AM vs. Texas Regional Champs Game Do Or Die

[NBHorn7]

The strange mystery tour that is the Texas Baseball season comes to a fork in the road tonight.

One path leads to glory and a Super Regional and the other to pretty much humiliation at the hands of not only a pretty bad team, but it's those people we thought we were rid of.

This season is like "Ground Hog Day" in that we keep playing the same teams with the same results both good and bad and somehow keep going.

We can do that again tonight and keep going, it is sort on uncanny.

You could have not asked for a better result in being sent to an away Regional. Texas was sent to Rice and Sam Houston was sent to TCU as a #3 seed. I thought they were pretty good and they were. A really tough call whether good or bad kept them from having two shots at TCU with a day's rest win that Regional

Instead we get A&M and blow them out in our first game.
Then we scratch back and beat Rice. So the Horns are in top notch position to win it.

Then low and behold after trailing 6-0, A&M takes out Rice in extra innings no less.

Could you ask for a better position than to have two chances against a team that probably shouldn't even have been in a
Regional to start with?

We know how last night went, even with Schiraldi's pitching adventures we had every chance to win it against some Freshman. We don't hit and that is not exactly a great surprise, but then we lose the game on an error to "boot" so to speak.

We win on great pitching and fielding, with just enough runs scored any way we can eke them out most of the time.
It's just who we are and what we do.

The X factors are our terrible at times base running that is just unexplainable to me that players that play as much baseball as they make the mistakes on the basepaths they do.

Nicholson looks lost coaching third base and remember when they took him off there in favor of Skip for awhile. They said it was so he could concentrate on the hitters. Yeah right, and we are all going to party at the Palace with the Queen of England next week no doubt also.

Skip didn't want that job, as he had other things to do that he does well that keeps us in games. So that didn't last and we know Augie doesn't want to go out there, so back came Tommy and it keeps happening in key situations.

One other thing that really hurts this team is is has no "bench" absolutely none. We play the same line-up all the time no matter what kind of slumps are going on because we don't have anybody to take anybody's place.

Only injury changes that and remember what happened when Carter went down and they had to put Felts in at DH?
It wasn't pretty and we tail spinned till Carter got back.

Most teams at least have one or two guys even if they are slow and can't play a position, they can't hit well.

We don't even have that, when Clemens goes so bad and we have to pinch hit for him late in a game there is only one option in Felts and that is not exactly a great one.

Despite all this we still have the chance to actually win a Regional and advance. This is really the difference in having a good season or a bad one to me. If ever the slogan "Victory or Death" described a sporting event this is one of them

We lose to "those people" and it will be like death and it will in my view turn a good to possible great season into failure again. Texas just has to gut this one out somehow in some way.


Texas it looks like is the home team and the pitching matchups are these.

As I thought right hander Chad Hollingsworth, for Texas.

A&M counters with right hander, Corey Ray.

The line-up card is coming and let's get this done Texas!

 

[NBHorn7]

Well the line-up card image will not come up and I have tried it on two browsers.

Anybody want to give it a go it is on the Longhorn Baseball twitter page.

The game is on ESPNU and audio streamed free on texassports.com game preview page.

 

[NBHorn7]

Now they are saying it will start on ESPN News.

 

[accuratehorn]

Game is on LHN, and also on ESN. It will move from ESN to ESPNU when the rain delayed game that is on ESPNU is finally completed, but who knows when that will be.

 

[dillohorn]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Hu_Fan]

UT pitcher.... first start for the season.
That makes a lot of sense.

what in the world...
got out of the inning... could have been a whole lot worse

 

[NBHorn7]

Blake Allemand, the shortsop leads off for A&M against Chad Hollingsworth the right hander for Texas.

He steps in left handed as we get this title game underway.
He walks for lead runner.

Ryne Birk, the DH bats also lefty with one on.
He bunts and Gurwitz throws it away again after stumbling for another error.

Runners on the corners with no outs.

Cole Lankford, plays first and bats lefty and he sends a fly ball deep enough to center for a SF as Payton's throw is just late.

A&M leads 1-0 as the errors are killing the Horns.

Logan Nottebrok, the third baseman bats right handed with one down and one on.
A high pop to short is two away.

Nick Banks, plays right field and bats lefty with two down and one on.
He bunts and Gurwitz fields and another wide throw and he is safe. Didn't hear a ruling yet.

Two on and two down for the catcher, Roy Stein.
He bats righty and the count runs full and the runners ar off on the pitch.
He walks to load the bases and here is big moment already in the game.

Skip comes out for a chat and to settle Chad down hopefully.

Patrick McLendon, the second baseman bats righty with the bases loaded and two down.
After a 3-0 count he gets a fly ball to right to retire the side.

A&M gets another unearned run to take a 1-0 as Texas comes to bat for the first time.

 

[NBHorn7]

His first start because nobody left has one or is ready to go.

 

[NBHorn7]

Marlow leads off for Texas against Corey Ray, the right hander.

He steps in left handed and chops one to first that is booted by the first baseman for an error.

Johnson bats right handed and looks for a sac bunt.
He gets it down and Marlow is on second.

Payton looks to tie the game and extend his 98 game on base streak.
He steps in lefty and he barely misses a homer down the right field line foul.
The count as often does goes full and a fly ball goes to right for two away.

Barrera bats righty with two down, trying to tie it up.
He singles through the hole on the left side and Texas gets their unearned run to tie at 1-1.

Carter bats right handed with two down and one on.
A fly ball to left retires the side.

The teams exchange unearned runs in the first.
Going to the second tied 1-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth out for the second.

He faces Jace Statum, the left fielder.
He bats from the left side and he walks on four pitches.

Krey Bratsen, the centerfielder bats righty with one on and no outs.
He lays down the bunt and like every at bat so far, a runner is at second with one down.

Allemand, at the top of the order is back again and he flies out to right for two down.
The runner tagged and went to third.

Birk bats with two down and one on.
He grounds to second to retire the side.

The first zero goes on the scoreboard and bottom of two tied at 1-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Ray, the right hander back for his second inning of work.

He faces Hinojosa leading off from the right side.
He lines a single to left and then decides to go for two and is out by 10 feet at second for one away.

Our base running again has something to be desired.

Shaw up with one away from the left side.
He grounds to second for two down.

Clemens bats with two down.
He steps in left handed and skies a ball to center to retire the side.

Two played and tied at 1-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth looks for more success as the third starts.

Lankford leads off for A&M from the left side.
A liner to left is out one.

Nottebrok bats righty with one down.
A fly ball to right center is run down by Payton for two away.

Banks bats from the left side with two down.
Another fly ball to Payton retires the side in order.
Good inning for Chad.

Bottom of three and tied 1-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Ray starts his third inning.

Gurwitz leads off righty.
A fly to left is one away.

Marlow up at the top of the order looks to start something,
He steps in left handed and singles on the ground through the right side.

Johnson bats righty with one on and one down.
He K's on a worm burner for two away.

Payton bats and a wild pitch sends Marlow to second.
Now do they pitch to Payton?
Another wild pitch sends Marlow to third.
As expected he walks and there is # 99 on the consecutive on base streak.
We a chance for Mark's #100.

Barrera, who has the rbi, bats with runners on the corners with two down.
Payton may be on the move.
He goes, but Barrera K's swinging on slow and low.

Three played and tied at 1-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

The fourth rolls around and Hollingsworth stays on.

Stein leads off batting right handed.
A first pitch ground ball to short is one down.

McLendon bats righty with one away.
The count runs full and a two hopper to Gurwitz and this time an accurrate throw is two down.

Statum bats with two down and he pops up to short to retire the side in order.

Hollingsworth looking good and to the bottom of four tied at 1-1,

 

[NBHorn7]

Ray, the right hander out for the Texas fourth.

Carter leads it off for the Horns.
Need to get something going.
A liner to center for a single does just that.

Hinojosa up with one on and probably bunts.
He somehow gets it down on a pitch at his head.

Carter goes to second with one down.
Shaw looks for the lead as he steps in lefty.
He grounds one up the middle and the shortstop boots it to the second baseman, but Shaw with good speed beats it.
The infield hit puts runners on the corners with one down.

Childress out to the mound, but leaves him in.

Clemens bats with runners on the corners and has no hits in the Regional, does he bunt?
A shallow fly ball to left and Carter can't score as there is two down.

Gurwitz needs a clutch hit for the lead now.
He lunges at a pitch and a liner short hops the third baseman for another error and another unearned run.

Texas leads 2-1.

Marlow at the top of the order bats with two down and two on.
The runners go and it's a double steal without a throw.
Marlow with the big chance for a big inning that is so much needed.
He lines one hard right to the first baseman to retire the side.

Texas with the latest unearned run takes the lead 2-1 after four innings.

 

[NBHorn7]

That seemed like a pretty tough error on the A&M third baseman last inning to me.

Hollingsworth tries to become the pitcher of record in the fifth and a possible win.

Bratsen leads off batting righty.
A sharp one hopper is snagged by Hollingsworth at his shoes for one away.

Allemand bats at the top of the order with one down.
He hits him to put a man on and end a long consecutive out streak.

Birk bats with one down and one on.
The count runs full and he takes one on the inside corner for a looking K that has all sides howling on the borderline call.

Two down for Lankford with one on.
A sharp ground ball is backhanded by Clemens and he takes it to the bag to retire the side.

Halfway through the title game and Texas leads 2-1.

 

[Hu_Fan]

A&M has worn their maroon colored jersey all games. Maybe was the only jersey with enough patches to look like a bumper-sticker-saturated-VW Van. They have US flag, sports company emblem, SEC logo, state of Texas, with A&M repeated, A&M on the front in HUGE letters, and their number.

Anti-minamalist?

 

[NBHorn7]

Ray remains on for the fifth.

Johnson leads off for the Horns.
He grounds a ball up the middle and the shortstop has it for one down.

Payton bats with one down.
What do you know, a full count.
He draws the walk and I wish all out hitters had his patience and batting eye.

Barrera bats with one down and one on.
Payton, as always a threat to go and a pitch out shows it.
Payton goes with a great jump and makes it easily.
If they don't pay attention to him he will take third too.
Barrera walks to put two on.

Really need to take advantage of all these base runners.

Carter bats with two on and one down.
There goes Payton and he does steal third without a throw.
Barrera holds at first.

Carter tries the safety squeeze and fouls it off.
Need some contact now.
A roller to second is a 4-6-3 double play and that again hurts badly as it retires the side.

Just can't break through as it often happens to Texas.

Five innings gone and Texas leads 2-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth on a roll still hurls in the sixth.

Nottebrok leads off from the right side.
He K's looking as he is dealing for one down.

If we could have just got a couple more runs.

Banks bats with one down left handed.
A fly ball to center is two down.

Stein bats righty with two down and the bases clear.
He hits him for a base runner.

McLendon bats righty with one on and two down.
A ground ball to Gurwitz as he crosses into foul territory is not handled and it's and infield hit to put two on.

Statum bats left handed with two on and two down.
He flies to shallow center and it's squeezed by Payton to retire the side.

Bottom of six and Texas leads 2-1.

 

[Hu_Fan]

lots of base-running errors.... over-anxious

would have 2 or more extra runs already if the runners had not taken such risks...

 

[NBHorn7]

Matt Kent, a left hander is the new A&M pitcher in the sixth.

HInojosa leads off and even one more run would be huge for the Horns.
Another ball down the line, this time in left is another foul ball with home run distance.
He rips a grounder through on the left side for a single.

Shaw up to bunt.
He gets it down to move up C.J.

Another shot for a run for the Horns

Clemens need his first hit of the Regionals to score him.
Hinojosa is thrown out again trying to advance on a ball that barely gets away.

That's a rally killer as maybe he got there and slid off the bag, but it was just too big a gamble there.

So off course Clemens grounds one into the hole on the right side and is fielded by the second basemans as he flips over and throws wide to first.

It's and infield hit that would have scored Hinojosa.

Gurwitz bats with two down and one on.
He grounds one off the third baseman's glove and it's an error.
More runners and no runs so far.

Marlow needs a big hit to tally something.
He gets hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Runners, runners everywhere, but will any score?

Johnson bats with two down and the bases loaded.
He can put some real distance between the teams here.
A line drive to short leaves them loaded.

The beat goes on with so many runners that stay stranded.

Six innings gone and Texas leads 2-1.

He steps in

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth out for his seventh inning of work.
He has been great, but how much longer can he go?

Bratsen leads off batting righty.
He grounds a hot shot that Gurwitz backhands and makes the good throw for one away.

Allemand with a comebacker to Chad for two down.

Birk bats left handed with two down.
He walks for a runner.

Lankford hits from the left side with two down and one on.
A drive to left is caught by Johnson to retire the side.

What a game by Hollingsworth.

Please get him some runs or even a run.

Stretch time in Houston and Texas leads 2-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Kent stays on for the Texas seventh.

Payton leads off and a run would be so big now.
Another full count of course.
He walks for the third time.

Here we go again.
Chilfress is out and a change is made.

 

[Texanne]

I'm loving the updates. I'm stuck at musical auditions.

Go Horns!

 

[NBHorn7]

The latest A&M pitcher is Andrew Vinson, a right hander.

Barrera faces him with no outs and one on.
Does he bunt? Do you let Payton continue his stealling spree? A hit and run maybe?

Barrera shows no sign of bunting.
He K's swinging at one in the dirt for one down.

Payton will run now I bet.

Carter up with one down.

The first baseman breaks his glove and gets another.

Carter back in from the right side.
He walks to put two on.

More multiple base runners for Texas.
Good speed on and another double steal could happen.

Hinojosa bats with one down and two on.
He sends a liner that falls like a lawn dart in left filed for a single.
Payton scores and the double puts runners on second and third.

Texas leads 3-1.

Shaw can break it open here with one out.
Childress out and he wants a left hander.

Pitching change.

 

[NBHorn7]

Ty Schlottman, a lefty of course is in to face Shaw.

You could safety bunt here, got to make contact with the infield in.

Shaw stands in from the left side and a fly ball is good for a SF and that is a great at bat.

Texas leads 4-1.

Clemens bats lefty with two down and still a runner in scoring position.
He K's swinging to retire the side.

Texas finally plays add on and leads 4-1 after seven.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth is on for the eighth and has pitched just magnificantly.

You should though have everybody up and ready in the bullpen now though.

He faces a pinch hitter Nick Choruby a righy hitter and he bunts and Barrera pounces on it and nails him at first for one down.

Banks bats with one away.
The count runs full and he takes a called third strike on the inside corner on a perfect frame job by Barrera.

Hollingsworth is over 100 pitches now.

Stein bats with two away.
A fly ball to center retires the side in order.

The amazing job by Chad continues.

Botom of the eighth and Texas leads 4-1.

 

[WorsterMan]

3 outs left for lowly aggy... let's get 'er done!

 

[Hu_Fan]

wife sent me on emergency heb run.... craig way got me home... in time to see run #4

I hope Hollingsworth gets a complete game and can walk off a winner. He's earned it. (maybe a 'thumbs down' when he walks off?)

 

[ElginHotSausage]

meanwhile in Red Stick, Cougar HIgh leads LSU 9-2 after 3.