TCU vs. Texas Game 3

[NBHorn7]

The third game of the series has Texas still looking to score and TCU looking for a sweep.

The fomer should definitely happen, while the latter most certainly should not.

For the first time this series the Horns have a decided advantage on the mound.


Texas starts senior Nathan Thornhill with a 6-0 record and 0.78 era. TCU counters with left handed freshman Tyler Alexander with a 4-3 and 3.02 era.

Texas should come out with some fire today. They are playing at home and trying to avoid the sweep. There is no reason they should not get the win really.

 

[NBHorn7]

Cody Jones, the centerfielder leads off as he has all three games against Texas right hander Nathan Thornhill as the finale begins.

He slug bunts one toward Clemens and he fields it and flips to first to Thornhill and he is ruled out on a very close play.
The first out is recorded, though he was safe on the replay.

Derek Odell at third base and bats lefty and he lines a smash toward the right side hole and Clemens lays out and makes an outstanding catch for two away.

Boomer White bats righty and plays left and he lines a single through on the left side for the first hit of the game.

Kevin Crohn bats clean up and plays first base and a pitch gets away and Barrera jumps on it and fires to second to nip White trying to advance to retire the side.

Thornhill is through the first unscathed and that's a good sign as he usually gets stronger as the game goes by.

TCU does not score and Texas comes to bat.

 

[NBHorn7]

Marlow leads off for Texas against the lefty Alexander as Texas looks to get off the scoring snide in their half of the first.

It's a good start as he grounds a single up the middle for a lead base runner.

Johnson bats and he gets the bunt down to advance Marlow to second with one down.

So Payton, who has slumped a bit lately looks to put the Horns on the board and continue his on base streak.

Payton does rip a line single to right, but it's hit so sharply that Marlow has to stop at third to extend his on base streak at an even 80 game.

Barrera bats right handed and sqares for an attempted safety squeeze and he pulls back the bat and is hit by the pitch to load the bases.

Shaw has an opportunity to get Texas in the scoring column in a big way as he stands in left handed.

He tops a little grounder to third and as the third baseman charges and fields and goes to first for the out, a run finally scores for Texas.

Texas leads 1-0.

Hinojosa bats with two down and two still on in scoring position.
He can put a big crooked number on the board for Texas with another hit.

He lifts a fly ball to shallow left to retire the side.

Texas finally breaks through and scores a run and takes it's first lead at 1-0 after an inning of play.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill back out in the second has the first lead for Texas pitcher in the series and faces Kevin Crohn, who was batting as the put out was made at second.

The big right handed batter grounds to short and Hinojosa one hops the throw and it's dugout by Clemens to complete the 6-4 first out.

Right handed hitter Jerrick Suiter is the DH and he flies one high to right center and Johnson says he has it and does for two away.

Right fielder Dylan Fitzgerald bats righty and a carbon copy fly bal is again caught by Johnson to retire the side in order.

Bottom two and Texas leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Gurwitz leads off for Texas in the second against lefty Alexander batting right handed.

He has been been moved up in the order today to the seven spot.
He grounds one back to the mound for an easy out one.

Clemens bats left handed with one down.
He flies one pretty deep to left that carries on the breeze, but it's caught shy of the track for two away.

Andy McGuire is yet another DH as with Carter injured the Horns search for some more offense.
He grounds the first pitch to second and Texas goes down in order.

Two played today in the series finale and Texas leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill faces right hander Keaton Jones, the TCU shortstop as the third starts.

The straight change gets him swinging for a K and one away.

Derrick Crain play second and bats left handed and he lines one by Clemens and down into the corner for a double.

Kyle Bacac is the catcher and bats righty and he lays down a bunt with some English. Barrera grabs it and throws him out for two away as the runner goes to third.

The top of the order in Cody Jones tries to tie the game for the Frogs with a runner at third and two down.

Thornhill has other ideas and another big change up mows him down swinging to retire the side.

A threat and nothing more and after two and a half innings Texas leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Marlow back up at the top of the order leads off the third for Texas against Alexander.

A soft fly is lifted to center for one away.

Johnson bats once more from the right side and gets to swing away this time.
He grounds to third and the throw across the diamond is two down.

Payton bats left handed with two down with a hit in his first at bat that exteded his on base streak.

A ground ball to first is taken to the bag by the first baseman and the side is retired in order.

The teams excchange perfect inning for the pitchers in the third and Texas leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill back for the fourth faces Odell as the lefty hitter starts the Frog half of the frame.

He slaps one hard right at Gurwitz and his long throw is on time for one away.

White is back up with a hit his first time up. He bats righty with one down.
His pop to shallow center is caught by Marlow and it's two outs.

Cron bats with two down as Thornhill looks for another three up and three down inning.
A ground ball toward the hole on the left side is cut off by Gurwitz and his throw does retire the side in order once more.

Bottom of the fourth now and Texas leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Alexander will face the Texas clean-up man Barrera as the Texas fourth commences.

He hops a grounder to short and the routine play is one down.

Shaw, who drove in Texas's only run in this series with a little ground out bat left handed.

He reaches out and slaps a curve ball to center for his first hit of the series.

With one down he is a threat to steal as the leader in that category on the team and two down.

Hinojoas is up with and a pick off throw is wild and goes down the right field line.

Shaw keeps going and and the throw beat Shaw to third, but a high tag was not in time and Shaw got a big break there.


Hinjosa grounds a ball hard right on the bag at third as Shaw has to scramble bag to the bag to avoid a tag.
The throw then to first is just late and it's an infield hit for C.J.

Gurwitz is up and anything could happen here. A safety squeeze for example.
This is a sorely needed run for Texas. More than one would of course be most welcome.

Gurwitz is swinging he K's on low slider.
You just can't do that and that is why Texas has struggled in this series.

Clemens has to have a two out hit and he doesn't get it as he grounds out weakly to second to retire the side.

Two big runners stranded and after four Texas leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill looks to continue his excellent work as the fifth begins with him up against the DH Jerrick Suiter.

The right handed hitter works the count full before a fast ball right under the hands is swung and missed for a first out K.

Dylan Fitzgerald steps in lefty with one down.
He also K's swinging at the big change for two away.

Keaton Jones bats right handed with two outs and a clear basepath.

He lines one right to Gurwitz to again retire the side in order.

Right now Thornhill is dealing as good as the TCU starters did in the first two games and he and Texas lead 1-0 halfway home.

 

[NBHorn7]

Alexander pitching well in his own right faces the new DH McGuire, batting right handed.

This is first game action in a long time.
A hanging curve is grounded into the hole on the left side and into left for a single.

The top of the order Marlow is up looking to bunt him up to second.
He fouls off two attempts and then after fouling off several pitches he lines one to second and it's a 4U-3 double play as execution of small ball is killing the Horns.

Johnson bats with two down and lines out to center to retire the side.

Five innings in the books and Texas leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill starts the sixth against Crain batting right handed.

He doubled his last time, but this time that slow change fools him and he goes down swinging for one down.

Bacac bats with one down from the right side.
He may be one of the smallest catchers in college baseball.

He wears a pitch of the lead shoulder to reach.

The tying run is at first with one away for lead off hitter Cody Jones.
NIne had been retired in a row by Thornhill before the HBP.

The runner is on the move and on a perfect high fast ball to gun him out, Barrera one hops a throw that Hinojosa can't dig out and make the tag. He was a dead duck if he had or if the throw was better.

So Jones bats with the tying run at second.
He grounds back to the mound and Thornhill has the runner caught off second and his throw hits the runner for a big error that puts two on and one down.

At least the runners didn't move up and Skip comes out to settle down Thornhill after that miscue.

Odell bats with one down and two aboard.
The count runs full and here comes a big pitch.
A fly ball to shallow center is caught by Payton for a big out two.

So White bats right handed with two away and runners at second and first.
Barrera takes a foul ball in a bad place and is walking it off.

White steps back in and he grounds one to third that Guwitz bobbles and for some reason the runner at second stopped running and it allowed him to pick up the ball and finally tag him to retire the side and get out of the jam.

An odd inning all around, but TCU does not score and Texas clings to a 1-0 lead to the bottom of six.

 

[NBHorn7]

Payton leads off the Horn sixth against Alexander still pitching well for TCU.

He lines another single, this time to left as hopefully he is heating back up.

The TCU coach comes out and that is a sudden exit for Alexander.

 

[NBHorn7]

The new TCU pitcher is right hander Trey Teakell standing 6'5" and his first batter is Barrera.

He squares and bunts it much too hard back to the mound and it's goes 1-6-3 for a double play and more lack of execution kills Texas.

So Shaw bats with two down and nobody on.
He walks on four pitches and with two down he really needs to take a bag to get in scoring position.

Hinojosa bats right handed with two down and one on.
He rolls one to short and the 6-4 force retires the side.

Six innings gone and Texas leads 1-0.

 

[LonghornCatholic]

Tied

Come on Horns

 

[NBHorn7]

The seventh starts as Thornhill faces Cron who singles to left for a lead hit.

Suiter grounds to short for a 6-4 out one.

Fitzgerald lines one past Shaw in right for a game tying double.

Jones K's swinging on a low pitch for two down.

Crain bats lefty and out comes Skip, but he leaves him in.
He singles to left to give TCU the lead 2-1.

Bacac walks and that is all for Thornhill.

Cooper is the new pitcher a right hander with two down and two on.

He faces ;lead off hitter Cody Jones batting lefty now against Cooper.

He K's him swinging as a foul tip is held to finally end the inning.

TCU breaks through and takes the lead 2-1 at stretch time and you can bet the Frog closer will warming up soon.

 

[NBHorn7]

Texas better find some offense and fast as the seventh starts with Gurwitz leading off.

He grounds one up the middle and the shortstop ranges over and makes the play for one down.

Clemens bats with one down left handed.
He K's swinging on a full count overhand curve for two away.

McGuire bats with two down and nobody on.
He K's swinging also on a fast ball to retire the side in order.

Not exactly the response you wanted from the Horns after TCU takes the lead.

After seven full Texas has dug a 2-1 hole to TCU.

 

[NBHorn7]

Cooper faces Odell as the Frog half of the eighth is started.

He lines one hard, but right at Shaw in right for one down.

White steps in right handed with one down.
The count goes full and then a high pop to shallow cener is caught by Marlow for two down.

Cron bats with two down and nobody on.
The big right hander started the two run rally that put the Frogs in the lead last inning.
He K's swinging on a curve in the dirt and the 2-3 put out retires the side in order.

TCU leads 2-1 as the bottom of the eighth is here.

 

[NBHorn7]

The top of the order in Marlow starts the eighth against Teakell and this would seem the best shot for Texas to tie or take the lead.

He lines a single into center and that puts the tying run on.

Johnson you can bet will try bunt and that has been a big problem for the Horns today.
A wild pitch advances Marlow to second and do still bunt now and let them walk Payton?

We may never know as Johnson fouls it off for strike two.
The count runs full and a big pitch is coming here.
He grounds out to short on whatwould have been ball four six inches off the ground for one away.

This brings a pitching change for a lefty to face Payton.

 

[NBHorn7]

Travis Evans, is that lefty to face Payton with one down and Marlow at second.

Been a terrible day for the Horns trying to sac bunt runers along.

Payton steps in and Marlow leads from second.
He takes a called strike three on the outside corner and Payton says it was outside, but it's two down.

Another pitching change comes as a right hander is brought in to face Barrera.

 

[NBHorn7]

The new Frog hurler is Alex Young, who was suppose to start this game, but pitched in relief yesterday and didn't.

He faces Barrera with Marlow at second and two away.
He lines a wicked liner right at the third baseman to retire the side.

Had another chance and just didn't get it down.

The ninth is here and TCU leads 2-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

John Curtis the Texas close comes into the game as the ninth starts facing Jerrick Suiter.

He lines a single into left to lead things off.

Fitgerald bats left handed as the infield looks for the bunt.
Instead he lines one past Johnson and it goes to the wall as another run scores and it's a double.

TCU leads 3-1 now.

Keaton Jones up does bunt and it moves the runner to third with one down as Gurwitz had to avoid Curtis on the play.

Skip comes out again as this is slipping away fast.
Crain bats with a chance to just about put this game away.
The infield comes in.
The count runs full before he walks to put runners on the corners.

Bacac bats with one down and two on.
He bunts, but the runner holds at third and Curtis goes 1-4 as Marlow had the cover for two away.

Cody Jones up at the top of the order and he grounds toward the hole on the left side and Gurwitz cuts it off and spins and the one hop throw is once more dugout by Clemens and that retires the side.

TCU gets another big run and they lead 3-1 to the bottom ot the ninth.

Texas needs two at least to tie and you can bet it will be against the Frog closer.

 

[NBHorn7]

And as promised here is Riley Ferrell, that has been outstanding against the Horns facing Shaw to lead off.

The count runs full and this is a big pitch if Texas is to have a chance.

He overthrows a fast ball that goes high and wide for a lead off walk.

That brings out the pitching coach for TCU for a meeting and then he returns.

Hinojosa bats as the tying run with no outs.
He K's swinging on a high hard one for one away.

Gurwitz bats righty with one down and one on.
The count runs full as Ferrell doesn't have quite the command of his pitches he had in first two games.

He chops one by the third baseman and into left to put the tying runs on.

One down for Clemens with runners at first and second and one down.
Another full count is reached and another big pitch comes in this inning.
He grounds a fast ball into center that loads the bases with one down.

Hall comes in to run for Clemens at first.

So little used McGuire bats with the bases loaded and one down.
The right handed hitter got out of the way of a pitch that would have hit him. Take one for the team comes to mind.

Then he grounds into a 4-6-3 double play that ends the game and TCU wins 3-1 and sweeps the series over Texas.

TCU beat Texas at it's own game on their home field.

So that was just a terrible loss as Texas got their only run of the series in the first inning. Then had multiple chances to score more and lack of execution and a big clutch hit didn't let that happen.

Kind of appropiate that a guy that hadn't played since last month comes up and ends the game on a double play with the bases loaded.

This is one that got away and it's a big loss that brings Texas back to the pack and OSU who made a late rally to beat Kansas extends it's lead in fist place with a game to go in their series.

All you can say about this one is that Texas had every advantage in this game as it started and just didn't get it done.

This is probably the best pitching that the Horns has faced all year and they didn't look good against it.

The #1 overall seed talk was pretty premature and it's going to take at least a series win over OSU next week just stay in the race to win the conference now.

 

[johnnyg88]

Thanks for the PxP NB. Augie could bite a nail in half after this one. We've got to up our game or go home.

 

[LonghornCatholic]

TCU kicking our teeth in like they just did might be what we needed.

 

[Vol Horn 4 Life]

We'll see if they can come back from this. They were on a roll then get ***** slapped by solid pitching. This is gonna sting for a while.

 

[TxnByBirth]

Letting a guy with a .122 batting average that hadn't played in ages DH felt like one of those "Augie hunch" moves that didn't pay off this time.

Texas hitters did nothing right this entire series. It's like they mentally regressed and forgot they knew how to bunt better than anyone in the country.

It will be very interesting to see how they bounce back from this sweep. I hope it's not the start or a slide, but they looked completely deflated after the game today.

 

[zork]

painful to read about these last three games but thanks for the updates nevertheless.

 

[FWHORN]

I was on death watch after the KU series, Four weeks of solid and sometimes spectacular ball dragged me back, but this lost weekend had a really bad feel to it and I just hope it was only 1 weekend and not a sign that this team is still too offensively challenged to win on a consistent basis.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]

Getting swept by the cockroaches at home...no words.