The rubber game of the series comes today after two closely fought games. Both teams need this win to get their seasons in gear. Most likely another close game, as the teams seem to be pretty evenly matched. Again no television or video to be had and it's made understanding some strange occurences, in the first two games, hard to completely understand. Hopefully the Texas audio will be available on time, for the start of the contest at Texas Longhorns Athletics - TexasSports.com/audio: FREE streaming audio. It hasn't been yet in the series. So the backup for UCLA audio is Bruin TV - UCLA Bruins Official Athletic Site | UCLABruins.com. Line-ups coming.
Another nice day in Westwood, at Jackie Robinson Stadium, for the rubber game of the series. UCLA will start a right hander in Kyle Molnar, who is 0-1, with a hefty era of 6.23. While Texas starts right hander Connor Mayes, who is also 0-1, but an era of 1.93. Travis Jones will leads off again for Texas, playing left field, he bats from the right side. He steps in and we are ready to play. He shoots a liner to left, for a lead single and runner. Shortstop Bret Boswell, bats lefty, with one on. He squares and the bunt is down, it goes 1-3, for a sac. Longhorn catcher today, Tres Barrera bats righty, with one on and one away. He K's swinging on the curve ball, for two outs. Kacy Clemens bats lefty and plays first base, with a man at second and two gone. A fly ball to left and that retires the side. Texas gets a man to second, but fail to tally, UCLA comes to bat.
Connor Mayes will get the ball today for Texas, the sophomore right hander. Second baseman and stepping in to bat left handed, is Brett Urabe. He bunts and it's a good one, as Mayes can't make the play, it's an infield hit. Mayes fell and the trainer is out to look at him. He is ok and will continue. Connor caught a spike in the grass and fell, or he might have had a shot at first. Brett Stephens will bat lefty, with one on, he plays left field. He bunt and the sac goes 1-3, one away. Runner on second for lefty hitter Eric Filia, who plays right field. He walks to put two on. Third baseman Luke Persico, bats righty, with two on and one down. A fly ball to center and it's two away, the runner tags and moves to third. Kort Peterson, the lefty hitting DH, bats with two on and two away. He ended the game yesterday, with a walk off home run. A ground ball to second and the 4-3, will end the inning. UCLA also threated in the first, but nothing across, so one inning played and it's 0-0.
Molnar will pitch his second inning of work, as the Texas second begins. The DH is Patrick Mathis, batting lefty and leading off. A foul pop is caught by the third baseman Persico, as he leans over the fence, by the UCLA bullpen, one out. First baseman for the Horns is Kacy Clemens, batting lefy, one down. A ground ball off the pitcher's glove, to the shortstop, the play goes 1-6-3 for the second out. Brady Harlan will also bat lefty, with two down. The Horn right fielder runs the count full and another foul pop and the catchers has this one, the frame ends. Bottom of two and it's nothing in the run collumn for either side.
Mayes will toe the rubber again, in the Bruin second, looking for an easier inning of work. Leading off for UCLA is their first baseman, the righty hitting Sean Bouchard. A fly ball to left and it's a one pitch out one. Christoph Bono, is the centerfielder, batting lefty, with an out. He K's swinging on a fast ball and it's two away. Shortstop for the Bruins is righty hitting Trent Chatterton, with two down. A pop to shallow center and Gurwitz will squeeze that and the side is down in order. Much better inning for Mayes and two have been played, with no runs score.
Molnar back out again for the Texas third frame. Leading off for the Horns is Jake McKenzie, playing second for the injured Joe Baker, batting righty. A full count and a low pitch will put him on with a free pass. Centerfielder is Zane Gurwitz, batting righty, with a man on. He doesn't bunt and a line drive to first is dropped, then taken to the bag for a 3U, on an attempted hit and run. It would have been a sure double play, if not dropped. Runner on second for Jones, at the top of the order, with a man on and one out. He bunts and it goes foul, then comes back fair, there was no play, a bunt single. Boswell will bat lefty, with runners on the corners, one down. Jones is picked off first, in the rundown, McKenzie breaks for home and the throw home is late, he scores and Jones to second. They rule this a double steal, but this was not a planned play like UCLA pulled yesterday. The trick play they used yesterday can only work against a lefty pitcher. Texas leads 1-0. Boswell back in and lines to center for the second out. Barrera will bat righty, with a runner at second and two down. He K's swinging for the second time and that retires the side. Texas leads first for the first time in the series. Bottom of three and Texas ahead now 1-0.
Mayes will pitch the Bruin third with a lead. The nine hole hitter is the UCLA catcher, Jake Hirabayashi. A first pitch fly ball to center is one away. Top of the order is Urabe, hitting lefty, with an out. He chases a high fast ball and K's swinging, for two away. Stephens will bat lefty, with two gone. Another fly ball to center and it retires the side again in order. Three gone in the finale and it's Texas leading 1-0.
Molnar pitches the Texas fourth, for the Bruins. Kacy Clemens leads off batting lefty against him A long fly ball to left center is run down by the centerfielder, for one away. The Texas DH is Mathis batting lefty, with one gone. A full count, after a close pitch and the catcher threw it to third, thinking a K, but no. This is big, as Mathis turns on a fast ball and drives it out of the park in right field, the long homer pads the lead. Texas leads 2-0. Kody Clemens bats lefty, with one out. A ground ball to short goes 6-3, for the second out. Lefty hitter is Harlan, with two gone. Another full count and grounder up the middle and it's off the pitcher's glove and knocked down by the shortstop, but no play, an infield hit. McKenzie will bat righty, with one on and two gone. Harlan a threat to steal. Ground ball to short and the 6-4 force will end the frame. Texas now leads 2-0, thanks to the long homer by Jones, to the bottom of four.
Mayes returns for the UCLA fourth. Eric Filia will bat lefty, as the lead Bruin hitter. A liner to third is caught by Clemens and it's one away. Righty hitting Persico, hits with one down. A full count reached and he walks on a fast ball, to end a long out string for Mayes. The DH is lefty hitting Peterson, with one on and one out. A slow roller to short and charged by Boswell, but the throw is late and the infield single puts two on. This prompts a visit by Skip, he returns to the dugout after some words of encouragement. Bouchard will bat righty, with two on and one down. Another full count is reached and He K's swinging chasing a low slider, for two gone. Lefty hitting Bono will step in the box, with two on and two outs. A fly ball to right center and caught by Gurwitz, to end the inning. Mayes puts down a Bruin threat and Texas still leads 2-0, after four played.
Molnar still out there in the fifth, for UCLA. Gurwitz will lead off in the nine slot, batting righty, for Texas. A liner to center and the centerfielder has it for a first pitch out one. Jones bats righty, as the Horn leadoff hitter brings back the top of the order, with one out. He is gone swinging, the K is two gone. Boswell will bat lefty, as two have been retired. He walks on four out of the zone, for a two out runner. Righty hitting Barrera, has a runner on and two outs. A grounder to third and on a backhand stab he has it and fires to first for a 5-3 third out, side down. Halfway through the finale of the series, Texas leads 2-0.
Mayes looks to qualify for the win and become the pitcher of record in the UCLA fifth. Bruin shortstop Chatterton, leads off batting righty. A full count and a fly ball to center is one gone. Bottom of the order is Hirayabashi, batting righty handed, with an out. A little liner to second to MacKenzie, for two down. Top of the order is back in lefty hitting Urabe, with two away. A fly ball to right and that sets the side down in order. After five complete, Texas ahead 2-0.
Molnar takes the hill again for UCLA, as the Texas sixth comes. Kacy Clemens leads off batting left handed, for the Horns. A fly ball to left is one away. Lefty hitting DH is Mathis, with one gone. He is responsible for half the Texas runs so far, with a homer. He lines a single to center, for a runner. Kody Clemens bats lefty, with one on and one down. A high pop on the infield is called for by the shortstop and he has is for two away. Batting now is lefty hitting Harlan with two outs and one down. He flies to right and that will end the frame. Bottom of six and Texas still leads 2-0.
Mayes tries to keep humming along in the bottom of the sixth, for the Horns. Lefty hitting left fielder Stephens, leads off for the Bruins. A liner to left is a lead single and runner. Filia bats lefty, with a man on. A 2-0 count and out comes Skip again, as Mayes may be starting to tire. That's all for Mayes, another good outing for him. Pitching change.
The new pitcher is lefty Jon Malmin, a lefty to face Filia, the lefty batter. He has a 2-0 count that would make him a Mayes runner, if he walks. Filia back in the box and the count runs full, big pitch coming. He does walk and it puts two aboard. Persico will bat righty, with two on. He doesn't bunt, but lines a single to center that loads the bases. Peterson, the lefty DH bats, with the bases full. He walks and it forces in a run. Texas leads 2-1. Skip out and another change.
Looks like we will be sub .500 this year and miss the regionals, unless the Big 12 is really weak this year..... The pitching and defense isn't up to Texas standards, and the hitting woes continue this year. It could get bad after this season if OU continues with their poor season, and comes after Skip as their head coach. ( Good move for them to hurt our program and upgrade theirs at the same time. )
The new pitcher for the Horns is Beau Ridgeway, a freshman right hander. He enters the game in a full blown jam. Bouchard will bat righty against him, with the bases still loaded. A grounder goes through the left side and a run scores and after a second runner was being held, the ball is booted in left, and he scores, to give the Bruins the lead. UCLA leads 3-2. It's scored a single and an error on Jones in left. Bono bats righty with two on. He bunts and there is no play on it as it gets by Ridgeway, an infield hit, that reloads the bases. Chatterton bats righty, the bases loaded. A grounder in the hole fielded by Boswell, on a backhand, but no play again, another infield hit, that scores another run. UCLA leads 4-2. Hirabayashi bats righty, the bases still loaded. The count runs full and a foul pop behind the plate, Barrera has it for finally the first out. Top of the order is Urabe, batting lefty, one down and the bases loaded. He lays down a bunt and the safety squeeze works and it's another run, as the play goes 1-3, for two away. UCLA leads 5-2. Skip out and another change.
The latest hurler for Texas is lefty Nick Kennedy, another freshman. Stephens will bat lefty, as his first batter to face, with two on and two outs. A ground ball to second and the 4-3 will finally end the inning. UCLA gets a five spot and they take the lead 5-2, after six innings.
Molnar is gone and the new pitcher for the Bruins is right hander, Nathan Hadley. McKanzie leads off for the Horns, batting righty. He works a full count and a fly ball to right is one away. Gurwitz bats righty, with one down, at the bottom of the order. A chopper over the mound and nobody can field it and it's an infield hit. The top of the order is Jones, batting righty, with one on. A wild pitch moves the runner up. He walks, to put two on. Boswell bats lefty, with two on and one away. He takes a curve ball that comes over, the K is two gone. Righty hitting Barrera, has two on and two down. He K's swinging for the third time today, to end the threat. It's stretch time in Westwood and UCLA looks to win the series, as they lead 5-2.
Kennedy pitches the seventh for the Horns. Leading off for UCLA is Filia, batting left handed. A hopper to first and the 3U is one down. Skip out and another change is made.
Right hander is Nolan Kingham, the new Horn pitcher, a freshman. Persico will bat righty, as the first hitter against him, with an out. He grounds one over the bag and down the left field line, for a double. DH is lefty hitting Peterson, with one on and one gone. He drives one to the track in center, but caught, two down. Runner tags and goes to third. Bouchard bats righty, with a man on third and two outs. A grounder toward the hole on the right side, McKenzie has it but, can't make a throw, another infield hit, that scores the run. UCLA leads 6-2. Chatterton bats righty, with one on and two down. A ground ball to short goes 6-4, for the force, to end the inning. UCLA adds another run and leads now 6-2, to the eighth.
Hadley stays in to pitch the eighth, for the Bruins. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, leading off. A grounder to first is a 3U out one. Mathis the DH, bats lefty, with one away. A liner goes to right, for another single for him. Tate Shaw comes in to pinch run for him. Kody Clemens bats lefty, with one on and one down. He grounds a ball through the right side for another single and two aboard. This brings out the Bruin pitching coach and he makes a move. Pitching change.
UCLA will bring back the closer, in right hander Brian Gadsby, the submariner. He faces lefty hitting Harlan, with two aboard and one down. Another liner to right, for a single and it produces a run. UCLA leads 6-3. McKenzie bats righty, with two on and one gone. He K's swinging, two away. Joe Baker will pinch hit for Gurwitz, batting righty, with two on and two outs. The count runs full and the runners will go, a gapper would score two. A hard one hopper up the middle is flagged by Gadsby, the 1-3 out will end the frame. Texas gets one back, but UCLA still leads 6-3, bottom of eight.
Freshman righty Chase Shugart comes in to pitch the eighth, for Texas. Baker comes in to play second. Chatterton leads off batting right, for the Bruins. A grounder to Baker goes 4-3, for one away. Catcher Haribayashi, bats righty, with an out. Another ground ball to second and another 4-3 or two gone. Top of the order again is lefty hitting Urabe, with two retired. A fly ball to center is caught to retire the side in order. To the ninth and Texas needs at least three runs to keep UCLA from taking the series in regulation. They lead 6-3.
Gadsby will try to close out the game for the Bruins. Leading off for Texas is the top of the order is Jones, batting righty. He walks, for a lead runner. Boswell bats lefty, with a man on. He's hitless today, with a walk. A chop to first and the 3-1 play is one down, runner to second. Righty hitting Barrera bats righty, with a man on. He lines a single to left, that puts runners on the corners. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with two on and one down. He walks to load the bases. The tying runs on for pinch hitter Michael Cantu, batting righty. He K's looking, for a big second out. Kody Clemens bats lefty, the bases loaded, two down. A fly ball to center will end the game. For the second straight game, a chance for a big ninth inning rally goes by the boards. UCLA wins the game 6-3 and the series 2-1. Back in a bit.
My first question is where is Josh Sawyer? He was a solid lefty veteran starting pitcher, for most of last season. He has pitched exactly two innings so far this year. This is a big concern. Is he hurt or something else, something is going on here, or he would be pitching. This staff is already hurting, trying to get Cooper and Robinson back into shape, after they missed the entire season last year, due to surgery. The loss of Chad Hollingsworth was big too, he never recovered, from a bad shoulder and had to give up baseball entirely. Sawyer would be pitching before some of the young and not so young arms, being used repeatedly. It's a big hole in the staff, that nobody is talking about, I wish I was still in Austin, I would find out. Back to today, Mayes gives you another quality outing, he was a bit shook up in the first, after falling awkwardly, fielding a bunt. It may have had something to do with his exit, or maybe not. The bullpen faltered and Texas would get runners on and couldn't score them. Twelve men left on base today. Again what might have been a big rally in the ninth, the same as yesterday, was snuffed out. It all adds up to a UCLA win and a series win for the Bruins. Next up for Texas is the game with A&M, in College Station, on Tuesday, I believe it will televised by the SEC Network, will check on that. Should be an interesting game to say the least. Morgan Cooper may not be up to full speed yet, but he is still pitching well. It will be a good measuring point, to see how far along the recovery trail, he has come. Team needs a big win, up to them to try and go get it, on Tuesday night.
