Texas vs Tech-Big 12 Tourney

[NBHorn7]

The last game of day one at the Big 12 Tourney has fifth seeded Texas against fourth seeded Texas Tech.

It's midweek so like all year right hander Lukas Schiraldi gets the start for Texas. Probably wasn't planned that way a few weeks ago, but the long late series in Manhattan and French starting Sunday may be the reason.

Texas starts a right hander Cory Taylor.

As usual the schedule is running late and maybe this game will get started by 8:45.

 

[NBHorn7]

Marlow leads off against Taylor the right hander.

He steps in left handed and lines the first pitch to left center for a lead single.

Johnson steps in right handed and is showing no sign of bunting.
So instead he takes a called third strike on a fastball for one away.

Payton steps in from the left side with one away and Marlow at first.
He K's swinging for two away.

Barrera bats righty with still Marlow at first.
He sends a line drive to right that is caught to retire the side.

Tech comes to bat in the first after holding Texas scoreless in the top half.

 

[NBHorn7]

Schiraldi toes the rubber and he faces centerfielder, Steven Smith.

He bats from the right side and lines a shot out to Shaw in right for one down.

Bryant Burleson, the second baseman bats with one away.
He hits also from the right side and the count runs full.
He pops to shallow right field and Marlow is there for two away.

Tyler Neslony, in left bats left and pops up to first to retire the side in order.


The first inning is history now and tied at 0-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Taylor out for his second inning faces Carter leading off for the Horns.

He steps in from the right side and grounds a clean single through on the left side and for the second straight inning Texas gets it's lead man on base.

Hinojosa bats righty and fouls off two bunt attempts.
Then a roller to second is a 4-6-3 double play and two down with no the bases empty.

Shaw steps in lefty and as often happens lines a single to center after a double play.

One on and two down now for Clemens also from the left side.
Shaw is a threat to go and would not be a bad idea here with two outs.
There he goes and he is in there with a good jump.

So Clemens has a chance to dent the scoreboard and give Texas a lead.
He grounds a single through the box and into center and Shaw scores. That stolen base was a good idea indeed.

Texas leads 1-0.

Gurwitz bats right handed with one on and two away.
He stick out the bat and bloops a single to center just over a diving second second baseman.

Runners on the corners now for Marlow at the top of the order.
He walks to load the bases.

Big at bat for Johnson here early in the game as Texas has had a lot of traffic this inning, but just one run has scored.
A hot short gets by the second baseman and into right and two runs score.

Texas leads 3-0.

Second baseman should have least knocked that ball down.

Here comes the Tech coach and Taylor is done.

Pitching change.

 

[NBHorn7]

The new pitcher is Johnny Drozo, a left hander.

He faces Payton with runners at first and second and two down.
Payton looks to extend his on base streak and the Texas lead.
A fly ball to left goes over the head of the left fielder as he misjudged that ball badly.

That scores two more runs and extends Payton's streak, but Payton is cut down at third trying to go for a triple to retire the side.

Texas has a five run inning that had a double play in it.

Going to the bottom of two and Texas leads 5-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Eric Gutierrez, the first baseman leads off against Schiraldi and pops up to shallow right for one away.

Adam Kirsh, in right and bats righty walks for a one out base runner.

Alec Humphreys is the third sacker and bats righty with one down.
He also walks to put two on for Tech.

The DH is left handed hitter Anthony Lyons with two on and one down.

Another ball out of the zone brings Skip from the dugout.
He returns and Lyons steps back in.
He singles to right and that loads the bases.

Shortstop, Tim Proudfoot steps in from the right side.
He helps things out by swinging through a high fast ball for a K for two down.

Hunter Redman, the catcher and the nine hole hitter bats with two down and the bases loaded in another big at bat in the early going.
He pops up to second and Schiraldi escapes the jam unscathed.

Two innings played and Texas maintains it's 5-0 lead.

 

[NBHorn7]

Drozd faces Barrera as the third starts.

He flies out to left center for one down.

Carter bats with one down.
A ground ball goes 4-3 for two away.

Hinojosa bats with two down.
He walks on four pitches for a two out runner.

As before Hinojosa is a threat to run with two down.

Shaw bats with two away and a ground ball to second and a wide throw to first lets Shaw reach on the error.

The first baseman's tag attempt missed.

So Clemens bats again with runners on and two down.
He singled home the first run of the game last inning.
A ground ball toward the hole on the right side and a dving play by the second baseman and his throw gets him to retire the side.

Bottom of the third on the way and Texas leads 5-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Stephen Smith, at the top of the order leads off against Schiraldi in the third.

A count is reached before a high fastball puts him on on a walk.

Burleson bats with one on and no outs.
Another full count and a shot to the gap in left center is a double that scores a run.

It's 5-1 Texas.

Teslony bats with a man at second and still no outs.
He walks to put two on and Schiraldi is really struggling now with command.

Gutierrez bats with two on and still no outs.
A pop up is an inflied fly rule and caught by Marlow for one down.

Kirsch bats with one down and two on.
A tight slider is a K looking on the outside corner for a big second out.

Humphreys bats with two on and two down as Lukas tries to escape another big jam with little damage.
This time a big overhand curve is swung on and missed to retire the side.

Schiraldi out of another jam, but Tech gets on the board.

After three Texas leads 5-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

The lefty Drozd faces Gurwitz as the fourth begins.

He slaps one to the left center gap and Gurwitz legs it into a lead off double with good base running.

Marlow at the top of the order again bats with a man in scoring position.
A ground ball to first is a 3-1 productive out as Gurwitz moves to third with one down.

Johnson bats with one down with a chance to play add on.
A flair to center is a single and scores the run as Texas is hitting balls with eyes so far tonight.

Texas leads 6-1.

Payton bats with one down and he sends one to the gap in right center and that falls also and it's another double and puts runners at second and third.

Barrera bats with one down and could put this game in a nice place for Texas with another knock.
He at least needs some contact to score Johnson.
A ground ball to short does score the run on 6-3 out.

Texas leads 7-1.

Two down for Carter with Payton on third.
A ground ball to second retires the side.

Texas plates a couple more and leads 7-1 to the bottom of the fourth.

 

[NBHorn7]

Schiraldi toils on in the fourth for the Horns.
He faces Lyons as the Tech half begins.

Another high pop, this time to short is out one.
That was a major jam shot.

Proudfoot bats with one down.
He cues one up the middle and Marlow flags it down and his across the body throw is two away.

Redman bats with two down.
A high fly ball to right retires the side in ordeer.

Schiraldi has good stuff when he can get it over.

As a result Texas leads 7-1 after four.

 

[LonghornCatholic]

 

[NBHorn7]

Drozd still works in the fifth and faces Hinojosa leads off.

He pops one high on the right side and the second baseman makes the catch for one away.

Shaw bats with one down.
A chopper to first and the pitcher misses the bag with his foot and it's ruled an infield hit. Kind of iffy there.

Clemens bats with one on and one down.
He pops up to third for two away.

So Shaw is again on with two down and another chance for a steal wouldn't be out of order.

Gurwitz bats with two down and one on.
Gurwitz slaps another single, this time to right and it puts runners on first and second.

Marlow up again at the top of the Horn order.
Well Shaw goes now and a double steal is successful.

Marlow back in with a chance to break this game open with two down.
He K's swinging at a ball in the dirt and the tag by the catcher completes the play to retire the side.

Halfway throught this Tournament opener for both teams and Texas leads 7-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Schiraldi looks to become on record for the win and eat up some more innings in what is hoped to be a long run for Texas in the Tourney.

He faces Smith at the top of the Tech order in the Tech fifth.
Another high fly ball is caught by Payton for one down.
Lukas has them hitting the sky balls tonight.

Burleson bats with one down.
Guess what? Another fly ball to Payton is out two.

Neslony bats lefty with two down.
He lines a single down the left field line that Johnson makes a good play to cut it off and hold him at first.

Gutierrez bats with two down and one on.
Yet another fly ball, the latest to right retires the side.

Five innings gone and Texas leads 7-1.

 

[FWHORN]

Thanks for the updates NB, good start to the tourny but our mid-week starters havnt been the issue so I dont know how much to read into this, lets hope this is a springboard to a good run.

 

[NBHorn7]

Drozd stays on in the sixth and faces Johnson in the Texas half of the inning.

A chopper goes to short and another wide throw and missed tag attempt by the first baseman is an error which is the first of the year for Proudfoot, the Tech shortstop.

Payton up again, having extended his on base streak to 92 games tonight.
He is hit by a pitch to reach and put two on.

Barrera up with two on and no outs.
No bunting here it seems.
Another double steal as the pitch is dropped.

Barrera now has a chance again as in his last at bat to plate multiple runs.
He walks to load the bases.

Hinojosa up with the bases drunk and no outs.

The coach is out and another pitching change is made.

 

[NBHorn7]

The new pitcher for the Raiders is right hander Johnathon Tripp.

It doesn't matter what kind of bats and ball are used this has always been and continues to be a hitters ball park.

Carter bats with the bases loaded and no outs against Tripp.
A ground ball to second is a 4-6-3 double play as a run scores.

Texas leads 8-1.

Hinojosa ends the inning quickly with a fly ball to center.

One more for the Horns and they lead 8-1 to the bottom of six.

 

[NBHorn7]

Schiraldi keeps going in the sixth as he nears 100 pitches.

He faces Kirsch as the Tech half begins.

Another high pop is caught by Marlow down the right field line for one down.

Humphreys bats with one down.
H walks as Schiraldi goes over 100 pitches.

Might be time to get a fresh arm in soon.
Lukas will try to get through this inning.

Lynons bats with one on and one down.
He flairs one just beyond Hinojosa in shall ow left for a single.
Here comes Skip and a change is made.

 

[NBHorn7]

Chad Hollingsworth, the big right hander is the new Horn pitcher.

I don't know with a seven run lead I might have given Sawyer the ball and see if he could get you some innings.

I hate to work Hollingsworth the rest of the way and waste him.

Oh well the faces Proudfoot and a ground ball to short is booted by Hinojosa to load the bases.

Redman bats with one down and the bases juiced.
Now you need to avoid the big inning.
A big hopper to third is a 5-4-3 twin killing to retire the side.

Another jam is overcome and Texas leads 8-1 after six.

 

[NBHorn7]

The seventh starts at almost 11 pm with Shaw facing Tripp.

He steps in left handed and sends a lazy fly ball to cener for one down.

Clemens bats with one gone.
He sends a fairly long drive to right center that is run down by the right fielder for two away.

Gurwitz bats with two down and is perfect on the night with three hits.
A ball hits the knob of the bat and his hand for a foul ball as he was heading for first and brought back by the home plate ump.
Then a fly ball to right ends his perfect night and retires the side in order.

Stretch time in OKC and Texas leads 8-1.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth back out in the seventh and now I guess you just let him finish the game if he can.

He faces Smith at the top of the Tech order.
He K's swinging for one away.

Burleson bats with one down.
He lines a single to left.

Neslony bats with one on and one down.
He lines a single by Gurwitz to put two on.

Gutierrez is up with two on and one down.
A ground ball up the middle and Hinojosa fields, but his momentum won't let him go to second and his throw to first is two down.

The runners move up to second and third.

Kirsch bats with two down and you want to get him to keep Tech at bay.
He lines a ball down the right field line and it scores both runners and gets away from Shaw for a triple.

Texas leads 8-3.

Humphreys bats with two down and a runner at third and you need to shut it down here.
A fly ball to center ends the inning.

Tech gets a couple back, but Texas leads 8-3 after seven played.

 

[NBHorn7]

Marlow is back up at the top of the order in the eighth against Tripp.

He steps in from the left side and a sharp one hopper to second is out one.

Johnson bats with one down.
A high pop to shallow center is caught by the second baseman for two down.

Payton bats with two down and the bases empty.
A fly ball to center retires the side in order as Tripp has gotten eight Horns in a row.

Bottom of the eighth arrives with Texas leading 8-3.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth faces Lyons the DH as the Tech eighth starts.

He grounds to short and on the move the throw off the back foot is one away.

Proudfoot bats with one down.
He lines one right at Shaw in right field for two away.

Redman on the first pitch chops one to Hinojosa and his throw is on time to retire the side in order.

Eight now in the books and Texas still ahead 8-3.

 

[NBHorn7]

Tripp still on the hill and why not as he has retired 8 of 9 Horn batters since entering the game.

He faces Barrera as hopefully the final frame begins as we look to end the night before the "Witching Hour."

A fly ball goes to right for one down.

Carter bats with one away.
A bleeder goes to center and a sliding attempt by the centerfielder is not held and Carter has a bloop double.

Hinojosa looks for his first hit, but grounds to third for two away.
As the throw goes across the diamond Carter heads for third and beats the return throw by the first baseman.

Shaw up with Carter at third and two down.
He K's swinging to retire the side.

Nice outing for Tripp, who held Texas scoreless.

Bottom of the ninth is finally here and Texas leads 8-3.

 

[johnnyg88]

I appreciate your posts NB. Great job.

 

[Orangeblood]

Apparently, he went to bed sometime in the 9th.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth tries to close it out and faces pinch hitter Ritchie.

He bats lefty and flairs a single between three Horns in left center.

Burleson bats with one on and no outs.
He grounds a 4-6-3 double play that records out one and two.

Neslony is the last hope for Tech.
He walks to keep the game alive.

Gutierrez bats with two down and one on.
A ground ball goes to short and the throw to first ends the game.

Texas wins 8-3 and advances to play OSU tomorrow at 7:30 supposedly, but we know that may well not happen to much later.

Schiraldi with a good outing. He was shaky for awhile and was wild, but he kept it together to give a quality start.
Hollingsworth closed it out in fine style.

The bats came alive and Texas coasted home.

Now you face the top seeded OSU Cowboys in Oklahoma.
Texas should be the home team, but it's like playing a road game.

I wonder who gets the start? French was up in the pen tonight, so maybe he does. It could be Peters, we will just have to see.

Big game tomorrow if Texas hopes to win this thing and get back into the conversation for a Regional hosting opportunity.

 

[johnnyg88]

Ok, well, let's just say Horns win 8-3 and turn out the lights!

 

[NBHorn7]

Last inning, must put a wrap on this game and set up tomorrow. Did none of you go to Journalism School at UT?

I did, must do it right you know.
If not Dr. Quinn would rise from the grave and strangle me with a typewriter ribbon.

He loved his UT baseball and once said when I came in for lab. "What are you doing here?" I said, "You said lab was mandatory." He said, "Not for you on game days at home, now get out of here and I will see you over there later."

 

[Dewbrewer]

Good win. Keep those bats going Horns!!

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]