Rice vs. Texas In Austin

[NBHorn7]

After the sweep of Baylor last weekend, Texas goes for a season sweep of Rice. The Horns have beat them on a neutral and the Owl's home field. Now comes the last game of the series in Austin.

Right hander Lukas Schiraldi, with a victory over Rice last week at Reckling Park gets his usual Tuesday starting assignment against Rice right hander Caleb Smith.

 

[NBHorn7]

Schiraldi toes the rubber for the Horns and faces the Rice centerielder Charlie Warren batting from the left side.

He hits the first pitch of the game to right center and Payton tracks it down for one away.

Keenan Cook, the right fielder K's looking on three pitches for two down.

Shane Hoelscher, the third baseman for the Owls bats righ handed and he insides out a fast ball through the hole on the right side by a diving Marlow for the first hit of the game.

Skyler Ewing, the catcher bloops a single to center in front of Payton to put two aboard.

That brings the DH, John Clay Reeves, he skies the first pitch to shallow center and Payton puts it away to retire the side and end the threat.

Rice doesn't tally and now Texas comes in for the first plate appearance.

 

[NBHorn7]

Caleb Smith, from Austin, a right hander starts for Rice and Marlow leads off the Texas first.

He flies out to center for one away.

Johnson bats from the right side and draws a walk for the first Texas base runner of the night.

Payton steps in from the left side as Johnson leads from first with one down.
He also walks as he extends his consecutive on base streak in his first at bat.

Two on and one down for Barrera, catching this game.
He fists a slow roller to second for a 4-3 out as the runners move up.

That brings Shaw, the lefty in an early chance for Texas to jump on top.
He bats with runners on second and third with two away.
The Rice pitching coach appears as the count runs 2-1.

He leaves and Shaw steps back in against Smith.
He swings and misses at a change to end the inning.

Both teams strand a couple of runners in the first.
That means no runs have scored after one inning of play.

 

[NBHorn7]

Schiraldi back out faces Connor Teykl playing first for Rice.

He reaches out and gets the barrel of the bat on the ball to send a soft liner to center for a single to lead off.

Ford Stainback, playings short looks to move the runner along.
He squares three times and each time it's a ball.
He draws the walk to put two on and no outs.

Michael Aquino now batting righty and playing left field now also looks for the sac bunt.
He misses one attempt and fouls off another, then he K's swinging on a low breaker for a big out one.

Kirby Taylor playing second bats righty with runners at first and second.
He flies one foul to the right side that Shaw runs down as he hit the fence for two away.

The runner at second tags and goes to third.

Runners are now on the corners with two down for the lead off hitter Warren.

He singles through the right side and that scores a run and puts runners at first and second.

Rice leads 1-0 as Cook bats from the left side once more with two down and the two runners at first and second.

He grounds to second and Marlow makes the play to end the inning.

We have a score now and it's Rice leading 1-0 going to the bottom of the second.

 

[NBHorn7]

Smith out for his second inning of work faces Hinojosa batting from the right side as the Texas second begins.

He bunts one that the third baseman charges and fields by the mound and thows him out 5-3 for one down.

Carter bats next as the DH from the right side.
He works the count full after several foul balls.
Then takes the walk to reach with one away.

Clemens bats next from the left side.
A wild pitch sends Carter to second as Smith is a touch on the wild side.
Another visit from the pitching coach as the count goes 3-0.
He returns to the third base dugout a second time and Clemens takes a walk on another wild pitch that moves Carter to third.

So runners on the corners now with one away for Gurwitz in the nine hole.
As has been the case in spades lately, he bat with multiple runners on base.

Out comes the pitching coach agains and that's all for Smith.

This brings the other Teykl brother Trevor in to pitch for Rice.
The right hander who once pitched for Texas again comes in to face the Horns as he did last week at Reckling.

His situation is runners at the cornes and one down with Gurwitz batting from the right side as his first batter faced.

He also inherits a 1-0 count.
A full count is reached and a sharp ground ball to the left of the second baseman is fielded and the 4-3 out is recorded as Carter scores to tie the game 1-1.

Marlow brings the top of the order with a chance to give the Horns a lead with Clemens leading from second and two down.

Marlow puts a bit of a charge into a ball to center, but the centerfielder goes back and makes the catch to retire the side.

Texas matches Rice's run and the game is tied 1-1 after two innings.

 

[NBHorn7]

Schiraldi comes out for the third with a tie score to face Hoelscher batting righty.

He lines one just fair down the right field line for a lead off double.
His slide into second breaks his belt and we have a pause in the game as it is replaced.

Ewing bats now with the opportunity to get the lead back for Rice.
The count runs full before walking to put two on and no outs.

The DH Reeves is up batting right handed and he bunts the runners along with the sac.

One away and runners now at second and third for Conner Teykl.
A ground ball to first scores a run with the infield back. The 3U makes it two away.

Rice leads again 2-1 with a runner still at third and Stainback up from the left side.
He can't check his swing and K's to retire the side.

Rice has countered and now leads 2-1 as we head to the bottom of three.

 

[NBHorn7]

Trevor Teykl out for the third faces Johnson as Texas looks for it's first hit.

Johnson doesn't get the hit, but he gets hit and the HBP puts him at first leading off.

Payton comes to call now as Johnson with good speed leads from first.
Payton goes 0-2 after taking two strikes, then fists a a little liner to second for one away. He got jammed on that one.

One down for Barrera as Johnson is a threat to go at any point now.
He should have gone because Barrera hits into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Three innings gone by and Rice leads 2-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Aquino leads off the fourth by singling to center.

Taylor bats ninth and gets the sac bunt down to move Aquino to second with one down.

The lead off hitter Warren already with a rbi in the game looks for another as he steps in from the left side.

He grounds sharply to Clemens who makes the play unassisted for two away as the runner goes to third.

Cook bats alfo lefty looking to extend the Owl's lead.
He is fooled by the slider and takes it for a K that ends the inning and the threat.

Bottom of the fourth and Rice leads 2-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Shaw leads off the Texas fourth with Texas still looking for a first hit in the game against Trevor Teykl.

A ground ball to first is taken to the bag 3U for one down.

Hinojosa up and flies out to shallow right center for two away.

Carter bats with two down and nobody on.
He K's looking to retire the side in order.

Four down in the midweek contest and Rice leads 2-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Schiraldi pitches the fifth having given up six hits so far and the two runs.

He faces Hoelscher leading off the inning and on an 0-2 pitch and once again Rice leads off with a single as a bad hop handcuffs Gurwits and goes into left.

A wild pitch sends the runner to second and Rice as it has done much of the game is threatening.

Ewing tries to bunt and misses and with a 2-2 count and grounds to third. Gurwitz one hops the throw and Clemens digs it and it's one down as the runner holds.

Reeves bats and another worm burner is a wild pitch that sends the runner to third with one down.

Reeves now has the infield drawn in which they say raises your batting average about a hundred points.
It proves true as a sharply hit ball goes by Gurwitz and that makes it 3-1.

Connor Teykl bats lefty with Reeves at first and one away.
He sends a ground ball through the hole on the right side and the single puts runners at second and first.

As expected Skip comes striding out of the dugout and though Schiraldi has now given up nine hits he sticks with him.

Duke is up in the pen.

Stainback bats from the left side with the runners taking their leads.

He sends one up the middle for yet another hit and another run scores to make it 4-1 on the tenth Owl hit.

Runners still at first and second with one down for Aquno.
The count runs full and Schiraldi needs to get this batter to stay in game most likely.

He walks to load the bases and well I'm waiting for Skip, but it appears he is staying with Lukas.

Taylor hits a hard one hopper to third and it handcuffs Gurwitz and it's an error on a tough hop.

Another run scores to make it 5-1 and that is all for Schiraldi.

Duke is coming from the pen in a bad jam and a 5-1 Rice lead.

 

[NBHorn7]

So Duke the lefty comes in with the bases loaded and one down to face the lefty leadoff man Warren.

The count runs full and it's a big pitch if Texas is to stay in this one.

He singles into left and yet another run scores to make it 6-1 as this is rapidly spiralling out of hand.

He hits Cook to score another run to make it 7-1 and that's all for Duke.

 

[NBHorn7]

Chad Hollingsworth comes in to try and stop the massive bleeding with the bases still loaded and one down.

He gets the 6-4-3 double play that ends the inning finally, but it may be too late.

Halfway through the game and it's all Rice 7-1 and Texas still looks for a hit.

 

[NBHorn7]

Trevor Teykl with the big lead faces Clemens leading off the Texas fifth.

He K's swinging for an out.

Gurwitz up batting righty in the ninth position in the order.
He walks and that has been the Texas offense so far as that is like six walks for Texas.

Marlow bats again at the top of the order with Gurwitz leading from first.
A ground ball to first is taken to the bag for two away as Gurwitz moves to second.

Two away for Johnson and a first hit will probably score a run.
Ben breaks up the no hitter and it does score a run as Gurwitz scores to make it 7-2.

Payton up with Johnson on and two down.
Johnson takes off and the ball goes between his legs and it's a stolen base for him as he was on the move.

The pitching coach comes out again for a talk.
Payton flies out to shallow center to end the inning.

Texas gets it's first hit and scores a run, but Rice still leads 7-2 after five innings.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth is back out in the sixth as Ewing leads off and grounds out to second for one away.

Reeves grounds out to short for two away.

Connor Teykl bats as Texas tries to get it's first perfect inning from the mound.
He draws a walk to prevent that.

Stainback up flies to Payton in center to retire the side.

Bottom of the sixth comes and Rice still in command 7-2.

 

[NBHorn7]

Trevor Teykl still works for Rice and he faces Barrera leading off the Texas sixth.

He pops up to second behind the bag for a quick out one.

Shaw up and he K's swinging for his third K and a hat trick for two away.

Hinojosa sends a pop up foul by the third base bag caught by the third baseman for an out that retires the side in order.

Six down and Rice leads 7-2.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth faces Aquino as the Rice seventh starts and he lines one right to Johnson in right for one away.

Taylor bats and lines the 12th Rice hit to center to reach with one out.

Skip is out again and out goes Hollingsworth, who did a good job.

 

[NBHorn7]

Ty Culbreth, a lefty is the new Texas pitcher and he faces lefty hitter Warren at the top of the Rice order.

He bats left handed with one down and Taylor at first.
A ground ball to short gets a 6-4 force for two away.

Cook bats lefty with two down and Warren now at first.
He sends a fly ball to the gap in right center that Shaw gathers in on the run to retire the side.

Stretch time in Austin and it's a Rice game so far leading 7-2.

 

[NBHorn7]

Trevor Teykl still works as Carter leads off the Texas seventh.

He grounds 6-4 and the out is recorded for one away.

Clemens up one more time and he walks for a one out base runner.

Gurwitz bats with one on and one out.
He grounds one toward the hole on the right side but Taylor gets their on the sliding play and throws him out for two away.

Clemens reaches second and with two down out comes the Rice pitching coach to get Trevor Teykl.

The former Horn had a great game against his former team and is in line for a win.

 

[NBHorn7]

The new Rice pitcher is Joh Duplntier, who got the start last week against Texas.

He faces Marlow at the top of the order with Clemens on second and two away.
He K's swinging at the slow stuff to retire the side.

Seven innings played at the Disch and Rice leads 7-2.

 

[NBHorn7]

The eighth starts with Culbreth facing Hoelscher battring from the right side leading off.

The count runs full and he walks to reach.

Ewing up again and he chops one to Gurwitz that this time makes the short hop snag and starts a 5-4-3 double play.

Two down for Reeves who pops up to short to retire the side.

The bottom of the eighth comes and Rice is still in firm control leading 7-2.

 

[NBHorn7]

Johnson leads off the Texas eighth against Duplantier.

He has the only hit of the game for Texas.
He reaches again, this time on the HBP.

Payton comes again as Johnson leads from first.
Payton rolls into the 4-6-3 double play completed with a dig at first.

You know it's going bad offensively when Payton is grounding into dp's.

Barrera up with two down and now nobody on.

He K's looking and that retires the side.

We head to the ninth in this one and it's a Rice night leading 7-2.

 

[NBHorn7]

Culbreth tries to finish the game on the mound facing Conner Teykl leading off the Rice ninth.

He pops up to Hinojosa for the first out.

Stainback grounds one back through the box for yet another Rice hit.

Aquino hits with one on and one down.
A fly out to right is gathered in by Shaw for two away.


Taylor bats in the nine hole with two down and one on.

He flies to Payton in center to retire the side.

Bottom of the ninth is here and Texas needs Payton vs.
Baylor x2 to win this one as Rice leads 7-2.

 

[NBHorn7]

Duplantier starts the ninth facing Shaw in the bottom of the ninth.

Graham comes out to say something to the home plate ump for some reason and returns.

Shaw walks on four pitches for a lead base runner. Texas has a lot of walks and some HBP's.

Hinojosa up and like all Horns not named Johnson is hitless on the game.
The count runs full and he hits a room service hop to second that makes an easy 4-6-3 double play possible.

So Carter bats and trys to extend the game.
He doesn't as he swings and misses at a curve ball to end the game.

Rice wins this one 7-2, but Texas does take the season series 2-1.


Well this was just a good old fashioned butt kicking by Rice.
The bats had started to cool off in the third game against Baylor and they went into the "polar vortex" tonight as only Johnson's single prevented a no hitter for Rice.

Not the way you wanted enter a series in Norman for first place in the conference. We will just have to see what happens now and see which team shows up next weekend.

Hopefully it will be the team we have seen the last few weeks.
Still hard to get a handle on this team besides the usual good starting pitching.

This weekend should help tell us what this team is made of.
A hard series in a tough place to play and usually some tough playing conditions with a lot of wind.

But this is what it is all about and winners find a way and I hope this team finds it's way in Norman to a series
win.

 

[FWHORN]

Moreland made good point on broadcast that rice was seeing Schiraldi for second time in a week and that gave them an advantage. They certainly seemed to hit Lukas a lot better this second time around. Huge series this weekend in Norman.