missed, the one of many K's retires the side and another extra inning game.

Tenth inning and 0-0.

 

Shugart stays in for another inning of work.

Dunlap leads off for the Cardinal, batting righty.
A groun ball to Boswell and the 6-3, is one retired.

Klein bats righty one more time, in the nine hole, he is 2-2, which monumental in this game.
A full count and a sharp slider is hacked on and missed, what a pitch, in that kind of situation, these freshman show no fear so far this season.

Edman bats lefty, the top of the Stanford order back up.
He walks on four pitches and the lead run is on, with two gone.
He is a real threat to run.

Skip out and he wants a lefty.

Pitching change.

 

I was told there would be hitting.

 

Jon Malmin, another lefty asked to get an out in situational pitching, enters the game for Texas.

Brodey bats lefty and one man on and two gone.
Malmin can also hold the runner closer to first, as a lefty.
A big breaker in the dirt is swung on and missed, Barrera completes the put out 2-3.

Texas again with a chance to win the opener, with a run in the tenth.

 

Hock must throw till he dies it seems, as he returns again.

Rand leads off the tenth for the Horns batting righty, in the nine hole.
A ground ball to the hole on the left side, by the third baseman, the shortstop fields, but Rand's speed makes it an infield hit.
Great speed is on first, as the winning run.

Gurwitz bats righty, the top of the order, with one on.
He should be bunting and he lays it down, the 2-3 is one away.
The winning run in Rand is at second.

Baker bats righty, one on at second and one down.
He is grazed by an inside curve ball, they may have pitched around him, to set up the double play.

The freshman Harland bats lefty with two on and one down.
He can win it with an outfield hit, but could also end the inning.
Instead he K's on a big curve looking, for two down.

So it's up to your team leader Barrera, batting righty, two on and two down.
The count runs full and an outfield hits wins it, as the runners go.
An outside pitch loads the bases on a walk.

Ben Kennedy pinch hits, as Cantu had been removed for a pinch runner earlier.
The bases loaded and two outs as he bats left handed.
He swings through a fast ball and that's about 15 K's I think, it retires the side.

Texas squanders another chance and the game goes on. To the eleventh and nothing but 0's.