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Saturday - March 22, 2008

Game 22: Texas at Texas Tech

Texas came into the game today really needing a win as they look forward to facing Nebraska next weekend. They jumped on the Red Raider starter for 4 runs (on two 2-run homers) in the 1st (one by Brandon Belt and one by Preston Clark). Astoundingly, those 4 runs held up with the Horns going on to win 4-3. The Horns followed that 1st inning with five 3-batter innings (one double play in there). They got runners to 3b in the final three innings and failed to score any of them. Ack! It was very nerve-wracking. I'm just glad it's over. Riley Boening got his 1st win of the year and Brandon Workman got his first save of the year. Of particular note: Roger Kieschnick failed to get a hit in the series.

Here's how things played out (as heard on the radio with Craig Way and Keith Moreland on the air):

• 1st inning
• Texas: Chad Bettis on the mound for Tech. Texas batted around to start the game off on a good note. Michael Torres (2b) grounded out to ss. Travis Tucker (3b) was hit by a pitch and was then caught stealing with Jordan Danks (cf) at the plate. Jordan ended up walking. Brandon Belt (1b) homered over the rf fence. Russell Moldenhauer (lf) singled through the right side. Preston Clark (rf) hit the first pitch he saw on a line over the lf fence. Tant Shepherd (dh) and Cameron Rupp (c) walked on 8 consecutive pitches. David Hernandez grounded out to 3b for the 3rd out.
• Tech: Riley Boening on the mound for Texas. Hall (ss) grounded out to ss. Kenworthy (3b) singled to lf. Seefeld (1b) singled up the middle (12-pitch at bat!) moving Kenworthy to 2b. Kieschnick (rf) ground into a 4-6-3 double play. Yes!
• Texas up 4-0.
• 2nd inning
• Texas: Michael Torres struck out looking (full-count). Travis Tucker grounded out to 2b. Jordan Danks grounded out to the pitcher.
• Tech: Thennis (lf) singled to cf and moved to 2b on a balk with Kreder at the plate. Kreder (c) hit a high fly to shallow lf. It fell in. The left fielder and shortstop collided, allowing a double. Thennis only advanced to 3b as he had to wait to see if the ball would be caught or not. Ashby (dh) hit a sac fly to cf (Thennis scored, Kreder stayed at 2b). Rindels (cf) flew out to lf. Rueda (2b) singled to rf (rbi) and then advanced to 2b on the throw to the plate (a bit off-line). Hall grounded out to 3b.
• Texas up 4-2.
• 3rd inning
• Texas: Brandon Belt grounded out to 1b. Russell Moldenhauer flew out to lf. Keith commented at this point that the left fielders for both teams were having a tough time picking the ball up off the bat. Preston Clark grounded out to ss. That was a very quick top of the 3rd. Only 5 pitches. Ugh.
• Tech: Kenworthy flew out to cf. Seefeld grounded out to ss. Kieschnick drew a full-count walk and then moved to 2b on a passed ball. Thennis flew out to cf.
• Texas up 4-2.
• 4th inning
• Texas: Tant Shepherd walked. Cameron Rupp reached on a 5-4 fielder's choice. David Hernandez, sadly, hit into a 6-4-3 double play.
• Tech: Kreder grounded out to 3b (1st pitch). Ashby grounded out to p (1st pitch, again). Rindels doubled off the wall in rf and then stole 3b on the first pitch to Rueda. On the throw from c, Travis had to move off the bag to stop the ball and save a run. Whew. Rueda lined out to ss.
• Texas up 4-2.
• 5th inning
• Texas: Michael Torres grounded out to 1b (1st pitch). Travis Tucker lined out to the pitcher. Jordan Danks grounded out to 2b. 6-pitch inning. Wow.
• Tech: Hall grounded out to the pitcher. Kenworthy singled to cf. Seefeld singled to rf moving Kenworthy to 2b. Kieshnick grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. The 5th played out exactly like the 1st for Tech (out, single, single, double play). Wow.
• Texas up 4-2.
• 6th inning
• Texas: Brandon Belt grounded out to the pitcher. Russell Moldenhauer flew out to rf. Preston Clark popped out to ss behind 3b. 5th inning in a row that Texas sent the minimum 3 to the plate. Tech has not had any 3-batter innings. Grrrr...
• Tech: Thennis flew out to cf (full count). Kreder grounded out to ss (full count). Ashby flew out to cf (1st pitch). Yeah! 3 up, 3 down!
• Texas up 4-2.
• 7th inning
• Texas: Tant Shepherd grounded out to the pitcher. Cameron Rupp singled up the middle. First hit for a Texas batter since the 1st inning! David Hernandez struck out swinging. Michael Torres singled to rf. Cameron Rupp moved to 2b. Note that he (Cameron) was thrown out by Kieschnick at 3b on a similar play on Thursday night. Nice to know he learned his lesson. Cameron and Michael advanced to 3b and 2b on a wild pitch to Travis Tucker. Travis went on to walk (4 pitches) to load the bases. Which prompted a pitching change: Leverton to the mound, replacing Bettis. Very sadly, Jordan Danks went down swinging.
• Tech: Rindels was hit by a pitch. Rueda flew out to lf (foul). Texas sent Cole Green (surprising after his long outing last night) to the mound. Riley's final numbers: 6.1 innings, 27 batters faced, 2 runs (both earned), 8 hits (2 doubles), 1 walk, 1 hit batter, and 1 balk. Hall flew out to rf. Rindels stole 2b with Kenworthy at the plate. Kenworthy flew out to cf. Craig Way thought it was going to be trouble but Jordan Danks made a great play to catch the ball. Whew.
• Texas up 4-2.
• 8th inning
• Texas: Brandon Belt popped out to ss. Kevin Keyes tripled to the lf/cf gap. Tech sent Brolsma to the mound. Preston Clark popped out to 2b. Damn. Tant Shepherd grounded out to the pitcher.
• Tech: Kevin Keyes stayed in at lf for the Horns. Seefeld flew out to rf. Kieschnick struck out swinging. 0-for-the series. Yes. Thennis reached on a full-count walk. Kreder was hit by a pitch, moving Thennis to 2b. Ashby doubled to lf (rbi). Kevin Keyes did a nice job cutting the ball off and keeping the runner from 1b from scoring. Keith Shinaberry went to the mound for Cole Green. Cole's final numbers: 1.1 innings, 7 batters faced, 1 run (earned), 1 hit (double), 1 strikeout, 1 walk, and 1 hit batter. Rindels flew out to rf to end the inning. Nice play by Preston Clark in rf. Whew.
• Texas up 4-3.
• 9th inning
• Texas: Cameron Rupp doubled off the wall in the rf/cf gap. David Hernandez (after a brief meeting with Coach Garrido) hit a sac bunt down the 1b line (1-4) to move Cameron to 3b. The Raiders sent Kilcrease to the mound. Michael Torres fell behind 0-2 but worked the count full and then went down on a called strike. Tech sent Lorenzo Douglas to the mound. He hit Travis Tucker to put runners at the corners. Jordan Danks went down swinging.
• Tech: Rueda drew a full-count walk. The Horns sent Brandon Workman to the mound. Keith Shinaberry's final numbers: .1 inning pitched, 2 batters faced, no runs, and 1 walk. Hall hit a sac bunt down the 1b line to move Rueda to 2b. Kenworthy struck out looking. Yes! Seefeld grounded out to ss to end the game. What a relief!
• Texas wins 4-3.

Posted by Joanna at 3:14 PM