Guillory back to pitch the eighth, for the Frogs. Gurwitz leads off, batting righty, for Texas, as the game grows finally late, needing to get something started and then score. Grounded hard to short, the 6-3 is one down. Bottom of the order is Rand, batting righty, one down. Another grouder to short and another much to quick second out, on the 6-3. Jones bats righty, at the top of the order again, two gone. A nubber to that the third baseman has, he throws it away at first, then Jones tries for second an is out by five feet. It's an infield single, then a 4-6 third out, to end the inning. Base running mistake, you can't do that down three runs, so TCU leads 8-5, after eight.
Wellman pitches the ninth, for the Horns, Boswell comes in to play shortstop. Wanhanen leads off batting lefty, for TCU. A ground ball right through the box is a lead single. Righty hitter is Steinhagen, with a man on. Another pick off attempt, gets by Clemens, the E-1 moves the runner to second. He K's swinging on a check swing, one away. Hesse bats righty, with one on and an out. He grounds one deep in the hole, on the left side, the throw was late to first and allows the runner to go to third. Skip back out and another change.
Jon Malmin, a lefty sophomore will come in for his first action of the series. Barrera is catching now. He faces Wade, at the top of the order, batting lefty, two on and an out. Now Nolan Brown pinch hits, also batting from the left side. A wild pitch scores another run, runner to second. TCU leads 9-5. Brown back in the box. He walks, on another close pitch, to put two on. Skip out and another change.
Freshman righty is Beau Ridgeway, in to see some conference action, for the first time. He faces righty hitting Warner, with two on and one away. A liner to Gurwitz is two gone, the throw to second is just late. Skoug gets one more at bat, having walked four times today, once intentionally. A little chop to Clemens goes 3U, to end the inning. Another unearned run for TCU and they lead 9-5, to the bottom of the ninth.
The Frogs bring in their closer for the first time, in righty Durbing Feltman, a flame thrower, with the mid to high ninties fast ball. Michael Landestoy comes in to play first base. Leading off for Texas is Kody Clemens, batting lefty. A fly ball to right is the first out. Barrera bats righty, with an out. Seems long ago he tied the game, with a homer. A grounder to third goes 5-3, two gone. So up to Mathis, batting lefty, with two away. A full count fittingly and grounder to first and the 3-1 play ends the game. TCU wins and salvages a game in the series, by a 9-5 score. Back to wrap up the series, in a bit.
TCU came to play today, you knew they would, you can't hold down that kind of a hitting team forever. The strike zone was very small and it didn't help Johnston, who was already struggling with command. Thought there was a chance of some runs being scored today and it turned out that way. Neither team pitched well, wildness and errors added to that, the game went back and fourth, the game tied at 5-5, after five. The sixth inning, like yesterday really made the difference, this time in the favor of the Frogs. They put up a three spot in their half of the inning half, then Texas get the first two on in their half of the sixth, they bunt them up. They don't score Two more stranded in seventh and then six straight outs to end the game, after TCU added an unearned run. It was different kind of game and TCU took advantage and won, the pitching was not dominant today. Still Texas wins the series and that was not expected, it's not a total turnaround yet, but it's a good start. The conference looks fairly wide open, with some weak links. OSU sweeps Kansas State, to assume first place now, at 3-0. They look like the other tough team in the conference. Look out for an improved Texas Tech team who swept OU and has a 5-1 record in the Big 12 now. Where Texas fits in this race is still kind of mystery right now, the series win against the Frogs is a great start, but can they stay consistent, especially on the road. That is what is up for the Horns next, at OU. It's a rivaly affair in Norman. The Sooners look to be not as good as usual, but you know they will come to play against Texas, even more so, after being swept in Lubbock. That's the challenge of conference play, only time will tell the outcome, but you have to feel better about the Horns chances, after this first series.
If you had told me Thursday morning Texas would take 2 out of 3 against TCU I would have thought you were crazy so today's result while disappointing doesn't detract from the fact that it is a huge series win. If this team builds on it through the rest of conference play there may be reason to watch Texas baseball into April and May.
I watched game 2 and saw much promise. Winning 2 of 3 was a great way to start conference play especially against the conference favorite. Tres seems to be taking it to a new level and the younger talent seems to be maturing. Hopefully this turns into a great season.
Told you during the Tulane series that we'd take the series against TCU.....and you said I was crazy...lol......If Cantu can start slamming the ball, we'll have a real offense. Augie's changes to the infield seem to be working. I'm still concerned with the outfield. Just hope all 3 outfielders learn quickly from their mistakes. We could see another tweak in the lineup, depending on Boswell's status. Augie and Skip's "come to Jesus meeting" concerning the pitching staff seems to be heading in the right direction and giving the pitchers a feeling of where they fit into the staff/system. Having a more healthy pitching staff will help with that realignment of duties. Congrats on a great series against #6 TCU....You deserved it!!!! Hook'Em!
Great series win !!!!!!!!!!!!! Either Augie is getting things worked out, or the conference really sucks this year. The next two weeks will tell us a lot.
