TCU vs. Texas Game 1

NBHorn7

NBHorn7

Pimp Daddy
Conference play has arrived and a day earlier than normal due to Easter falling in March. It's TCU that will come to Austin for the first Big 12 series. They are 17-3, on the season. They are in first place in the Big 12, at 3-0 and #4 to #6 in the latest polls. The Horned Frogs won the conference last season and are big favorites to win it again. Their stats are amazing as you might expect, hitting .321, as a team, only made 19 errors, and a team era of 2.78. They have scored 169 runs while giving up 65.

Texas comes in at 9-12, this is their first conference action. The Horns hit .266, on the season and have committed 31 errors, with a team era of 3.40. They have plated 112 runs and given up 86.

It's a the biggest series of the season to date, not only because it's the first conference, it could define your season. It could turn your season around or it could almost bury you. It's certainly a challenge, but it's in Austin, which certainly helps.

Probably take a low scoring pitcher's duel, for Texas to come out on top tonight, the wind is blowing blowing briskly from the North, that's means most in and across from left to right field. TCU has three excellent starting pitchers, usually with good command. Texas bats will be challenged, they need to come through and the Horns will need to execute on offense and defense. Mistakes against a team like the Horned Frogs will usually get you beat.

It's a daunting task, but this is why you play the games, to meet such challenges and win, that's what the Longhorns must do.

This is what the rotation will look like for both teams in the series.

CeUKi14UMAILPrC.jpg


CeUssUlVIAEaH-L.jpg


The game is telecast on LHN and the audio on texassports.com.

Line-ups to come.
 
Right hander Morgan Cooper, gets his first start on a weekend, in this series. He has been "recooping" so to speak, from Tommy John series, in midweek starts. He's the best pitcher on the staff, when healthy, with good command. We'll see if he is ready to make the step up in competition and help the team, as conference play begins.

Wind blowing from the north fairly briskly, it will push anything in the air hard, from left to right field.

Leading off for TCU is their left field Austen Wade, he steps in the batting box from the left side, the series and conference play starts.
A roller to Barrera is a 5-3 first out.

First baseman is Connor Wanhanen, batting lefty, one down.
A fly ball to right center and Ty Rand, back in the line-up, has it, for two away.

Evan Scoug, the catcher also bats lefty, with two gone.
He is blown away by a fast ball, the swinging K, will retire the side in order.

Cooper with a good first, Texas comes to bat, for the first time in conference action.
 
The large freshman right hander is Luken Baker, with a sparkling 1.03 era. He also bats in the line-up, at .355.

Travis Jones leads off for the Horns, batting right handed and playing left field.
He K's on three pitches, the last a fastball over the heart of the plate, one down.

Shortstop is Kody Clemens, batting lefty, one out.
Grounder to second and the 4-3 is two gone.

Third baseman is Tres Barerra, batting righty, with two retired.
A high fast ball is lined to left on a hop, the single is the first runner of the game.

Right fielder is Patrick Mathis, batting lefty, with one on and two down.
A grounder to first goes 3U, to end the inning.

Texas gets a hit, but nothing across, one played, no runs.
 
Cooper out for his second inning of work.

The Horned Frogs lead off with the pitcher/DH Luken Baker, with the .355 average. He bats from the right side.
Fly ball to center and it's one down.

Josh Watson bats lefty, the TCU left fielder hits with one away. A fly ball to right and the wind carries it to the edge of the track, but caught for two gone.

Righty hitting third baseman is Elliot Barzilli, with two outs, batting .447 this season.
This time a foul pop is handled by Clemens, by the fence, to retire the side in order again.

Bottom of two and 0-0.
 
Baker back to pitch the Texas second frame.

The Horns send lefty hitting first baseman Kacy Clemens, up to lead off.
A grounder off the pitchers hand, then the second baseman and shortstop collide trying to field it. It's an infield single, for a lead runner.

Bret Boswell is the DH, batting lefty, one on.
He is up to bunt, no doubt.
He lays it down and the 5-3 sac is good.
The Longhorn catcher is Michael Cantu, batting righty, one down and a man on second.
He swings through a fast ball, the K is two outs.
to
Zane Gurwitz bats righty, as the second baseman, with two outs, one on second.
He needs a two out hit to give the Horns the early advantage.
Another chopper up the middle and the shortstop has it, but the throw is late, another infield hit, to put two on.

Bottom of the order is Ty Rand, the centerfielder, with two on and two outs. His first at bat in a long time, after injury.
Another chopper up the middle and the shortstop slides and tries to go to second, again to late. The third infield hit scores a run.

Texas leads 1-0.

Top of the order is Jones, batting righty, two on and two gone.
A liner to center will end the frame.

Three infield singles in almost the same place, plates a run for Texas, they lead 1-0, after two.
 
Cooper pitches the third, for Texas, now with the lead.

The Frog shortstop is Ryan Merrill, leading off, from the left side.
A grounder up the middle goes Clemens to Clemens or 6-3, one away.

Cam Warner plays second base and bats righty, with an out.
The first full count and high fly to left and Jones has it, but he struggled to make that catch in the wind, two gone.

Righty hitting centerfielder is Dane Steinhagen, with two down.
A big curve gets him swinging, the side down in order again.

Cooper retires the entire Frog order in order the first time through.
So Texas leads 1-0, bottom of the third.
 
Baker back out for the third, for the Frogs.


Leading off is Kody Clemens, for the Horns, batting lefty.
He chases a very high fast ball and the swinging K is a first out.

Barrera bats righty, with an out.
He singled his first trip.
A ground ball hit sharply to third is off the third baseman's glove, the shortstop throws it away at first, a good throw hah him. It goes as an E-5 and an E-6, the last for allowing Barrera to go to second.

So Mathis bats lefty with a man on second.
He grounds a single up the middle to score Barrera.

Texas leads 2-0.

Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with a man on.
A grounder to short is a 6-4-3 double play to the inning.

Texas gets an unearned run to lead 2-0, after three.




 
Cooper returns for the TCU fourth.

Lefty hitter, at the top of the order is Wade, leading off.
The count runs full and he walks on an high fast ball, the first runner for TCU.

Wanhanen bats lefty, with a man on.
Another full count and the runner goes, a single up the middle will send him to third.

Runners on the corners for lefty batting Scoug, with two on, at the corners.
He golfs a low fast ball to right and the wind helps it some, but it's out of here, the homer gives the Frogs the lead.

TCU leads 3-2.

Baker bats righty, with three in.
A fly ball to center and Rand lost it, it falls and it's ruled a double.

Lefty hitting Watson bats with a man on second.
He walks and it puts two on.

Barzilli bats righty, with two on.
A ground ball to third is a 5U out, the throw was short and wide to first, one down.

Another lefty hitter is Merrill, with two on and one down.
A fly ball to right is two gone, runner at second tags and goes to third.

Runners on the corners for Warner, batting righty, two outs.
A high fast ball gets him swinging, to retire the side.

Cooper gets out of further damage, but the three run homer gives TCU the lead 3-2, bottom of four.
 
Baker takes the hill for the first time, with the lead.

The Horn fourth is lead off by Boswell, the DH, batting lefty.
A full count and a ground ball to short and he just uncorks another terrible throw, the second E-6, is a lead runner.

Cantu bats righty, with a man on.
He squares and fouls it off and catcher's interfence is called and that is strange, it puts two on the E-2.

Gurwitz bats righty, with two on.
He bunts and the third baseman bobbles and then throws late to third. It's ruled a sac and a fielder's choice.
TCU is coming apart in the infield.

Rand bats righty, at the bottom of the order, with the bases loaded.
Need to take advantage of all these miscues.
He K's swinging at a low pitch, one away.

Top of the order is Jones, batting righty, bases full and one away.
Have to put the ball in play.
A ground ball to third goes 5U-3, for a inning ending double play.

Thats a killer and thats how you can lose to a good team, have to take advantage there, but didn't. TCU leads 3-2, after four.

 
Cooper goes probably one more inning, in the fifth. The pitches have really added up, for Morgan.

Righty hitter Steinhagen, leads off for TCU.
A liner to right and Mathis comes in and it goes over his head, ruled a double, but misplayed again.

Wade bats lefty, at the top of the order, one on.
He flies to shallow center, one away.

Lefty hitting Wanhanen, bats with one on and one down.
Ground ball to first and Clemens has it and feeds to first, the 3-1 is two outs, runner to third.

SKip out and a change is made.
 
Now pitching is senior Travis Duke, in to get a lefty hitter, in a big situation.

He faces Scoug, who is why TCU has the lead, with his homer.
He bats lefty, one on and two gone.
A fly ball to left will end the inning.

The misplay in right is pitched around, TCU still leads 3-2, halfway through the conference opener.
 
Baker sticks around for the fifth, he looks to become the pitcher of record, for a possible win.

Leading off for the Horns is lefty hitter, Kody Clemens.
A full count and yet another grounder up the middle is a single, another lead runner.

Barrera bats righty, with a man on.
He bunts and the 1-3 sac, sends Kody to second, one away.

Lefty hitting Mathis bats, with a man on second and one out.
He leaves a high fast ball up and Mathis squares it up and with what wind is still blowing helps it a bit, but it was well out of here, for a two run shot.

Texas leads 4-3.

Kacy Clemens hits lefty, with two in.
Another fast ball up and it's line off the wall in right, a double.

Would think TCU would at least have a visit, but no.

Another lefty hitter is Boswell, with a man on second.
A full count and a fly ball to center is two outs.

Now the head coach is out and the change is made.
 
The new pitcher is Jarrett Janczak, a righty.

He will face Cantu, batting righty, with a man on second.
Could really use another run.
He takes a curve over, for a K looking, to end the inning.

Texas gets the lead back on the Mathis bomb, they lead 4-3, after five.
 
Blake Wellman is the new Horn pitcher, in the sixth.

Leading off for TCU is Baker, now just the DH.
A slicing fly ball to right and Mathis has it, as he hits the wall, one gone. Baker is a strong guy, wasn't a very good hack.

Lefty hitter is Watson, with an out.
He inside outs a low fast ball, that just lands fair down the left field line, for a double.

Barzilli bats righty, with one on and one down.
He is the Horn Frogs leading hitter, but 0-2 tonight.
The count runs full and a little liner will drop in right field, for a single, to put runners on the corners, as the runner held at third.

Skip comes out and another change.

 
The new Horn pitcher is Chase Shugart, the freshman right hander.

He faces Merrill, batting lefty, with runners on the corners, one out.
A ground ball to second and the 4-6-3 double play get the Horns out of the inning undamaged.

Texas leads 4-3, bottom of the sixth.
 
Janczak, back to the mound for TCU, in the sixth.

Gurwitz leads off batting right handed, for the Horns.
A full count and he K's swinging, on a pitch low and outside, one away.

Bottom of the order is Rand, batting righty, one away.
He lines a single to right, to put a runner on.

Jones bats righty, at the top of the order, one on and one down.
He bunts up the third base line and they let it roll and it stays fair, the fourth infield hit for Texas.

Two on and one down, for lefty hitting Kody Clemens.
A curve ball sits him down, a looking K, two down.

Barrera bats righty, with two on and two outs.
Could sure use another run.
He flies to right and it retires the side.

Two more stranded and you hope that doesn't come back to haunt Texas. They lead 4-3, to the seventh.
 
Shugart comes back to pitch the TCU seventh, after getting out of the last inning jam, with a double play ball.

Leading off for TCU is Warner batting righty, he sends a chopper to third, a 5-3 out, one away.

Steinhagen bats righty, with an out.
He is hit by a curve ball, for a runner.

Top of the order is lefty hitter, Wade, one on and one down.
A full count and the runner will probably be on the move.
Texas knows this and Shugart picks him off first, for a big second out, on the 1-3.
He walks for a two out runner.

Wanhanen bats lefty, with a man on and two gone.
A nubber back to Shugart goes 1-3, to end the inning.

They stretch in Austin, for the first time in the conference season, Texas leads 4-3.
 
Janczak will stay in for the Texas seventh.

Mathis leads off for the Horns, batting lefty.
A curve sits him down, the looking K is one gone.

Lefty hitting Kacy Clemens bats lefty, one out.
A full count and he K's swinging at the low and inside curve ball, two outs.

Boswell bats lefty, with two down.
A little humpback liner to short will retire the side in order.

Seven played and Texas hanging on 4-3.
 
Texas sends out lefty veteran Josh Sawyer, after a very good outing by Shugart, to start the Frog eighth.

Leading off for TCU is lefty hitting Skoug.
He is responsible for all of the Frog runs, with a three run homer.
He sends a drive even further than the homer, but foul thankfully, to the right of the right field foul pole.
He K's on a fast ball in the dirt, the 2-3 completes the K, one away. A big out.

Baker bats righty, with an out.
This guy has tremendous power.
A full count and a fly ball to right, caught just foul, by the line.
Two outs.

Now batting righty is Watson, a switch hitter, two away.
He blows him away with the heater, the swinging K will retire the side in order.

Did we say that getting Sawyer back would really help the bullpen? He puts the Horns three outs away from an opening conference win.

Texas leads 4-3, bottom of eight.
 
Janczak will come out again and he has done a good job since coming on.

Cantu leads off for the Horns batting righty, in the eighth.
A fly ball to center is one out.

Righty hitting Gurwitz up, with an out.
An insurance run would be greatly appreciated.
He K's swinging on the outside fast ball, the tenth of the night, two gone.

Rand bats righty, with two away.
He K's swinging also, that retires the side in order.

We go to the ninth, Texas leads 4-3.

 
Connor Mayes comes on in his new role, as the closer. He has good stuff, but needs to attack the strike zone, especially in this role.

Leading off for TCU is their leading hitter in Bazilli, batting righty.
A fly ball to right is a huge first out, that can also get Connor comfortable.

Merrill bats lefty, with an out.
A pop up to Barrera is two down.

Righty hitting Warner, bats with two gone, suddenly the last hope for the Frogs.
A full count and a ground ball up the middle is a single, to put the tying run on.
TCU won't give in easily.

Steinhagen bats righty, at the bottom of the order, two outs and the tying run on.
A ground ball to Clemens and the 3U ends the game.

Texas wins 4-3, a huge victory!

Back soon.
 
The game was not well played for a part of it. TCU just looked terrible in the infield. Cooper looked good in the starting role, but Skoug took a low inside fast ball over the fence in right, for a three run homer to give TCU a 3-2 lead.

Cooper got into further trouble on a misplayed double in center and a walk, but worked out of that without further damage, that turned out to be big.

Texas had taken a 2-0 lead on multiple infield hits and an unearned run by one of the many Frog errors.

The much maligned Horn bullpen held the Frogs at bay, pitching out of jams, like Shugart did. He really needed that. Then Patrick Mathis gives Texas the lead on a two run shot to right.

Texas kept stranding runners and it gave you an uneasy feeling because TCU can really hit. But once the game got to Sawyer and Mayes, Texas showed what the new bullpen can do and they wrapped up the important first conference game of year, against a very good team.

TCU has been dominating Texas the last four years, taking 10 out of the last 12, before tonight. The last Texas victory over the Frogs was a meaningless win, on the last game of the season for the Horns, in 2013. Texas finished last and lost every conference series that year.

This hopefully is the start of a turnaround with TCU and in this season. Two more big games to go, really need to win at least one of those, for a series win. What a boost that would be.

Texas is healthy again and it showed, only Baker remains on the injured list. The pitching staff is totally revamped, with a much stronger bullpen.

It looks like a different team now, only time will tell. The next two days will still be a bellweather. Tonight it's a big win for the Horns to celebrate and gain some much needed confidence from. I'll take that, won't you. :hookem2::bevo:

 
That was a momentum win any way you slice it, and we needed it in the worst way. I hope that momentum carries through to a series win. Getting our first series win since UNLV - against a team that has quite frankly owned us the last few years to boot - would be a wonderful thing.
 
NB, thanks for the updates. Just read them. Exciting game. And a better result.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Weekly Prediction Contest

Predict TEXAS-ARIZONA STATE

CFP Round 2 • Peach Bowl
Wed, Jan 1 • 12:00 PM on ESPN
AZ State game and preview thread


Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl website

Recent Threads

Prediction Results Threads

2024 Schedules

Back
Top