Texas vs. WVU Game 2

[NBHorn7]

It's make or break time in Morgantown for Texas. After the shoddy fielding yesterday and the resulting loss they find themselves tied with Kansas for fourth place and WVU breathing down their necks for fifth place.

Losing this series will put you most likely in the second tier of the conference. It will also nearly eliminate all possibility of hosting a regional unless you sweep Kansas State on the road and maybe get in the finals or win the Conference Tourney.

So a lot to play for as game starts with Texas moving right handed senior Nathan Thornhill with a record of 6-2 and a 2.50 era.

WVU counters with a native Texan in lefty Ross Vance at 3-0 and 2.57.

Better get after it today Horns as their aren't many games left and things are slipping away fast.

The Link

Link again for today's game stream

 

[NBHorn7]

Marlow leads off again today for Texas after a four hit game yesterday against lefty Ross Vance.

He steps in left handed on another cloudy and cool day with a chance of rain.

The count runs full on the opening batter of the game and he drives a ball deep to right center that the right fielder goes back to the wall and makes the catch for one away.

Johnson bats right and chops the first pitch to short and the 6-3 is out two.

Payton bats lefty with two down.
He slaps a ball the other way and it's down as a the centerfielder made a diving backhanded attempt and missed it.

The double makes the on base streak now stand at 87 games for Payton.

Barrera bats with two down from the right side and a runner at second and he lines the first pitch that the third baseman stabs backhanded as he goes into foul territory to save a run and retire the side.

Texas threatens, but doesn't score and WVU comes to bat in the first.

 

[NBHorn7]

Taylor Munden. the shortstop leads off batting right handed against right hander Natthan Thornhill for Texas.

Munden steps in against Thornhill and a big chop goes to Gurwitz at third and his throw is a 5-3 out to start the WVU first.

Bobby Boyd, the centerfielder bats lefty and grounds out to second for two away.

Billy Fleming, at second bats righty with two down.
Another ground ball to third retires the side in order.

One played in Morgantown and it's 0-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Vance faces Carter at DH as the second begins.

The right handed hitter gets in the box and the count runs full once more.
He walks on an inside pitch for a lead base runner.

Shaw up from the left side is expected to buntand does so successfully as Carter goes to second with one down.

Hinosjosa with the chance to drive him home and put Texas ahead for the first time in the series.
A liner goes right to the centerfielder for two away as Carter holds at second.

So Clemens batting lefty bats with two down triying to give the Horns the lead.
He K's swinging on the big curve ball and for the second inning a runner is stranded in scoring position.

Bottom of two and it's 0-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Ryan McBroom, bats right handed against Thornhill to start the WVU second.

He grounds one hard by Hinojosa for a lead single.

Jackson Rice, play left field and bats right handed.
A ground ball goes to second for an easy 4-6-3 double play and two down.

Brad Johnson is in right field and bats righty with two away.
A little squibber on the third base side is grabbed at barehanded by Thornhill, but drops it.
It's an infield hit for a two out runner.

Cam O'Brien, the catcher bats lefty with two away and one on at first.
He lines a single to right field and it puts two on with two outs.

The DH, Jackson Cramer bats lefty with two on and two down.
Another dribbler on the third base side is this time fielded by Thornhill and the 1-3 put out ends the threat and retires the side.

Two innings played now and nada on the scoreboard.

 

[NBHorn7]

Vance comes out to work the Texas third and faces Gurwitz batting right handed.

He grounds one hard off the pitcher and there is no play and it's a lead single.

Vance throws a few warm pitches, but appears ok and will continue.

Marlow at the top of the order bunts the runner over to second for one away.

Johnson bats with Gurwitz at second as the Horns for the third straight inning have a runner in scoring position.

A fly ball goes to right center and is caught for two down as Gurwitz tags and goes to third.

Payton bats with two down and a man at third and will he get anything to hit?
He drives one out of the park in left, but just foul.
He K's swinging on a big breaker to retire the side as Texas again strands a runner in scoring position.

To the bottom of the third with nothing on the board but 0's.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhills is set to face Michael Constantini batting righty as the WVU third starts.

The WVU third baseman steps in and a full count is reached.
The pitch of decision comes and a ground ball goes to second on what would have been ball four, but it's out one instead.

Munden, the lead off man is back up with one down batting righty.
Another full count and he swings at a low pitch for a swinging K for two down.

Boyd, bats lefty and is the leading hitter in the conference and shows it by grounding a single thrrough the box and into center for a single.

Boyd is a threat to steal as Fleming bats righty with two down.
A hit and run single up the middle again puts runners on the corners with two down.

McBroom bats right handed with two down and a chance to put WVU ahead.
The runner at first goes on a delayed steal and Barrera doesn't make a throw.
Runners now at second and third and the count runs full.

Skip comes out now for a meeting after a very close pitch didn't go the Horns way.

He returns to the visitor's dugout.

McBroom steps back in from the right side.
He fouls a few pitches off before a high fly ball to Payton in center retires the side.

Both sides keep threatening, but neither has scored.

That means it's 0-0 after three.

 

[NBHorn7]

The WVU lefty Vance faces Barrera leading off the Texas fourth.

He steps in the right handed box.
A ground ball to third and the long throw is out one.

Carter up next with one down.
He grounds sharply to the hole at short and it goes off the shortstop for an infield single.

Shaw bats lefty with Carter at first and one down.
A ground ball to first is a 3U out two.

So for a fourth straight inning Texas has a runner at second.

Hinojosa has the chance to drive him home this time with two away.
He grounds a single up the middel that plates Carter and on the throw Hinojosa goes to second beating a return throw.

It's 1-0 Texas.

Clemnes comes to bat for a chance for more.
He swings through a change up to retire the side.

To the bottom of four and we have a score and it is Texas ahead 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Thornhill pitches the WVU fourth with a 1-0 lead and faces Jacob Rice batting right handed.

He takes three straight strikes for a K looking for one away.

Johnson bats right handed with one down and chops a grounder up the middle for a single.

O'Brien bats left handed with one on and one down.
He lines a sinlge over Hinojosa for another runner.

Two on at first and second for lefty hitting Cramer with one down.
A pitch in the dirt brings yet another visit from Skip.
He again returns to the dugout.

Cramer steps back in from the left side.
The count runs full and a big pitch is reached in the game.
A slow change is swung on and missed for two away.

Constantini bats righty with two on and two down.
He walks the nine hole hitter to load the bases.

Munden the lead off hitter is back batting right handed with the bases loaded and two away.

A drive to right center is run down by Payton to retire the side and end another big WVU threat.

Four innings gone and it's 1-0 Texas.

 

[NBHorn7]

Gurwitz leads off the Texas fifth against Vance.

He bats righty and a drive to left center is run down by the center fielder in the gap for one down.

Marlow at the top of the order is up again.
The lefty hitter K's swinging on a pitch in the dirt and the out is completed with a 2-3 put out.

Two down for Johnson batting right handed.
A ground ball to third retires the side in order.

Halfway through the game and the series and Texas leads this one 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Chad Hollingsworth has entered the game for Texas as Thornhill has been removed for some reason and with Peters gone this shortens the pen.

The right hander faces Boyd batting lefty and he bunts right back to Hollingsworth and the 1-3 play is out one.

Fleming bats righty with one down.
A ground ball to second is two away.

McBroom bats righty with two down.
A high fly ball to left is caught by Johnson as Hollingsworth retires WVU in order.

Five innnings gone by and Texas leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Vance continues on the mound for WVU as the Texas sixth starts with Payton leading off.

He steps in left handed an drives a ball to left center and the centerfield goes back and leaps up and makes the grab as it almost went over his head.

One down for Barrera batting righty.
He drills a liner to left right at the left fielder for two down.

Carter bats right handed with two down and has been on base every time so far.
Another single lined to center is his second hit and keeps his perfect day alive.

Shaw bats lefty with one on and two down.
He skies a drive to center to retire the side.

The bottom of the sixth comes with Texas leading 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hollingsworth is back out for his second inning of work as the WVU sixth comes.

He faces Rice batting right handed.
A liner goes to Johnson in left for one away.

Johnson bats righty and lines his third hit to right field for a single.

O'Brien bats left handed with one down and one on.
He walks on four pitches to put two on.

Cramer bats left handed with two on and one down.

Out comes Skip one more time as the infield gathers around.
Hollingsworth stays on.

Cramer back in the lefty box and a fly ball to left is two away as Johnson squeezes it.

Constantini is the nine hole hitter with two away and two on as Texas tries to squelch yet another WVU threat.

A ground ball to Gurwitz at third does the trick 5-3 to retire the side.

Six innings played with a lot of base runners, but onle one score and it belongs to Texas and results in a 1-0 lead.

 

[NBHorn7]

Vance still works in the seventh and faces Hinojosa leading off for Texas.

Vance from McKinney has a delvery that can only be described as slinging it. It looks like someone skipping stones on the water.

He hits Hinojosa and that puts a lead runner on for the Horns.

Clemens bunts him over for sac as Hinojosa goes to second.

One down for Gurwitz with C.J. at second.
He grounds one by the third baseman for a single and here comes Hinojoas and he scores as he throw is just late.

Gurwitz goes to second on the throw.

Texas leads 2-0.

Marlow bats at the top of the order and grounds out to second as Gurwitz goes to third.

Two down for Johnson with Gurwitz at third.
A ground ball to third ends the inning.

Texas plates one more and leads 2-0 as they stretch in Morgantown.

 

[NBHorn7]

John Curtis comes on to pitch in the seventh for Texas.
He faces right handed hitting Munden at the top of the WVU order.

Munden steps in and pops up to Hinojosa for one away.

Boyd steps in left handed with one down.
He grounds to short and it eludes Hinojosa agains for another error which is fourth of the series.

So Fleming bats righty and lines a single to right to put runners on the corners and one down.

McBroom bats right handed as another WVU threat is here.
He swings at what would have been ball four and grounds to short for the 6-4-3 double play to end yet another threat and end the inning.

Seven innnings in the books and Texas clings to a 2-0 lead as they escape threat after threat.

 

[NBHorn7]

Payton leads off the Texas eighth as somehow Vance is still on the hill for WVU.

A full count is reached and a ground ball to second is one away.

Barrera bats righty with one down as Vance reaches the 100 pitch count.

He hits him with a pitch for a one out runner at first.

Carter steps in right handed and one down.
He has still yet to be retired in four at bats.
That streak ends on a 6-4-3 double play ball that retires the side.

Bottom of the eighth on the way and Texas still leads 2-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Curtis is back out as he will be asked for an extended closing job today with the pen being shorthanded.

He faces Rice batting right handed leading off the WVU eighth.
A fly ball to center is hauled in by Payton for one down.

Johnson bats right handed with three hits on the day and suoddenly their are words between him and Barrera and the ump gets in between them.

He finally steps in and another fly ball goes to Payton iwth the same result for two down.

O'Brien bats left handed with two down.
This time a flair to center drops in front of Payton for his third hit of the game with two down.

Cramer bats with one on and two down.
He K's swinging and more words are exchanged by Barrera and he comes out and the dugouts have emptied.

Order is being restored as the players are going to their positions.

Meanwhile eight innings have been played and Texas leads 2-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

So on to the ninth and there is still discussions being had by the umps and head coaches now.

The shake hands and the games goes on.

Vance tries to go for a complete game for WVU and faces Shaw batting lefty.

He steps in and slaps a grounder to third for one away.

Hinojosa bats right handed and finally the head coach comes out to get Vance.

No doubt a right hander is on the way to face C.J.

During the change they are off in the 140th edition of the Kenrtucky Derby at Churchhill Downs as some may nave put down a few bob on such things.

Back to baseball right hander Ryan Teazack faces Hinojosa with one down.

A pop up goes to short for two away.

California Chrome the 2-1 favorite wins easily in Louisville by the way.

Clemens bats with two down and nobody on.
He grounds to first and the first baseman can't decide to flip it to the pitcher covering or take it himself and does neither and Clemens beat is out.

That puts one on for Gurwitz and he drives one deep to left and and at the wall the catch is made to retire the side.

Bottom of the ninth is here and Texas tries to hang on leading 2-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Curits tries to close out the game for Texas in the ninth.

Constantini leads off and grounds to short for one away.

The top of the order and Munden steps in righty and singles off the glove of Curtis and into center.

The potential tying run is Boyd batting lefty with one on and one down.

A fly ball to shallow right is two away.

So right handed hitting Fleming bats as the last hope and he pops up to Marlow in shallow center to end the game.

Texas survives many threats and wins a game they had to win 2-0.

A short handed pitching staff became even more shorthanded with whatever happened to Thornhill, but somehow got a shutout.

The offense did just enough again and the same scenario we have seen for a long time gets the W.


So tomorrow now a big game to win the series and try to stay in the chase to host a regional.

Lukas Schiraldi will get the start and and the pen will be whoever is availabe. That means that some offense would be greatly appreciated.

So it seems the words is over the coach for WVU signaling pitches to the batters.

Well when I played if they could steal your signs you should be able to change your signs. Don't see the big offense there.
That can go both ways.

Anyway better come ready to play and get the series tomorrow and bring the bats and hope the very taxed pitching staff can hold up and Schiraldi can give you some good innings.

 

[FWHORN]

Even the wins are so frustrating here these past few weeks. Can this team find what it had for those great weeks in March and make a run, my heart says yes my brain says not so much.

 

[Brad Austin]

Usually a win is a win. At this time that only holds about half weight. A win like that was about 6 jams from becoming a nightmare. They left runners in scoring position all day. We were easily outhit and let a pitcher giving us a lot to work with have a nice, long outing. Which still is alright during normal times. But we haven't put up more than 3 runs in a conference game since beating OU 8-1 on April 13th...20 days and 8 conference games ago. Frustrating to say the least.

That being said, I'd rather be me frustratingly writing this than the West Va fans that sat all day through their countless blown opportunities only to come up with a fat zero. The Mounties pulled a "Texas" at the plate today.

 

[dillohorn]

an Ugly win

 

[NBHorn7]

Well in all honesty if we could go back to those great days when were sweeping Baylor and OU it might have been because both of those teams are absolutely terrible and are only held up by Kansas State who we still have a series with in Manhattan.

 

[Hook 'Em Danno]