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Tuesday - April 24, 2007

Game 46: UT-Pan American at Texas

Texas won a short one this evening. They beat the Broncs from UT-Pan American by the score of 11-1 in 7 innings. I don't believe it was announced that the the mercy rule was in effect but as soon as Texas scored that 11th run in the bottom of the 7th, the teams quit playing. The Broncs have had a bit of bad luck this year. They've given up 18 (or more) runs in 5 games this year. They gave up 21 runs this past Saturday and 31 runs on Sunday to Dallas Baptist. So, I guess it's not too surprising that the coaches decided to go with the mercy rule in this evening's non-conference game. And, frankly, for the first few innings, it didn't look like the Horns would be able to cover those 10 runs. But, in the end, they did.

[UPDATE. According to the article in the Statesman about the game, it was stopped early because UT-PanAm hoped to hit the road early enough to avoid some of the bad weather headed into the area.]

Austin Wood got the nod and pitched the first 6 innings. He gave up one run on 4 hits (including a solo home run...the first of the year for Austin Bowie graduate Nick Spears) with 5 strikeouts and no walks. That solo home run was hit in the top of the 4th. Josh Prince pitched the 7th. He gave up a lead-off double and followed that up with a strikeout, a ground out to 1b, and another strikeout. Nice outings by both pitchers.

The excitement of the evening, however, was provided by Kyle Russell. He started the game for the third game in a row with a 2-run home run. Three games. Three 1st-inning 2-run home runs. How cool is that? But, wait. That's not the coolest thing. Nope. He followed up the homer with a triple in the 5th. When he hit that triple, I laughed and thought to myself that he just might hit for the cycle. 'Cause he'd already taken care of the hardest part...the triple. But, I didn't say anything 'cause you just don't see people hitting for the cycle. You see them get close. And, then they fail to get that triple...'cause, usually, it's the triple that's missing when someone comes close. So, I didn't say anything. But, when he hit a double in the 6th, I realized that he had a very good chance of coming up to bat again and that the cycle was within reach. And, I said it out loud. Yikes! I could've jinxed him...I know not what I was thinking! So. what happened? With the potential 11th run of the game (the run that would put the Horns up by 10) standing on 2b in the 7th, he singled to cf. Ha! He hit for the cycle. It's a goofy accomplishment. It doesn't really mean anything. But, it's cool. Very few players hit for the cycle. But, Kyle did it tonight. Way to go!

So...the rest of the scoring. In the first, there was that two-run home run. Then, the Horns were held in check until the 5th. They were up by only 1 run as they got up to bat in the 5th. Chance led things off with a single up the middle. Kyle followed that with the aforementioned triple. Bradley Suttle popped up to ss. Mom astutely pointed out that Bradley's falling steadily behind Kyle in the rbi department and that he doesn't stand a chance if Kyle keeps clearing the bases before he even gets to bat. Up until last weekend, they were going neck-and-neck...one taking the lead only to lose it later in the game, and then taking it back in the next game. Alas, Bradley was hitless this evening, so he didn't help his own cause a whole lot. But, I digress. With Kyle at 3b, Russell Moldenhauer lined out to lf (sac fly, rbi). So, 2 outs, bases empty. Nick Peoples reached on a 4-pitch walk. Brett Lewis was hit by the next pitch (one of those pitches that just grazed his jersey, or so it seemed from way up high in my seat) to put runners at 1b and 2b. Travis Tucker then singled to rf. Nick scored on the play and Brett made it to 3b. Michael Demperio then put a beautiful bunt down toward the third baseman. The ball died when it was about even with the line from 3b to 1b, though, and the third baseman didn't have a shot at a play. Brett scored and Travis moved to 2b. Alas, Jordan Danks struck out looking to end the inning. Texas up 6-1.

In the 6th, Chance walked to start things off. Kyle hit a double to the rf corner. Chance motored around the bases like a madman and scored from 1b. Bradley popped out on a soft little looper to 2b for the 1st out of the inning. Russell Moldenhauer singled toward cf scoring Kyle. On the play, the 2nd baseman, crossing toward lf behind the bag, booted the ball into shallow lf. The ss was crossing paths with the second baseman and turned around to watch the play...completely forgetting to cover 2b. Russell saw the confusion and dug hard for 2b. The first baseman tried valiantly to get to 2b and cover for the throw from the second baseman (who'd chased down his booted ball) but he was late and Russell slid into 2b safely. Great heads-up play by Russell! During Nick's at bat, Russell advanced to 3b on a wild pitch. Nick then grounded out to 2b, scoring Russell. Brett ended the 6th by lining out to cf. Texas up 9-1.

In the 7th, Travis was hit by the first pitch he saw (again, it looked like the ball just whiffed past his jersey). Michael lined out to cf. Jordan singled to lf, putting runners at 1b and 2b. Chance singled to rf, scoring Travis and moving Jordan to 2b. Kyle then went to the plate and hit the game-ending single to cap off his "hit for the cycle" thing. Horns win 11-1. Yes! And, hook 'em! Fun was had by all. Or, at least, by the Horns and those of us in the stands rooting them on.

And, speaking of those of us in the stands. The attendance was very entertainingly reported to be 4,314. That's paid attendance. The actual attendance was probably a good 3,000 shy of that mark. Heh. I think people were worried about the nasty weather report. We were apparently under some sort of tornado watch. Or, perhaps it was a warning. I heard someone say it was a warning but I can't imagine it was more than a watch. But maybe it was. I dunno. I do know that there weren't a lot of people in the stands. But, the bad weather stayed away for the duration. It did mist a bit. But, no rain. No thunder. For sure, no tornados. The temps were in the low 70s. And, there was a nice breeze. It was a beautiful evening for baseball.

Posted by Joanna at 9:38 PM