Let's talk chalk because that is all there has been today. All the higher seeds won and had to, for various reasons. I talked to you about this. WVU can possibly still get a regional bid, without winning the Tourney, they take out OU 6-0. Tech trying to hold onto a top eight national seed, takes out KSU 8-5. TCU attempting to hold onto hosting a regional, just took out Baylor 12-5. This leaves only #2 OSU, who is trying to make a deep Tourney run and earn a hosting bid, for a regional. They take on #7 Texas, who like every 5-8 seed, needs to win this Tournament to see their season continue. Lots of things going on for Texas, that have been talked to death about before, so it's time to see what happens on the field. Game is being televised on various Fox Sports stations. Check you guide, I have it on Fox Sports 412-32, on Dish. The audio as always on texassports.com/multimedia. Line-up are on the way:
As the higher seed OSU is the home team in the contest. They will give the baseball to Trey Cobb, a right hander, with a 7-2 record and an era of 3.39. They don't start their ace Hatch, who shut out Texas this season. They do this because they want to save him for TCU, in a possible winner's bracket game. The weather is no problem, just hot and humid, fairly strong breeze blowing out to left. Texas leads off with their left fielder Ty Rand, batting right handed. The sign given by the home plate ump to the OSU pitcher and we get underway. A grounder toward the hole gets through, for a lead single and runner. Zane Gurwitz, will bat second, as the centerfielder, batting righty, with a man on. Rand goes and the throw off line lets him get in safely, the throw beat him otherwise. Gurwitz bunts and it's too hard and the OSU pitcher goes to third and the 1-5 out is one away, as Gurwitz reaches on the fielder's choice. The DH is Travis Jones batting righty, with one on and one out. A fly ball to deep center and the wind will help take it over the centerfielder's head, for a double, the run scores. Texas leads 1-0. Tres Barrera, the catcher bats righty, with one on and one out. He grounds a single up the middle, for a single and another run. Texas leads 2-0. The first baseman is Kacy Clemens, batting lefty, with a man on and one away. He K's swinging as Barrera goes. Barrera goes and he's out at second 2-3, to end the inning. Texas gets two and leads 2-0, OSU to bat.
Senior lefty Ty Culbreth, the left hander starts on the hill for Texas. He is 8-3 on the year. OSU will lead off with J.R. Davis, the second basman, batting righty. A full count and a fly ball to right by the line is one away. The right fielder is righty hitter Corey Hassel, with an out. A liner to right center, off then end of the bat, will drop for a single and a runner. Donnie Walton, the shortstop, bats righty, with a man on and one down. He swings through a high fast ball, for a K, two down. Third baseman is Garrett Benge, batting lefty, with a man on and two outs. Runner goes and steals second on a low throw not handled at second. Two hopper to second and the 4-3 will end the inning. Texas leads 2-0, after an inning played.
Cobb is back to pitch the second, for OSU. Leading off for Texas is Patrick Mathis, the right fielder, batting lefty. He walks, for another lead runner. Joe Baker, the righty hitting shortstop, bats with a man on. He can't get the bunt down and K's swinging, on a low fast ball, one away. Third baseman is Kody Clemens, batting lefty, with a man on and one out. He also K's swinging, on a low slider, two away. Bottom of the order is Jake McKenzie, the second baseman, with a man on and two outs. Comebacker is a 1-3 third out, side down. Texas strands a lead runner, but leads 2-0, bottom of the second.
Culbreth back to the mound for the Horns, in the second. OSU leads off with the DH, Connor Costello, batting right handed. He takes a fast ball, on the outside corner, for a K, one down. Lefty hitter is Dustin Williams, the first baseman, a fly ball to right field is two away. The centerfielder is righty hitter, Ryan Sluder, with two outs. A full count and a fly ball to shallow center, will retire the side in order. Two played and Texas leads 2-0.
Cobb is out again, as the third begins. Texas will send up the top of the order, Rand, batting righty. He K's swinging on the low slider, one down. Gurwitz bats righty, with an out. A full count and he walks, for a runner. One on and one out for Jones, batting righty. He doubled in a run his first trip. A fly ball to medium right field is two down. Barrera bats righty, with one on and two away. He singled home the other run, in the first. Gurwitz goes and he is out by plenty, the 2-3 retires the side. Bottom of three and Texas leads 2-0.
Thanks for the updates. Good start for our Horns. This has to be the worst televised game I've ever watched on TV, the lights are awful! It's almost a black screen it's so dark. Fox sports has to get a clue before they televise this tournament next year. If you flip over to the SEC Tournament on the SEC Network, it's amazing the difference in light quality. The lights just look awful in Oklahoma City. Go horns!
Culbreth returns to the bump for the Horns, in the OSU third. The Cowboys will lead off with John Littell, the right fielder, batting righty. A grounder to short and Baker fields and twirls and throws wide, it's called an infield single. One on for the catcher, the righty hitting Theroux, at the bottom of the order. He tries to bunt twice and fails on foul balls. The count runs full and takes a fast ball, on the outside corner, for a called K, one away. Top of the order is Davis, with one on and one down. He K's swinging, on a high fast ball, two away. Hassel bats righty, with two outs and a man on. He lines one to first, off of the glove of Clemens, he picks it up and steps on the bag, the 3U, will retire the side. Three gone and Texas leads 2-0.
Cobb returns to work the fourth, for OSU. The Horns send up Barrera to lead off, he was up when Gurwitz was hosed at second. A hopper to third and the 5-3, means one down. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with an out. A liner over second is a single, for a runner. One on for Mathis, batting lefty. Cobb hangs another slider and another liner to right, for a single, two aboard. Baker bats righty, with two on and one down. He fouls a ball off the ump and he is down. He is back up and it looks like he will be ok, as the trainers look him over. Baker is back in the box and squibber to first and the pitcher covers, the 3-1 is two down, runners move up. Kody Clemens bats lefty, with runners on second and third, two down. An outfield hit is probably two runs. He swings through a fastball down the middle, side down. Texas threaten, but nothing across, they lead OSU 2-0, bottom of the fourth.
Culbreth out for his fourth inning of work, for Texas. OSU will lead off with Walton, the big hitter for OSU, batting righty. He K's swinging for the second time, on a change up, one down. Benge bats lefty, with an out. A big hopper to second and the 4-3 is two away. Righty hitter is the DH, Costello, with two down. A grounder up the middle is through, for a single and a two out runner. Lefty slugger is Williams, the league leader in homers, with a man on and two down. He swings through a heater and the sixth K for Culbreth, ends the inning. Through four and Texas leads 2-0.
Cobb pitches the fifth, for OSU, having settled down since the first. The Horns will send up as their lead hitter, McKenzie, batting righty, at the bottom of the order. A grounder is through, on the lefty, another lead single. Top of the order is Rand, with a man on, from the right side. Coach out and a pitching change is made, Cobb pitch count was high, for this amount of time.
The new Cowboy pitcher is right hander Remey Reed, with an era of 3.98. He faces Rand, with a strike, one on. The bunt is down and the sac goes 3-4, for one away, runner to second. Gurwitz bats righty, with a man on second and an out. A liner that just missed the pitchers head, goes into center, for a single, the throw home was close, but no call was made, but the hand got the plate, run scores. Gurwitz to second, on the throw home. Texas leads 3-0. Holliday out to argue, but he was in there safely. Jones is up batting righty, with a man on and one down. He K's swinging, a fast ball, two outs. Righty hitter is Barrera, with a man still at second, two outs. A clutch single, would plate another much needed run. Ask and ye shall receive, a single to left field is than run. Texas leads 4-0. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with two outs and one on. A wild pitch sends the runner to second. He K's swinging, for the third out, on fast ball, side down. Two more runs for Texas and halfway through this first game for both teams of the Big 12 Tourney, it's Texas ahead 4-0.
Culbreth toils on, for the Horns, he looks to become the pitcher of record and be in line, for the possible win. The Cowboys lead off with righty hitter, Sluder. A grounder goes by Clemens, down the left field line, is a lead double. Littell bats righty, with a man on. A liner to left is a single, to put runners on the corners. Bottom of the order is Theroux, batting righty, with two on. A full count comes and he walks to load the bases. Top of the order is Davis, batting righty, with the bases full. A hopper to Baker and he can't handle it, the E-6, will score a run. Texas leads 4-1. Hassel bats righty, with the bases loaded. He singles to left, for another run. Texas leads 4-2. Righty hitter is Walton, with the bases loaded. He grounds a single up the middle, for another run. Texas leads 4-3. Benge bats lefty, with the bases loaded. He pops up to first, one away. That's it for Culbreth, pitching change.
The new Horn pitcher is right handed freshman Beau Ridgeway, with an era of 2.87. He faces Costello, batting righty, with the bases loaded, one out. A long drive to left center and that's out of the yard, for a grand slam. OSU leads 7-4. Williams bats lefty, with one out. He K's swinging, on a fast ball, two gone. Righty hitter is Sluder, with two outs. A grounder to second and booted for another error, the E-4 puts a man on. Littell bats righty, with a man on. A wild pitch sends the runner to second. A ground ball to short and Baker throws it away at first, his second error of the inning, the E-4 scores another run. Baker is coming out of the game and Bret Boswell is in to take his place, at short. OSU leads 8-4. Theroux bats righty, with a man on. Another wild pitch sends the runner to third. He K's looking, at a fast ball, the side down finally. Wheels off in the fifth, on hits and three errors, OSU plates eight runs and lead 8-4, after five innings.
Lets hope Baylor ends this atrocity tomorrow...... Yep...Time to clean house....'errbody needs to go !!!!!!
Reed stays in to pitch the sixth, for the Cowboys. Texas leads off with Mathis, batting lefty. He K's looking at a fast ball, on the inside corner, one away. Bret Boswell gets his first at bat, after replacing Baker, in the last disastrous inning. Baker hits a hump back liner that falls just fair, down the left field line, for a double. Michael Cantu will pinch hit for Kody Clemens, batting righty, with one on and one out. Barrera will no doubt go to third and Cantu will come in to catch. He sort of swings at a fast ball, the K is two down. Righty hitter is McKenzie, the bottom of the order, with a man on and two down. A fly ball to right and that ends the inning. Bottom of the sixth and OSU leads 8-4.
Sophomore right hander is Eric Dunbar now in to pitch, for the Horns, in the sixth. The Cowboys lead off with the top of the order, in Davis, batting righty. He sends a chopper up the middle, for a lead single. Hassel bats righty, with a man on. He K's swinging, after not being able to get the bunt down, one away. Lefty hitter is Walton, who is a switch hitter, against a the righty, Dunbar, one on and one out. A full count and a liner to left center and it drops and rolls in the gap, Gurwitz picks it up and the throw to the relay man and the throw home is late, run scores on the double. OSU leads 9-4. Another pitching change is made.
New pitcher is senior lefty, Travis Duke, with an era of 4.19. Benge bats lefty, with a man on, one away. A chopper to second and the 4-3 is two down, runner to third. Two outs and one on for Costello, of the grand slam, batting righty. Another chopper to second and another 4-3 out, ends the inning. OSU adds one more and leads 9-4, after six innings played.
A new pitcher for the Cowboys is right hander, Michael Mertz, an era of 4.15. The Horns lead off with the top of the order, in Rand, batting righty, in the seventh. He walks for a lead runner. Gurwitz bats righty, with a man on. A ground ball to short is a taylor made 6U-3 double play, for two down. Righty hitter is Jones, batting righty, with two gone. He K's swinging, on the low slider, to end the inning. They stretch in OKC, in the last game of the day and it looks like the Horns have pretty much checked out of this game. OSU leads 9-4, bottom of seven.
Duke stays in to pitch the seventh for Texas, in the OSU seventh. Williams leads off, for the Cowboys, batting lefty. He ground a single through the left side, for a lead runner. Righty hitter is Sluder, with a man on. He K's swinging, on a fast ball, one away. That's all for Duke, as he will be saved for a more hopefully more meaningful situations. Pitching change.
Freshman righty hander is Blake Wellman, now the latest pitcher for the Horns, with a record of 0-1. He faces Littell, batting righty, with a man on and one retired. The runner goes and steals second, as Littell K's swinging, for two away. Theroux bats righty, with two outs and one on, in the nine hole. A high pop up to second and that retires the side. Seven played and OSU leads 9-4.
Mertz will stick around and pitch the eighth for the Cowboys. Texas sends up Barrera, batting right handed, leading off. A fly ball to right is an easy out one. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with one down. He K's swinging, his third K of the game, two outs. Texas reaches double digits in strike outs again, in a game. Mathis bats lefty, with two away. A fly ball to center and the side down in order. Bottom of eight and OSU cruising to the winner's bracket, they lead 9-4.
Wellman stay in for the eighth, for the Horns. OSU leads off, with the top of the order again, in Davis, batting righty. He lines a single to right center and Gurwitz boots it and he keeps going to second. I think they ruled it a double, the announcers have checked out of the game too. Hassel bats righty, with one on. He grounds to short and the 6-3 is one away. Lefty hitter is Walton, batting with one on and one out. He grounds a single through the right side, for another run. OSU leads 10-4. This brings another pitching change.
Freshman lefty is Nick Kennedy, as this game is just being played out now. He faces Benge, batting lefty, with one on and one out. Another wild pitch sends the runner to second. A fly ball to center is two away. Costello bats righty, with one on and two outs. A fly ball to fairly deep right field, but caught, to end the frame. OSU tacks on one more and leads now 10-4, to the ninth. Three more outs will send this stinker of a game and me to bed.
Mertz out once more, to try and close out the contest, for OSU. Leading off for the Horns is Boswell, batting lefty. He K's swinging, on the slide, for yet another strike out, one away. Righty hitter is Cantu, batting righty, one down. He lines a single up the middle, for a runner. McKenzie bats righty, with a man on and one away, the bottom of the order. A roller to short and it's a 6-4 force, relay late to first, two down. One on and two outs, for the top of the order, in Rand, batting righty. He takes a fast ball right down the heart of the plate, the K looking is an even dozen, for the Horns, to end the game. OSU wins 10-4 and go to the winners bracket and sends Texas to the loser's bracket, back soon.
The last bit of chalk is on the board, as all four top seeds win, in pretty easy fashion today. Texas got off to a good start, built a 4-0 lead and then as has been the case too often this season, the roof caved in. Ty Culbreth looked great, but in the fifth he loaded the bases, then the worst fielding team, in the Big 12 showed why that is the case. An error by Baker, then another hit and then a grand slam, more errors and Baker was removed during the inning, from shortstop. It all added up to eight runs and gave OSU a 8-4 lead. Everything that happened after that, really didn't matter. Texas was beaten after that fifth inning. So Texas faces Baylor, in the loser's bracket tomorrow at 12:30 pm. It could be the final game of an awful season, that remains to be seen, see you tomorrow.
