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Wednesday - February 27, 2008

Game 5: UT-Pan American at Texas

I was busy and didn't get to tune into the game until about 3 o'clock. The game was in the top of the 2nd and scoreless. UT-Pan American stranded a runner at 2b and then the Horns got down to business in the bottom of the inning (after apparently going down in order in the 1st). Preston Clark was hit by a pitch to get aboard (with one out). Brandon Belt hit a ground-rule double to put runners at 2b and 3b. Russell Moldenhauer singled to score Preston and put runners at the corners. Cameron Rupp then singled to get his first rbi as a Longhorn. Alas, David Hernandez grounded into a double play to end the 2nd inning.

The Horns had Russell Moldenhauer in lf today, Cameron Rupp at c, and Preston Clark at dh. A bit of a different line-up. Chance Ruffin started on the mound.

Casey Whitmer (sophomore transfer from Florida State) got his first work of the year in on the mound. He started the 4th for the Horns and tossed a 1-2-3 inning. Nice. Chance Ruffin, by the way, threw 3 shut-out innings. He faced 12 batters and gave up 3 hits with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Not much of interest seemed to happen (I missed quite a few details by being away from my desk) until the bottom of 6th. Kyle Russell opened things up by reaching on a 4-pitch walk (the Broncs changed pitchers at the start of the inning). Preston Clark struck out swinging. Brandon Belt then hit a ground-rule double to put runners at 2b and 3b. Russell Moldenhauer then hit a stand-up triple off the lf wall to drive in 2. Which caused another pitching change. Cameron Rupp then grounded out to 3b. The ball was hit hard enough that Russell had no opportunity to score on the play. David Hernandez then singled up the middle to plate Russell. Travis Tucker then singled through the right side to put runners at the corners. Which prompted yet another pitching change. Michael Torres walked to load the bases. Which brought Kyle Russell to the plate as the 9th batter of the inning. Oddly, David Hernandez tried to steal home and was thrown out at the plate. Keith gave props to the pitcher for staying in his motion and to the catcher for getting out after the pitch to make the tag in time. Texas up 5-0 going into the 7th.

I left my office as soon as the 6th ended and was out for quite some time. When I got back, the talking heads had taken over the broadcast. But, the Live Stats page was frozen at the end of the 7th. Weird. So, I called my folks to see what was up. Apparently, the Broncs had to get away by a certain time (which was why, no doubt, the game time was moved back to it's original 2:30 start time) and the teams had agreed before the start of the game not to start any inning later than some pre-determined time. So, the game ended after the Horns batted in the 7th. Texas won 5-0.

It would appear, looking at the Live Stats boxscore, that the Horns had some terrific bullpen pitching today. Casey Whitmer went 3 innings and set all 9 batters he faced down in order. Marcus Tackett went in for the 7th and also went 3-up/3-down. Very nice. On the offensive side of things, Brandon Belt, Russell Moldenhauer, and David Hernandez all went 2-for-3.

The Longhorns now head to the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park this weekend. I hope they continue their winning ways. Hook 'em!

Posted by Joanna at 6:18 PM