The last midweek game of the season is against Texas State. Looked like for awhile this game might be rained out, but it's not the case and nothing expected rain wise, till later tonight in Austin. It's the third game this year against the Bobcats, Texas tries to extend a 24 game win string against them, over several seasons now. Each team just kind of playing out the string and need to win their conference tourney, to extend their seasons. Texas State is 27-25 on the year and 14-13 in the Sun Belt Conference, while Texas is 21-27 and 9-12 in the Big 12. Mathmatically, Texas could still finish anywhere from third to last in the Big 12, most likey a 5-7 finish is the probable outcome. More about that, when the final conference series against Baylor starts on Thursday evening. Off searching for line-ups.
Connor Mayes will get the start, as usual on Tuesday, the sophomore right hander, with an era of 3.94. Many pitchers will pitch tonight I would expect. Weather is fine, with the wind blowing out to left. Leading off for the Bobcats is Jonathan Ortega, the second baseman, batting right handed. He sends a high drive to left and it leaves the ballpark, for a homer. TSU leads 1-0. Granger Studdard, bats lefty, as the left fielder. A grounder to second goes 4-3, for the first out. First baseman is Tanner Hill, batting righty, with an out. A comebacker to Mayes and he knocks it down and the throws him out 1-3, two away. Righty hitter is the centerfielder, Dylan Paul, with two outs. He sends a fly ball to center, that will end the frame. Texas State gets a run, on the homer, they lead 1-0, as Texas comes to bat.
The Bobcats send Brandon Lewis, a left hander, with a 2-1 record and an era of 4.28. The Texas DH is Travis Jones, batting right handed. He grounds to third and the 5-3 is one down. Kody Clemens will bat lefty and play shortstop, with an out. A pop to short is the second out. Third baseman is Tres Barrera, batting righty, with two away. Grounder to second goes 4-3, the side down in order. After one, it's TSU leading 1-0.
Mayes back out for a second inning of work, for the Horns. Leading off for the Bobcats is their DH, Ryan Newman, batting left handed. He takes a change that cuts the outside corner, the K is one away. Righty hitter is the right fielder Theodore Hoffman, batting righty. He sends a one hopper to third and the 5-3 is two down. Luke Sherley, the shortstop, bats righty, with two gone. Flied out to center and the side down in order. Bottom of two and TSU leads 1-0.
The Bobcats bring in a right hander in Brayden Theriot, with an era of 5.95. The Horns leads off with their first baseman, Kacy Clemens, batting lefty, in the clean-up position. He walks, for a lead runner. Zane Gurwitz, the centerfielder, bats righty, with a man on. He bunts and the sac goes 1-3, one down, runner to second. The right fielder is Patrick Mathis, batting lefty, with an out and a man on second. Our first full count and after fouling off several pitches he walks to put two aboard. Michael Cantu, who has struggled with the bat, catches today, batting righty, with two on and one down. He walks to load the bases on free passes. Pitching coach out, but leaves him in. Tyler Rand bats righty, the left fielder, will have the bases loaded and one away. Another full count and a liner to right and it's off the right fielder's glove, it's ruled a double and two runs scores. Texas leads 2-1. Jake McKenzie, the second baseman, bats righty, with two on and one away. He pops up to first base, for two down. Top of the order is Jones, batting righty, with two on and two outs. He K's swinging on a high fast ball, to end the inning. Three walks and a hit give Texas the lead 2-1, after two played.
Freshman right handis is Eric Dunbar, he comes in to pitch the Bobcat third. TSU leads off with their third baseman, Mickey Scott, batting right handed. He walks, for a lead runner. Bottom of the Bobcat order is the catcher Felipe Rodriguez, batting righty. He bunts and the sac goes 1-3, for one down, runner to second. Top of the order is Ortega, batting righty, with one on and one down. A fly ball to center is two down, runner tags and moves to third. Studdard bats lefty, with a man on third and two outs. He is of the UT Studdards, in athletics, his father Robert a former UT football player, his cousin is Casey Studdard. A comebacker is a 1-3 third out to end the inning. Bottom of the third and it's Texas ahead 2-1.
Another Bobcat pitcher is freshman lefty, Anthony Pigano, with an era of 6.52. Kody Clemens leads off, batting lefty, for the Horns. He swings through a fast ball, for one away, on the K. Righty hitter is Barrera, with an out. A fly ball to left is two quick outs. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with two down. He started the walk parade, that led to the two Texas runs. He takes a roundhouse curve ball and the K will retire the side again in order. Three played and it's Texas leading 2-1.
Left hander is freshman Nick Kennedy, now coming out to pitch for the Horns, in the fourth. The Bobcats lead off with their slugger, righty hitting Hill. He K's on three pitches swinging, the last a good slider, for one away. Paul bats righty, with one down. Grounder to first goes 3U, two away. Lefty hitter is the DH, Newman, two gone. A slowly hit grounder up the middle, Clemens has it, but can't make a throw, an infield hit. Hoffaman bats righty, with a man on and two outs. A grounder to third goes 5-3, the side down. Bottom of four and Texas still ahead 2-1.
Nick Perez is the latest TSU hurler, a right hander, his first appearance of the season. Gurwitz will lead off, for Texas, batting righty. He K's his first batter of the year, looking on a curve, on the outside corner, one down. Lefty hitter is Mathis, with one away. A high pop to short is two down. Cantu bats righty, with two outs. A liner in the gap, in right center, is a double, for a runner. Righty hitting Rand, will bat with two gone and a man on second. His double scored both of Texas runs. A grounder that the third baseman dives and has, but his throw is late, an infield hit for Rand, to put two on. Runners on the corners for McKenzie, at the bottom of the order, batting righty, with two down. Fly ball to left and it will end the frame. A couple of hits, but nothing across, to the fifth, Texas leads 2-1.
Freshman right hand is Beau Ridgeway, coming on to pitch the fifth, with an era of 3.42. Bobcats lead with Sherley, batting right handed. Grounder to short goes 6-3, for one away. Righty hitting Scott, bats with one down. He takes a heater, on the outside corner, the K is two away. Rodriguez bats righty, at the bottom of the order, with two outs. Grounded by Clemens at short, for a two out single and a runner. Top of the order is Ortega, batting righty, with a man on and two outs. His homer is the TSU run. He K's swinging on a hard slider, the side retired. Halfway through the final midweek game of the season and Texas leads 2-1.
TSU keeps sending out a new pitcher every inning and the latest is righty Chase Hodson, with an era of 3.77. Texas leads off with the top of the order in Jones, batting righty. A full count reached and he K's swinging on a high heater, for the second straight time, one away. Kody Clemens bats lefty, with one down. Another full count and another walk, for a runner. Righty slugger is Barrera, with a man on and one away. A grounder gets through on the left side, the single puts two aboard. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with two on and one down. Another full count and he K's swinging on a foul tip, on a fast ball, two gone. Righty hitter is Gurwitz, two on and two down. He K's swinging, on the fast ball, as the bat went flying toward the Bobcat dugout, side down on strike outs. Two stranded and after five done, it's still 2-1 Texas.
Ridgeway will stay on and pitch the Bobcat sixth. TSU leads off with Studdard, batting lefty. He K's swinging on three pitches, the last a change up, for one out. Hill bats righty, with an out. He grounds to short, another 6-3 is two rapid outs. Paul bats righty, with two gone. A fly ball to right and the side down in order once more. Bottom of six and Texas leads 2-1.
The sixth pitcher in six innings for the Bobcats is Braden Pearson, a left hander with an era of 5.40. Mathis leads off, for the Horns, batting lefty. He K's swinging on the big curve, one down. Righty hitter is Cantu, with one gone. A high pop that the first baseman catches will end the K streak, but is the second out. Rand bats righty, with two down. A fly ball to right, the side down rapidly in order again. After six gone, it remains Texas ahead 2-1.
Nolan Kinghan, another freshman righty, enters to pitch the seventh, for the Horns. Leading off for the Bobcats is the DH Newman, batting lefty. A soft fly ball to center is one away. Righty hitter is Hoffman, with one down. A liner just over Clemens is a single, for a runner, he jumped a little late. Sherley bats righty, with one on and one down. A pickoff throw is low and Clemens just doesn't catch it, for some reason they give the error to Kingham, scoring remains strange at the Disch, runner to second on the alleged E-1. Moreland and Swindell agree with me. A ball lofted to shallow right is two gone. Righty hitter is Scott, the tying run at second and two outs. A passed ball will send the runner to third. Skip out and a change is made.
The new pitcher is rarely used red shirt freshman Parker Joe Robinson. He was a top recruit, but missed all of last season after surgery. He has been trying to get back, but hasn't been able to pitch much this season. Big situation for him with Scott up, batting righty, with the tying run on third, two down. A grounder up the middle gets through, the single ties the game on the unearned run. Game tied 2-2. Rodrigues bats righty, with a man on and two outs. Runner goes and he steals second. A fly ball to left and that ends the inning. TSU ties the game on the unearned run, it's 2-2 now at stretch time in Austin.
Quinn Atwood becomes the latest pitcher for the Bobcats, a right hander with a hefty era of 9.00. The Horns lead off with the bottom of the order, in McKenzie, batting righty. A full count and he K's swinging, on the curve ball, one away. Top of the order is Jones again, batting righty, with an out. He K's swinging, on the curve, his third of the game and again Texas reaches ten K's in a game, two outs. Kody Clemens bats lefty, with two down. He lines a single to center, for a two out runner. Barrera bats righty, with a man on and two outs. Clemens should be off here. He doesn't get to, as first pitch grounder to short goes 6-4, to end the inning. Seven played and the game tied 2-2.
Chase Shugart, another freshman righty, will pitch the Bobcat eighth. TSU leads off with the top of the order, in Ortega, batting righty. A high pop to short and it's one away. Studdard bats lefty, with an out. A little chopper goes over Shugart, Clemens has it, but the throw is late, an infield hit. Righty slugger is Hill, with a man on and an out. Another pickoff throw gets away, this time the low throw is a legit E-1, runner to second. A liner to right and Mathis lets it get away, the run scores, its got to be a hit and another error, it is a E-9. The runner had already stopped at third. TSU leads 3-2. Paul bats righty, with a man on first, one away. Runner goes and he steals second. Paul swings through a curve ball, two down. Newman bats lefty, with a man on and two outs. He grounds to second and it ends the frame. The Bobcats plate yet another unearned run and lead 3-2, bottom of the eighth.
The eighth pitcher for the Bobcats is Joe Powell, a righty with an era of 3.52. Texas leads off with Kacy Clemens, batting lefty. A grounder to first goes 3-1, for one away. Gurwitz bats righty, with an out. A ground ball to third is two down. Brady Harlan will pinch hit for Mathis, with two outs, from the left side. He will most likely go into right field. He grounds to second and the 4-3 will retire the side in order. To the ninth and TSU leads 3-2.
Shugart will stay in and pitch the ninth, for the Horns. Harlan does go into right field. TSU leads off with Hoffman batting righty. A big curve ball is taken for a called K, one down. Sherley bats righty, with an out. A grounder up the middle and Clemens shaded that way and he just gets the runner at first, the 6-3 is two outs. Scott bats righty, with two away. A fly ball to right and that retires the side in order. Bottom of the ninth and TSU leads 3-2, trying to break a 24 game losing streak, to Texas.
The ninth pitcher in nine innings is Paquale Mazzocolle, the right handed closer, for the Bobcats, with an era of 4.08. Lovejoy goes into centerfield. Texas leads off with Cantu batting righty. He takes a fast ball, on the outside corner, the K is one down. Rand bats righty, with an out. He swings at a head high fast ball, another K is two away, a dozen K's now for the Horns. Bret Boswell bats lefty, as a pinch hitter, with two gone. A full count and appropiately he K's swinging on the fast ball, to end the game, on the thirteenth K for TSU pitchers. Texas State wins 3-2, with two late unearned runs, to break a 24 game losing skid to the Horns. It is all going wrong for Texas these days, back in a minute.
Well what can you say, Texas hasn't lost to Texas State since they became Texas State, they were Southwest Texas, when they last won, it's been that long. I believe Moreland said it was the first win since 2007, have to check on that. The Horns are setting a lot of records this season, in a negative way. Texas gets two runs on three walks and a double that went off the right fielder's glove, in the second and never dents the scoreboard again. TSU uses a different pitcher in every inning, they never went to the bullpen, they struck out thirteen Longhorns. THe worst fielding team in the Big 12 commits three errors and loses on two late unearned runs. Texas falls to 21-28, the first time the record has dipped seven games below the .500 mark. Nothing left now, but the series against Baylor, for the regular season. It's been a long year, but back on Thursday night.
April 2005.....Last time they beat Texas...SMH The team has cashed it in. Competitiveness......No way you can turn it on and off. I see Baylor taking two of three and we go 0-2 in Big 12 tourney. At best we go 1-2 in the tourney....Sooner its over the better.....Wash the ____ stains out of the uniforms and put them away for the off-season....Dark days for a once proud program.
Speaking of chasing records...at 7 games below even we are now approaching the lowest finish under .500 in the 102 year recorded history of Texas baseball. 1998 (Augie): 23-32-1 , 9 games under .500 1956 (Falk): 5-13 , 8 games under .500 2016 (Augie): 21-28 , 7 games under .500 What is all but guaranteed is Augie producing his 2nd of the 5 losing seasons Texas baseball has endured in history. 1896: 0-1 1910: 7-9 1956: 5-13 1998: 23-32-1 2016: 21-28 and counting
Ohhh, OUCH!! This season isn't only bad, it's been downright sad. Can't believe Horn's baseball has fallen into the pit of oblivion the last couple of seasons. At this point whatever the top brass does about Augie's position is fine with me. But allowing another year may very well turn out a lot worse and he still not hit the magical 2000 Ws number.
This madness has to stop now. Augie should have retired after the last trip to Omaha (just like Mack should have quit after the Alabama NCG). It will take the new coach at least 2 season to even approach respectability as the cupboard is bare as every one on this team has accepted a standard that isn't Texas' standard. Put all of the non-seniors on academic scholarships and start over.
I used to say "he may not reach 2,000 with another year" with tongue in cheek. At the moment he's still 29 wins shy. Without a couple more this year, the above statement becomes more likely than not. 2013: 27 wins at end of reg season (missed conf tourney) 2015: 26 wins at end of reg season (4 added in conf. tourney) 2016: 21 wins and counting Without at least two more wins in 2016, Augie would be short of the mark at the end of the 2017 reg season if he duplicated 3 of the past 4 seasons. Pretty lame to sacrifice another year of legit playoff contention all for a dicey chance at achieving the coach's own individual goal.
