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Tuesday - March 27, 2007

Game 31: Rice at Texas

Something pretty stunning happened this evening. Texas beat Rice for the 10th time in a row. 10 times. In a row. That sort of thing just doesn't happen.

I couldn't remember if they were going for win #9 or #10 this afternoon so I went back through my archives and found last year's post about the 9th win. So, that answered that question. And, then I got curious and had to look back through the last few years and see how we got to this point...

1. February 14, 2004: Texas 6, Rice 3 (Minute Maid College Classic)
2. March 2, 2004: Texas 8, Rice 7 (Austin)
3. March 9, 2004: Texas 5, Rice 0 (at Rice)
4. April 13, 2004: Texas 3, Rice 2 (Austin)
5. March 9, 2005: Texas 7, Rice 0 (Austin)
6. April 20, 2005: Texas 7, Rice 6 (at Rice)
7. February 11, 2006: Texas 5, Rice 4 (Astros College Classic)
8. March 7, 2006: Texas 9, Rice 5 (at Rice)
9. March 22, 2006: Texas 3, Rice 2 (Austin)
10. March 27, 2007: Texas 6, Rice 4 (Austin)

The last time Rice beat Texas was in the College World series in 2003 when they knocked Texas out of the CWS. Rice won all three meetings that year and went on to win the CWS. Also of note, Texas won all three meetings in 2002 when the Horns won the CWS. Heh.

Anyway, I missed the beginning of the game and arrived at Disch-Falk during the 2nd or 3rd inning. Since I got there late, I didn't keep score. I did take my camera along. So, you get a photo entry today.

This was what I saw when I walked up (Texas was batting):

As I made my way in, Austin Wood was back on the mound for the Horns so I took a few shots of him. This one was taken while he was throwing his warm-up pitches (in the 3rd, maybe):

Notice the ball behind him? Chance Wheeless had just tossed it to Josh Prince or Bradley Suttle. But in the photo it almost looks as though Austin let go of it (in the wrong direction) on his follow-through. Almost. Heh.

And, here's a series of three taken during one pitch:

Since the sun was getting low, I had to use a slower shutter speed than I'd generally like to use. So, that left the situation open for lots of blur. I really like his throwing hand and the ball in that second shot.

For some reason, many of my "action" shots this evening involved Travis Tucker. Here he is diving for 3b as he advanced on a wild pitch in the 3rd:

Kyle Russell hit his 16th (!) home run of the year. Here he is rounding 3b and shaking Coach Harmon's hand:

Travis Tucker rounds 3b and goes on to score the tying run (the 2nd run at this point):

Coach Garrido talks the situation over with Kyle Russell and Bradley Suttle during a Rice pitching change in the 5th:

Travis Tucker slides safely into 3b in the 6th (Nick Peoples scored on the same play):

See what I mean about Travis being in all my action shots today?

A shot of the scoreboard at the end of the game:

The Eyes of Texas are Upon You...

Hook 'em!

Posted by Joanna at 10:37 PM