Tulane vs. Texas Game 1

March Madness has started in the Big 12 baseball season, at least for four teams. There are two conference series taking place this weekend.

Texas Tech wins the first conference game of the season in Waco, a 5-0 victory over a bad Baylor team. Tech is so far showing to be better than most people thought.

The other three game conference series is West Virginia at TCU, that starts tonight. TCU is the overwhelming choice to win the Big 12 and will be the opening conference series for the Horns, next week in Austin.

Meanwhile Texas plays it's last nonconference series this weekend, against the Tulane Green Wave. Tulane comes in just barely out of the rankings and has a respectable 11-6 record.

The Longhorns are 7-10, after another tough loss against a ranked team Tuesday, in College Station. The Horns really need to clean up the defensive mistakes both physical and mental, in this final series before conference play.

Maybe we can get this game in before the basketball game, which most likely will tip off at around 9 pm.

Line-ups next.

 

Tulane line-up:




Texas starters:

 

There is threatening weather to the northwest of Austin, that may move into the area later. Really don't want a weather delay, with the basketball game tonight. Have to see how this plays out.

Right hander Kyle Johnston, a sophomore gets another Friday night start. We by now should be familiar with his story. He has great stuff, a mid 90's fast ball with movement, a sharp curve ball and mixes in a change.

The issue as most always is control of this arsenal, the command can be spotty and sometimes can be his undoing.

Johnston completes his warmup pitches, the sign to play is given, the series gets underway.

Centerfielder Richard Carthon, leads off for the Green Wave, batting left handed.
A ground ball to the right of Baker, he fields and throws against his body and just nips the speedy Carthon, one down.

Jake Rodgers bats righty, as the Tulane catcher.
He lines a high fast ball to center for a single, the first hit and base runner of the game.

The DH is Jeremy Montalbano, batting righty, with one on and one down. He is a former Longhorn.
The count runs full and he walks to put two aboard.

Lex Kaplan plays right field, bats lefty, with two on and one out.
A ground ball to first and Clemens fires to second low and by Baker, for an error and a run scores.

Tulane leads 1-0.

Hunter Hope bats righty, plays third base, with two on and one out.
A ground ball to second and this time it's a 4U-3 double play to end the inning.

It's a ground ball late, because another potential dp was an error, the unearned run gives Tulane a 1-0 lead. Texas comes to bat.

 

Tulane will start a right hander in Corey Merrill, with a 2-0 record.

Travis Jones will lead off for the Horns, playing left field and batting right handed.
A high fast ball is shot to center, for a lead single.

Shortstop Bret Boswell bats lefty, with a man on.
He squares and fouls off a bunt attempt.
The he K's swinging on a low curve ball, one away.

The Texas DH is Tres Barrera, batting righty, with one on and one out.
He golfs a low fast ball that goes off the fence in left field, a stand up double to put two on, at second and third.

Right fielder is lefty hitting Patrick Mathis, getting his first start in the outfield since the hamstring injury.
He has one down and two on, the infield stays back.
A ground ball to second will score a run, the 4-3 is two away.

Game tied 1-1.

Joe Baker bats righty, with a man at third and two outs.
A full count is reached and another curve ball in the dirt is swung on missed, the second K of the inning will retire the side on the 2-3 put out.

Texas gets the run back and after the first inning, game tied at 1-1.

 

Johnston comes back for the second inning, hoping for a quicker frame, after along first one.

Leading off for Tulane is lefty hitter, Grant Witherspoon, the first baseman.
A first pitch ground ball to second is a good start, the 4-3 is one away.

Shortstop Jake Willsey, bats righty, with one down.
He K's swinging on the big curve ball, two gone.

Left fielder Jeff Dehart, bats righty, with two retired.
A shallow pop to right and Mathis has it, to retire the side in order.

Much better inning for the defense and Johnston, bottom of two and tied 1-1.

 

Merrill returns to the hill for Tulane, in the Texas second.

Lefty hitting Kody Clemens, playing third leads off.
A ground ball up the middle gets through, for another lead single.

Catcher Michael Cantu bats righty, with a man on.
He has really been struggling at the bat, but he will lay a bunt down here and the 1-3 sac is good.

Kacy Clemens will bat lefty, with one on and one out, playing first base.
A comebacker to Merrill goes 1-3, for out two.

Nine hole hitter is Zane Gurwitz, batting righty, with a man on second, two gone.
A ground ball to short goes 6-3, to end the frame.

Texas gets a man to second, but doesn't move him, two played and still 1-1.

 

Johnston back to the bump for his third inning of work.

Second baseman Cade Edwards leads off for the Green Wave, batting righty or maybe not.

He won't because lightning has been spotted and that means our first of maybe many delays in the game.

Players come off the field and it's a minimum of thirty minutes, in this lightning delay.

 

It seems that the lightning delay has been extended, going to be a long night if we get the game in.

 

Radar looks like it could be as late as 9 pm or so...May need to postpone and do a DH tomorrow or cancel.

 

Game will be resumed tomorrow at 2 pm.

The second game will be played following the first game.

One score of interest, WVU leads TCU 5-3 in the sixth.

On to basketball tonight.

TCU scores seven runs in the eighth inning to win 10-6.

 

TCU is probably winning the Big 12. Baylor, Texas, OU are all down and mediocre right now. OSU may be good enough to challenge them; otherwise they should win it ( regular season )

 

So where were we, yes in a weather delay. There will be pitching changes, as you might expect.

Connor Mayes will take over for Kyle Johnston, on the mound in the third inning of our game.

Ross Massey will take over for Merrill, for Tulane on the mound, when Texas comes to bat.

 

Connor Mayes warms up as play in the first game of the series is about to resume. He is a right handed sophomore.

Clear skies today, with the wind blowing in pretty briskly. It might help balls hit to right a bit, but will mostly push them toward the foul line.

Tulane second baseman Cade Edwards will finally step in to bat from the right side, at the bottom of the order.
A fly ball to right center is pushed to right and Mathis has it, for one down.

Top of the order is Carthon, batting lefty, with an out.
A soft liner off the fists is caught on a knee by Baker at second, two away.

Rogers will bat righty, two down.
The count runs full and and he K's on a high fast ball swinging, to retire the side in order.

Mayes off to a good start and Texas comes to bat in the third, game tied 1-1.

 

Left hander Ross Massey, a reliever, not a starter, will be the pitcher for the Green Wave today.

Top of the order is up for Texas, in Jones, batting right handed.
A high breaking ball is grounded up the middle for his second hit of the game. The centerfielder takes his time and then lobs it back to the infield, so Jones keeps motoring and makes second. They score it a double, but come on, it's a routine single that the centerfielder loafed on and that put Jones on second. No stat for mental errors though.

Boswell bats lefty, with a man on second.
Full count and a ground ball to second is a 4-3 out that moves Jones to third.

Righty hitting Barrera has a man on third and one down.
He has a double in the game.
Infield back, the Texas run score on a ground ball, could do it again.
That is just what happened, as a little grounder to second goes 4-3 to plate the run.

Texas leads 2-1.

Lefty hitting Mathis has a man on and two away.
The third grounder to second goes yet again 4-3, to retire the side.

Texas hustles a run, by taking advantage of Tulane mental rock, they lead 2-1, after three.

 

Mayes out for the fourth, now has a lead to work with.

Leading off for the Green Wave is the former Longhorn, Jeremy Montalbano, batting righty, the DH.
A fly ball to shallow right is one away.

Kaplan will bat lefty, with one down.
He swings and foul tips a high fastball into Cantu's mitt, the K is two gone.

Righty hitting Hope bats with two outs.
He takes a curve ball on the outside corner, for another K, that retires the side again in order.

Bottom of the fourth and Texas leads 2-1.

 

Massey will pitch the fourth for the Green Wave.

Second baseman Joe Baker will step in the right handed side of the box, to lead off for the Horns.
A little pop to left and the left fielder comes in to make that grab, one down.

Kody Clemens bats lefty, with an out.
He takes a called strike three, on a fast ball, the K is two gone.

Righty hitting Cantu will bat, with two outs.
He's still struggling at the plate.
A ground ball on the right side sneaks through, for a single, he really needed that.

Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with a man on and two outs.
A little pop down the third base line, and the left fielder dives and can't make the play, not hit hard, but it's a double, to put two on.

So Gurwitz bats righty, at the bottom of the order, two on in scoring position, two down.
Opportunity to play add on, with a two out clutch hit.
He K's swinging, on a breaking pitch, to end the frame.

Two out rally fizzles and so it's still Texas in the lead 2-1, four played.

 

Mayes pitches the fifth for the Horns, he looks to become the pitcher of record, for a possible win.

Leading off for Tulane is Witherspoon, batting lefty.
He takes the off speed pitch, frozen in place, for a called third strike, another K is out one.

Righty hitting Willsey, bats with an out.
He K's swinging on the big curve ball, the fourth straight K, is two away.

Dehart bats lefty, with two gone.
A full count reached and a fast ball, just low is ball four.
The walk is the first runner of the day for Tulane off Mayes.

Bottom of the order is righty hitting Edwards.
He lines a high fast ball to left for a single, to put two on.

Top of the order again is Carthon, batting lefty, two on and two outs.
A shallow popper to center will end the threat.

Tulane make a little noise, for the first time, but nothing across. Texas leads still 2-1, halfway through the first game of the series.

 

Massey again to the mound, as the Horn fifth begins.

Jones will hit right handed, at the top of the order, to lead off.
He is 2-2 in the game and scored both runs for Texas.
He swings and misses on a low curve ball, the ball goes off the catcher's mitt to the backstop, he reaches on the passed ball, on the K.

Boswell bats lefty, with a man on.
He squares and lays the bunt down, the 1-3 sac is good.

The righty hitting DH is Barrera, with an out and a man on second.
Texas trying to break through with a hit, to plate a runner in scoring position, the Horns are 0-7 so far in this game in that departent.
Jones heads for third and just beats an accurrate throw, stolen base.
Infield is back again and now comes in.
It's 0-8 now, as Barrera was heading for the dugout, before the third strike was called, fooled by a curve ball, tow away.

Mathis bats lefty, two away, man on third.
A ground ball will make it 0-9, the play goes 4-3, to end the threat.

Texas gets a man to third with one out, but fails to score, they still lead 2-1, to the sixth.

 

Mayes will try and hold the lead, as the sixth begins for Tulane.

Rogers, the catcher, leads off batting righty.
A high foul pop on the right side is caught by Clemens, for one away.

Righty hitting DH is Montalbano, with an out.
He can't check his swing on a high fast ball, the K is two gone.

Kaplan bats lefty, with two away.
A inside out swing and a liner to Kody Clemens that he lays out for and had, to retire the side in order again.

Bottom of six, Texas still ahead 2-1.

 

Massey out again in the sixth, for Tulane.

Baker leads off bating righty, for the Horns.
He singles through the hole, on the left side, another lead runner.

Kody Clemens bats lefty, with a man on.
He squares, as expected and can't get it down.
Then he takes a fast ball on the outside corner, the called K is one down.

Righty catcher is Cantu, batting with one on and one away.
A fly ball well hit to left, will go nowhere in the wind, two down.

Kacy Clemens will hit lefty, two outs and a man on.
He had a bloop double down the third base line, his last trip.
A liner over the second baseman's glove is another single, to put two on.

So Gurwitz bats righty, at the bottom of the order, two on and two outs.
Another chance for Texas to play add on and score a runner in scoring position.
A shallow fly ball to right will make the count 0-10, as the right fielder has it, to end the frame.

Texas keeps stranding runners and it's still 2-1 Horns, after six played.

 

Mayes pitches the seventh, for the Horns.

Leading off for Tulane is Hope, batting righty.
He has no hope of catching up to a high heater, another swinging K is one down.

Witherspoon bats lefty, with an out.
He slices a fly ball to left center, Gurwitz with a good jump, makes a sliding backhanded catch, the defensive gem is two gone.

Willsey bats righty, two outs.
A ground ball deep in the hole, on the left side is snagged by Boswell, his throw is late, an infield hit.

Dehart bats lefty, with two outs and a man on.
He golfs a long fly ball to right, the wind didn't have time to push it foul. It's a line drive homer, just inside the foul pole.

Tulane leads 3-2.

Edwards bats lefty, at the bottom of the order, two gone.
He grounds one to the left of Kody Clemens at third, he dives and has it and his throw is in time, to end the inning on a nice play.

But the homer gives Tulane the lead 3-2, as it's stretch time in Austin.

 

It's Massey that now pitches with a lead, as the Horn seventh begins.

Top of the order is Jones batting righty, leading off.
He flies to left, one away.

Boswell bats lefty, with an out.
A ground ball to first goes 3U, two away.

DH is righty hitting Barrera, with two outs.
A lazy fly ball to right will retire the side in order.

To the eighth, it's Tulane leading 3-2.

 

Mayes will stay on in the eighth, for Texas. He made one mistake and it wasn't that bad a pitch, but the Tulane batter went down and got it, for a homer.

Carthon leads off, at the top of the order, batting lefty.
He bunts and Kody Clemens charges from third and fields, but the throw is just late, an infield hit, and a lead runner.

Righty hitting Rodgers bats with a man on.
He attempts two bunts and fouls both of them off.
A ground ball to third goes for a 5-4 force, Clemens had to go down to a knee to field it and Baker had to make a good play at second on a wide throw.

Montalbano bats righty, with a man on, one down.
A slicing fly ball to right and the wind keeps pushing it toward the corner, but Mathis runs it down, for two away.

Lefty hitting Kaplan bats, with a man on.
Carthon may be on the move now, with two gone.
The count runs full and the runner will go now.
An outside fast ball will put two on, on the walk.

Hope bats righty, with two on and two outs.
He struck out his last trip.
Mayes gets him again, on a big change up, swung on and missed.

Bottom of the eighth, Tulane ahead 3-2.

 

Massey keeps going for the Green Wave in the Horn eighth.
Texas has had multiple chances to score against him, but can't get the clutch hit.

Lefty hitting right fielder Mathis, leads off for the Horns.
He swings at a low and outside fast ball, in the dirt, for one away, after the 2-3 put out.

Baker bats righty, with one down.
He K's swinging on the change up, two outs.

Kody Clemens bats lefty, with two down.
A fly ball to center will once again retire the side in order.

After having lots of traffic, but not scoring, the bats have gone silent. To the ninth it's 3-2 Green Wave.

 

Mayes is done and he had a quality start or relief appearance whichever you prefer.

Travis Duke, the senior lefty will pitch the ninth and try hold things to a one run Tulane lead.

Leading off for the Green Wave is lefty hitter, Witherspoon.
A roller to short and the 6-3 is one gone.

Willsey bats from the right side, with one down.
He bunts down the right side, Duke barehands it by the line and throws him out 1-3, two away.

Dehart bats lefty, with two outs.
He hit the low fast ball out of the yard, to give Tulane the advantage.
He K's swinging through a fast ball this time, to retire the side in order.

Bottom of the ninth, Texas needs one to keep the game going, two to win, as Tulane leads 3-2.

 

Massey will try to close out the game and get the win, for Tulane.

Cantu leads off batting righty, with a single in the game.
A ground ball to third goes 5-3, for the first out.

Jake McKenzie will pinch hit for Kacy Clemens, with one out, batting righty.
A ground ball to second goes 4-3, two down.

Gurwitz bats in the nine hole, as the last hope for Texas, from the right side.
Another ground ball to second and the 4-3 will end the game.

Tulane wins the opener 3-2, as Texas drops another close game.
Texas had many chances to score in the game, but didn't get the clutch hit. Then the bats went completely dorman in the final three innings.

Mayes pitches well, but Tulane gets the big hit, on a two run homer, that the batter went down and got a low inside pitch.
The liner cut through the wind and stayed fair, by the right field foul pole.

It all adds up to a 3-2 loss, the second game will be in about 30 minutes or so.