Texas vs. OU Game 3

[NBHorn7]

Texas goes for the sweep on ESPNU against OU to stay ahead of a charging OSU that is threatening to sweep WSU.

Nathan Thornhill, in the Sunday starting for Texas role faces left hander Jacob Evans for OU who pitched in relief Frinday.

Bad weather is a threat to suspend or cancel the game at sometime during the contest.

The winds as it has all weekend is blowing hard out to left.
So another wild offensive game is possible.

 

[NBHorn7]

Marlow leads off the game for Texas against lefty Jacob Evans.

He takes an 0-2 fast ball over the left centerfield fence for a homer to give Texas a 1-0 lead.

Johnson drives one to right center that the wind holds up and the play is made for one away.

Payton drives one over the right fielder's head and one hops the wall for a ground rule double.

The ball is really carrying in this wind today.

Barrera bats with one down and Payton at second.
The count runs full and then walks to put two on.

Shaw bats lefty against the lefty with one down and two aboard.

Shaw grounds one backhanded by the pitcher and with his momentum going to first he flips there for two away.

The runners move up to second and third for Hinojosa.
The right handed shortstop also bats right and works the count full before taking a breaker for a looking K.

Texas is down in the first and OU comes to bat trailing the Horns 1-0

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill comes out for the first and needs his sinker working today for grounders and keep balls out of this wind.

He can struggle in the first and that could mean real problems in these conditions.

He faces Craig Aiken, the centerfielder for OU as the Sooner first starts.

He grounds a change into center for a lead single.

Hunter Haley, the right fielder steps in on the left side.
A fly ball to left center is tracked down by Johnson for one away.

Sheldan Neuse, plays third and bats right with one on and one down.
A fly ball high to left goes to the track before Johnson settles under it for out two.

Anthony Hermelyn catches the game for OU today and bats right handed with one on and two down.

A grounder to third is bobbled by Gurwitz, but he picks it up and fires to first and its dug out by Clemens to retire the side.

Thornhill and the Horns get out of the first unscathed and lead 1-0 after one.

 

[NBHorn7]

Carter at DH leads off the second for Texas against Evans.
The count runs full and fly ball goes to right and the Sooner right fielder runs it down for one away.

Everything in the air is an adventure.

Clemens flies one to left and the left fielder has problems, but finally catches it for two down.

Gurwitz in the nine hole bats with the bases clear and two dwon.
He takes one that is called strike three on the inside corner, maybe that retires the side in order.

The bottom of the second comes with Texas ahead 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill back for the second faces the OU DH, Niko Buentello leading off for the Sooners.

He grounds one to short for a 6-3 out for one away.

Mac James bats right handed and plays left field.
He pops one foul on the right side that comes back in play pushed by the wind and Marlow goes to his knees to make the catch for two away.

Austin O'Brian bats righty and plays first and he K's swinging and Barrera completes the play by throwing to first to retire the side in order.

Both teams go in order in the second and it's on to the third with a 1-0 Texas lead.

 

[NBHorn7]

Marlow leads off the Texas third against Evans and is responsible for the lone run of the game with his wind blown homer.

He flies to shallow center this time for one away.

Johnson bats again and takes a called third strike for two down.

Payton bats having extended his streak of being on base with a first inning double.

This time he lines a double down the right field line.

Barrera tries to bring him home with two down and slow roller is charged by the shortstop and his throw is wide and the tag is missed and it's ruled an infield hit.

Runners on the corners for Shaw with two down.
A fly ball to deep right is held up and caught at the track to retire the side.

The wind giveth and and taketh away that time as that ball was gone without it.

To the bottom of the third Texas leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill out for his third inning of work faces Keach Ballard playing second for the injured Ake as the OU third begins.

A fly ball to left is blown over the head of Johnson for a lead double.

The shortstop Hector Lorenzana singles up the middle to tie the game at 1-1.

The top of the order is up in Aiken as Thornhill had a 23 inning scoreless streak broken.

A ground ball to short as the runner took off on the pitch results in a 6-3 out, but the advance is made.

Haley bats with the lead run at second and one down.
He K's swinging on a low change up for two away.

Nuese bats with two down and the lead run still at second.
A ground ball to short is fielded by Hinojosa and his throw is on time to retire the side.

OU ties it up at 1-1 after three.

 

[NBHorn7]

The fourth starts for Texas and there is a military first pitch made and the Sooners are wearing camo jerseys today.

Evans faces Hinojosa, the Horn shortstop.
He pops up to shallow left for one down.

Carter bats and single to right center to reach.

Clemens bats with one down and one on.
He lines one to center for another single.
Carter rounds and goes to third.

Runners on the corners and one down for Gurwitz.

The Horn nine hole hitter bats and a swinging K is out one, but the ball gets away and the run scores to give Texas a 2-1 lead on the passed ball.

Gurwitz pops up to second and the wind does it's thing and the second baseman can't make the play and it's a bloop double to put runners at second and third.

Marlow is up and the pitching coach comes out and then returns.
He has a chance to play add on with the infield back.
He grounds to first and the play is made as another run scores to make it 3-1.

Johnson bats with Gurwitz at third and two down.
The wind blows even harder as those thunderstorms are on he way as they are coming through here now.

Johnson wears a pitch to reach and put runners on the corners for Payton.

He grounds to second and the throw is just wild and pulls the first baesman off the bag.

The error scores yet another run to make it 4-1.

Barrera bats with two on and two down.
He grounds one to the third baseman who takes it to the bag for a 5U that finally retires the side.

Texas retakes the lead with the help of sloppy OU fielding and we go to the bottom of the fourth with Texas ahead 4-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill hurls the OU fourth with a lead again facing Hermelyn.

He flies one to right that Shaw makes the play on and it's one down.

Buentello the DH bats left handed and he grounds one off Thornhill's glove and on into center for a single.

James bats with one down and a ground ball to fhird is a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

The pitcher's best friend ends the fourth and it's on to the fifth with Texas leading 4-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Evans back out for his fifth inning of work faces Shaw leading off for the Horns.

The count runs full and he swings through a fast ball for one away.

Hinojosa bats with one down and lines a shot to left for a single by the shortstop.

Carter bats righty as C.J. takes a lead at first.
Carter has injured his back on the prior swing and the trainer comes out.
He stays in and gets back in the box and takes a couple out of the zone to run the count full.
He takes a curve for a called K that is out two.

Clemens bats from the left side with Hinojosa still at firat and two away.

A fly ball to left carries, but not enough and is caught at the track to retire the side.

Halfway through the final game of the series and Texas leads 4-1

 

[petscii]

Dain Relay.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill out for the fifth and looks to qualify for the win as the weather I talked about seems to be coming.

They seem to have spotted lightning and before the game can become official there is a stoppage in play.

There is some discussion, but it's going to be stopped three outs short of becoming official.

Time to watch the Masters for awhile and since the Longhorns bussed up to Norman there is no limit on getting this game in.

Be back when the game resumes.

 

[NBHorn7]

The rain has stopped in Norman, but it will be at least an hour before play can be resumed and also depends on any lightning in the area.

There has to be at least 30 minutes between a recorded strike on the lightning meter for play to start.

 

[petscii]

Craig just announced on the radio stream that the game will resume at 6pm. 5:55pm back on the air.

 

[NBHorn7]

We are ready to play baseball again as first baseman Austin O'Brian bats.

He flies out to right as the wind is blowing in now from left.

Thornhill is still pitching by the way and face Alspaugh who has come into the game and he K looking for two away.

Lorenzana bats with two down and grounds out to third to retire the side and make the game official.

Five played finally and Texas leads 4-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Drew Krittenbrink, who has already pitched in the series is the new pitcher for OU in the sixth.

He faces Gurwitz and he flies out to left for one down.

Marlow up walks to reach.

Johnson sends a drive down the right field line that falls and he legs it out for a triple as Marlow scores to make it 5-1.

Payton up with a man on third and one down.
The count runs full and grounds one up the middle and Neuse makes the play and fires back to third to get Johnson sliding back into the bag. It's a 6-5 put out for two away.

Barrera bats with two away and now Payton on first.
Another full count is reached and Payton is off and the pitch hits Barrera on the arm to put two on.

Shaw is up and the pitching coach comes out for a visit.
He meets with the OU pitcher and infield as the Sooner bullpen is getting busy.

Shaw grounds one back to the mound and Krittenbrink knocks it down and then goes to first to retire the side.

Texas adds one and now leads 5-1 to the bottom of the sixth.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill starts the sixth facing Aiken the OU lead off hitter.

He walks for lead runner at first.

Haley bats from the left side with Aiken at first.
He flies a high one to center that is an easy catch for Payton for one down.

Nuese bats with one on and one down.
He chops one slowly to short and Hinojosa goes 6-3 for two down as the runner moves to second.

Hermelyn grounds behind the bag at third and Gurwitz fields and makes the long throw to retire the side.

Six played in the series finale in Norman and Texas leads 5-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hinojosa leads off the seventh for Texas against Krittenbrink and he lays down a bunt.
The pitcher springs off the mound and from the third base side he one hops a throw that nips C.J. for one away.

Jacob Felts is the new DH as Carter had back pains.
He grounds out short for two down.

Clemens stands in left handed and grounds out to second to retire the side in order.

Stretch time in Soonerland and Texas leads 5-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill starts the OU seventh against Buentello he DH for the Sooners.

He K's looking on a slider that broke down into the zone for two away.

James bats with two down and the bases empty.

He drives one to deep right and Shaw dives on the warning track facing the wall and makes a fantastic catch for two outs.

O'Brian bats and a little topper to Marlow and that puts the Sooners down in order.

Another exchange of perfect inning for pitchers in the game and seven innings have gone by and Texas still leads 5-1.

 

[tejas77]

Classy move by the sooner hitter tipping his cap when Shaw made that great catch.

Edit note: I had Payton making the catch when Shaw actually did it.

 

[NBHorn7]

Gurwitz lines one to the right center gap leading off the Texas eighth against Krittenbrink and it's a double.

Marlow back at the top of the order one hops one sharply to shiort and is down 6-3 for one away as Gurwitz had to stay at second.

Here comes the OU coach and he wants to make a change.

 

[NBHorn7]

Ralph Garza Jr. is the new OU pitcher and is the closer on the team and got the loss Friday night.

He faces Johnson with Gurwitz at second and one down.
He lines one to left and the left fielder comes in and then reaches high to make the catch as he almost overan it for two down.

Payton bats with Gurwitz still at second and now two away.
As it often does with Mark the count runs full.
He flairs one to center that drops and it falls and gets behind the centerfielder.
It goes as a double and another run is plated for Texas.
That makes it 6-1 Horns.

Barrera bats once more with Payton at second and two down.
He lines one to left for a single that scores Mark on a slide at home as the throw was late.

It's a familiar score of 7-1 Texas now.

Shaw after a defensive gem last inning lines a single up the middle to put two on.
Garza the OU close is getting ripped!

Two on and two away for Hinojosa now and he lines one to left that the left fielder misjudges and has to finally catch it off his shoetops to end the inning.

Texas plays add on and it's 7-1 Horns to the bottom of the eighth.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill, who has looked even better after the delay faces Alspaugh leading off the Sooner eighth.

He pops out foul to Gurwitz by the coaching box at third for one away.

Lorenzana lines one to left and Johnson charges but has to make a sliding stop on one hop to hold him to a one out single.

Aiken, at the top of the OU order bats with one away and Lorenzana at first.

He lofts one to center and Payton makes the catch for two away.

Haley bats with two down and he grounds one to third and Gurwitz's throw is dugout by Clemens to retire the side.

Eight innings played and Texas leads 7-1 as they close in on a sweep.

 

[NBHorn7]

Alec Hansen is the new pitcher for OU and he is a rather large right hander to say the least.

Felts the DH leads off with flair to center for a single as now every Horn batter has at least one hit in the game.

Clemens steps in against the 6' 7" inch Hansen from the left side.
He grounds one through the left side and into left for another single to put the first two men on in the frame.

Gurwitz bats in the nine hole with two on and no outs.
Fifteen hits now for Texas.
He walks to load the bases with no outs.

Marlow is up and here comes the coach and yet another pitching change is made.

 

[NBHorn7]

Marlow at the top of the order faces the new lefty pitcher is Jeffery Curran.

He K's swinging for one away.

Johnson bats with the bases still juiced and now one away.
He chops one over the pitcher's head and the second baseman fields and tags Gurwitz for a 4U second out.

A run scores that makes it 8-1 Texas.

Payton bats with runners on the corners and two away.
He grounds one behind the bag at first and beats Mark to the bag to retire the side.

It's the bottom of the ninth and time for another Horn conference sweep!

They lead now 8-1.

 

[dillohorn]

Thanks for the updates.

 

[accuratehorn]

Sweep!!!!!!
Nice Big XII road sweep by the Horns.
Thornhill was better after the rain delay than prior.
In the ninth he threw eight straight strikes, then got the final out on a grounder.
Bravo!

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill goes for a rare complete game victory in the OU ninth.

He faces Nuese leading off from the right side.
He K's him on three pitches and the heavy sinker is swung on and missed for one away.

Hermelyn bats against the pitching machine and Thornhill K's him swinging on that same hard sinker in the dirt.

Buentello, the DH is the last hope for OU.
He grounds toward the hole on the right side and Clemens dives and snags it and then goes to the bag to end the game and give the Horns their second conference sweep!

What a job by Thornhill even with a rain delay involved.
A complete game victory for Nathan.

The bats were alive and well in this game and it's another cruise control win after pulling out the first game of the series.

The win keeps Texas alone in first place as a hot OSU team did sweep WSU.

I hope Toby Keith and the very sparse crowd left of Sooners enjoyed that sweep. I know I and all Longhorns did.

Let this Burnt Orange train keep rolling next weekend when TCU comes to Austin for the next conference series.

 

[ElginHotSausage]

Sweet Sweep.

 

[salonghorn-70]

Hitting was really live this weekend. Wind, too.