Texas vs. WVU Game I

[NBHorn7]

Game one of the final three home games ever to be played at Hawley Field may very well be the most important game of the set.

It's made even bigger by the news that Dillon Peters did not make the trip to Morgantown due to a "salivary duct stone."

So somebody has to come out of the pen for a start or maybe you move Thornhill to Saturday and pitch Schiraldi on Sunday.

Tonight WVU has one of the best pitcher's in the conference starting in junior lefty Harrison Musgrave, at 4-3 with a
1.95 era. He beat Texas last season in Austin.

Texas counters with what has been their best starter lately in
junior right hander Parker French at 5-3 and 2.08.

It's supposed to be a festive atmosphere with many events for the closing of the field with past alumni and other things.

Also WVU is making a push to make a regional with their current hot streak that finds them in fifth place suddenly after a sweep of KSU last week.



The Link


This is the video streaming link for today and all the games according to WVU athletics.

The link is up and working.

 

[NBHorn7]

Leading off for Texas in his usual sport is Marlow.
He faces the tough lefty Harrison Musgrave, as the game begins under overcast skies in Morgantown with a cool 57 degrees.

Marlow steps in left handed and K's swinging on a change.

One away for Johnson, who bats righty.
He hammers a liner down the line in left to the wall for a double.

Payton bats lefty with a runner at second and one down.
He grounds a hard one hopper to second for two away as Johnson moves to third on the play.

Barrera tries to put Texas on the board with two away and a runner on third.
He pops up to second to retire the side.

Texas threatens, but nothing more and WVU comes to bat in the first.

 

[Brad Austin]

Not to be bold since we certainly can drop a series as quick as our suddenly dead bats will allow. However, WVU's 7 wins all came from the bottom 3 teams in the conference. Swept 9th place KSU. Won 2 of 2 from 8th place Baylor. Won 2 of 3 from 7th place OU. Those teams are a combined 14-33.

With being swept by both TCU and OSU, and dropping 1 to OU...tells me they are middle of the pack like their 7-7 conf record. Still capable of stealing a series from us on a bad weekend. Or should I say the way we been playing. On the other hand, we are certainly within a strong hitting weekend away from a likely sweep.

 

[NBHorn7]

Taylor Munden, the shortstop leads off for WVU against Parker French, the Texas righty.

Munden bats righty against French.
He walks for a lead runner.

Bobby Boyd, the centerfielder is the top hitter in the league in hits.
He bunts through two pitches.
The lefty hitter grounds to short and Hinojosa boots it for an error. It looked like a double play ball.

Two on for Billy Flemming, batting right handed and another top ten hitter in the conference.
The double steal is on and Barrera guns down the runner at third for one away.
A full count to Fleming and he singles to center and Payton throw is late and gets by Barrera and Fleming moves to second.

It's another error, this time on Payton.

Ryan McBroom bats right handed as WVU leads 1-0 with one down and a runner at second.
He K's swinging and the pitch gets by Barrera and he reaches to put runners on the corners on the passed ball.

Jacob Rice, the right fielder bats right handed with one down.
It's almost a comedy of errors that has French struggling.
A pop up to Marlow at second is a big out two.

Right handed hitting Brad Johnson is up with two down and runners still on the corners.
A ground ball to second is bobbled by Marlow, but he makes the play to retire the side.

Ugly inning in the field for Texas, but only one run scores.

WVU leads 1-0 after one played.

 

[NBHorn7]

Hinojosa leads off batting righty against the lefty Musgrave as the Texas second starts.

The count runs full and a liner goes into left in front of the left fielder for a lead single.

Shaw bats from the left side and a bunt is most likely and a pop that one hops to the pitcher is a 1-6 force out for one away.

Carter at DH bats with one down and Shaw at first now.
It's certainly not a good night for the Horns in execution so far on offense and defense.

Carter can't hold up on a change and K's swinging for two away.

Might be time for Shaw to go now.
Clemens bats lefty with two away and a runner on first.
A ground ball to first 3U retires the side.

Bottom of two and WVU leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Left handed hitting Cam O'Brien is the WVU catcher.
He grounds to Clemens and French covers for a 3-1 out one.

Jackson Cramer, the DH bats lefty and singles to right .

Third baseman Michael Constantini, bats right handed with one down and one on.
He slices a little ground ball to Clemens, who takes it to the bag for two away as the runner moves to second.

The lead off hitter Munden, comes back with two down and a runner in scoring position.
A chopper to third and the 5-3 out retires the side.

Two gone in Morgantown and WVU leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

The Texas third begins with Musgrave facing nine hole hitter Gurwitz.

The righty hitter flies one to left for a routine out one.

Marlow brings back the top of the order for Texas.
He lines a single to right right on one hop.

So Johnson with a hit his first time a double, bats with a runner at first and one down.
He K's swinging on a low slider for two away.

Payton bats with two down and a pitch gets away and Marlow moves up alertly on what will have to be a wild pitch.
Mark back in from the left side now has a chance to put the Horns on the scoreboard.
He walks to extend his on base streak to 86 games as Musgrave with an open base never gave him anything to hit.

Barrera now has his chance to do damage.
He hits one deep to left, but on a cool damp early evening it dies on the warning track to retire the side.

Bottom of the third comes and WVU leads 1-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

French faces Boyd batting lefty to lead off the WVU third.

A ground ball to Hinojosa is played very carefully and the throw is late for I guess is an infield single. Hinjosa looks shaky on this lush infield.

Fleming plays second and bats righty with one on.
A little squibber goes toward third and a barehanded attempt can't be made by Gurwitz and it's another infield hit.

McBroom plays first and bats right handed with two on and no outs.
He K's swinging on three pitches for one down.

Left fielder Rice bats righty with runners at first and second and one down.
He grounds a ball by HInojosa and the run scores.

WVU leads now 2-0 and out comes Skip.

Johnson now bats with still two on and one down.
Not a ball hit hard and WVU has a run.

So baseball works it's magic and a liner right at Gurwitz becomes a 5U-3 double play to end the inning.

WVU gets another run and leads 2-0 after three.

 

[NBHorn7]

Musgrave is not totally sharp having given up three hits, but he leads 2-0 and is very crafty and changes speeds.

HInojosa leads off the Texas fourth by blowing a fast ball by him forv a swinging K and one down.

Shaw steps in from the lefty side and bloops a little pop off the handle to second for two away.

Carter bats right handed with two down and nobody on.
He grounds a single by the third baseman and on into left as Texas has hit in each inning so far.

Clemens bats lefty with a runner at first and two away.
He retires the side by grounding out to second.

Bottom of the fourth comes and WVU leads 2-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

French faces O'Brien batting lefty to lead the WVU fourth.

He wears an inside fast ball to reach first on the HBP.

Cramer, a Texan bats lefty with one on and no outs.
He doesn't bunt and hits into a tailor made 4-6-3 double play for two away.

Constantini bats from the right side with two down.
He walks to put on another base runner for WVU.

Munden, the lead off hitter bats righty with two down and lines one by Gurwitz and down the line for a double.

Runners at second and third and two down for Boyd the leading hitter in the conference.
He grounds one by Marlow and both runs score and a throw has Boyd caught off and Hinojosa throws the ball away going back to first for another error. The runner goes all the way to third.

WVU now leads 4-0.

Fleming bats righty with a runner at third and two down.

Three big errors now for Texas so far.

Fleming flies out to Shaw to retire the side.

Another ugly inning for Texas.

The result is WVU leads now 4-0 after four and with Musgrave on the mound you can feel this one slipping away.

 

[NBHorn7]

Gurwitz leads off against Musgrave in the Texas fifth.

The righty hitter bats ninth in the order.
The count runs full and a can of corn goes to right for one away.

Marlow back up at the top of the order steps in left handed batter's box.
He takes a fast ball the opposite way for another single as the Horns still have at least a hit every inning, yet no runs so far.

Johnson grounds a ball to third that turns into a 5-4 force as Johnson beats the relay.

Two down for Payton and Johnson at first.
Johnson goes and steals second easily.

Payton again has a chance to put the Horns on the board.
A big curve ball is taken for K looking as again Texas gets a hit and doesn't score.

Halway through the first game of the series and WVU leads 4-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

French faces righty hitting McBroom as the WVU fifth starts.

A chopper is off the glove and then into the bare hand of Gurwitz and his throw is wild and the batter goes to second.

It's ruled a hit and an error on the play.
The fourth error now for Texas.

Rice bats righty with the runner at second and no outs.
A timing play on a pick off is nearly thrown away as Hinojosa makes a leaping grab.
A fly ball to left is one away.

Here comes Skip again as righty hitting Johnson steps up.
He returns to the first base dugout.
Johnson steps back in the right handed box with one down.
A foul pop to Clemens is two away.

O'Brien bats lefty and grounds to second and the 4-3 put out retires the side.

Five down and WVU leads 4-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Musgrave comes out in the Texas sixth to face Barrera.

He flairs a foul pop down the right field line that the second baseman Fleming makes the catch after running into the first baseman and a bobble for one down.

Hinojosa up with one down.
A fly ball to right is lost by the right fielder and it drops and then Hinojosa tries to go to second is thrown out.
A single and then he is thrown out 9-4-6 for two outs.
Not a good night for C.J.

Shaw swings through a fast ball to retire the side.

Texas gets a strange hit to keep the streak of a hit in every inning going, but again no runs.

Bottom of the sixth and it's WVU leading 4-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

Cramer leads off against French in the sixth batting lefty.

On a full count a pitch low and away is a lead walk.
French is approaching 100 pitches and has had little help in the field.

Constantini bunts the runner over to second for one away.

Mundend at the top of the order bats right handed with one down.
A ground ball toward the hole is cut off by Gurwitz and then Clemens digs the low throw for two down on a nice play.

Boyd flies to center to Payton to retire the side.

Six played and with WVU ahead 4-0.

 

[NBHorn7]

The Texas seventh commences as Carter the DH leads off.

He lines a single to left as Texas gets another hit.

Clemens bats lefty and for the first time a second hit is lined to right as the Horns finally put two hits together.

Gurwitz bats with runners at first and second with no outs.
He is trying to bunt and fouls it off.

He gets it down and the runners move to second and third and one down.

Marlow up again as once more the top of the order comes.
He lines a single to center and one run scores and the throw home allows Marlow to go to second.

Sloppy play by WVU now could lead to multiple runs.

Johnson bats with runners at second and third.
He grounds a ball to the hole and beats the throw to first for a hit.

Another run scores to make it 4-2 and Marlow barely beats a return throw to third.

Payton grounds another ball toward the hole and a throw to second is high and all hands are safe as another run scores.

It's 4-3 now WVU.

Barrera flies to left for two down.

HInojosa bats with two on.
The runners go and it's a double steal

Suddenly a hit could give Texas the lead.
Sloppy play is contagious it seems.

He K's swinging to end the inning.

Stretch time comes in Morgantown and it's a game now as WVU leads 4-3.

 

[WorsterMan]

Thanks for the updates NBHorn7...

T E X A S - F I G H T !!!

 

[NBHorn7]

Right hander Morgan Cooper, is the new Texas pitcher in the seventh. French pitch count was getting high.

The tall Texas right hander faces Fleming leading off the WVU half of the inning.
A soft fly ball to Payton is one away.

McBroom bats righty with one away.
He bloops one to center and Payton can't make a diving catch and it's a single.

One on for Rice batting righty with one down.
A wild pitch in the dirt goes off Barrera and the runner moves to second.
A walk puts two on and one down.

Johnson bats and another ball brings out Skip again.
He blasts one to left and again the cool weather and damp conditions keep the ball in the park as Texas's Johnson catches it one step from the wall for two down.

O'Brien bats lefty and inside outs a single to left and Jonson's throw is wide and the run scores. A good throw had him.

That makes it 5-3 WVU and that's all for Cooper.

Travis Duke, the lefty comes in to pitch and he faces a pinch hitter in righty Justin Fox.
Still two on and two down.

The count runs full and the runners will be off on the pitch.
A hump back liner is caught by Clemens at first to retire the side.

WVU gets a run back and leads 5-3 after seven.

 

[NBHorn7]

The new pitcher for WVU in the eighth is Sean Carley a right hander and he faces Shaw in the Texas half of the inning.

Shaw steps in left handed against Carley as it's good to get Musgrave out of the game.

Well maybe not as Shaw K's swingng for one away.

Carter bats with one down.
A ground ball to short is a quick second out.

Clemens bats with two down from the left side.
He K's swinging on a fast ball to retire the side in order for the first time.
It's the first time Texas has had no hits or baserunners in an inning.

To the bottom of the eighth and WVU leads 5-3.

 

[NBHorn7]

Right hander Chad Hollingsworth, comes out to pitch the eighth for Texas.

He faces right handed hitting Constantini to lead off.
He lines one off the backside of Hollingsworth and he recovers to make the play for out one.
That play goes left cheek and then 1-3.

A ground ball to Hinojosa by Munden is fielded and the throw is wide and pulls Clemens off the the bag for the fifth error of the night for Texas.

Boyd bats lefty with one on and one down.
He slugs a bunt by Hollingsworth and Marlow can't make the play and the infield hit puts two on.

Fleming bats righty with runners on first and second and one down.
A line drive goes to Hinojosa and he goes back to second for a 6U-4 double play to retire the side.

It's on to the ninth and WVU leads 5-3 and if Texas doesn't come back the errors killed them tonight.

 

[accuratehorn]

That was painful to endure.

 

[NBHorn7]

Carley still pitches and faces Gurwitz as the ninth begins.

The right hander faces the right handed hitting nine hole hitter.
He K's swinging on a fast ball blew by him for one away.

Marlow brings the top of the order again with one down.
A hanging curve ball is lined to right for a single.

That is four hits for Marlow tonight.

Johnson bats right handed as the potential tying run with one away.
He blows a fast ball right by Johnson for a swinging K for two down.

Payton bats as the tying run and last hope for the Horns.
He drives a fly ball to right center to the track that is caught to end the game.

WVU wins the game 5-3.

What a sloppy game by Texas. They looked not ready to play as the game began and like the infield hadn't ever played on grass before.

Five errors spelled doom for the Horns tonight and WVU is now closing in on Texas in the conference at 8-7 to Texas's 10-9 record. The wild pitches and passed ball didn't help either.

Peters didn't make the trip and Texas has it's back squarely against the wall now in this series.

Texas equals WVU in hits at 11 apiece. French wasn't great, but not terrible and deserved a better fate.

So it's on to tomorrow and whoever pitches, probably Thornhill now after a loss needs the rest of the team to show up from the opening pitch.

 

[LonghornCatholic]

Damn

 

[FWHORN]

Boy did this season go into the crapper the last three weeks.

 

[WorsterMan]

Baseball powerhouse West VA ya'll !

 

[OrangeOsoFu]

Puke city boys. Team needs to take it up a notch.....Texas Fight....