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Friday - May 16, 2008

Game 50: Alabama A&M at Texas

The Horns won the second game of the Alabama A&M double header 14-3:

Both games of the double-header went 7 innings. There were, as usual, no announcements about the 7-inning thing to those of us in the stands. My dad listened to the radio broadcast, though, and said the radio guys reported that the teams agreed ahead of time to play a 9-inning first game (with a 10-run mercy rule) and a 7-inning second game. I don't know why that sort of thing isn't ever announced to the crowd. But, it never is.

At any rate, the second game started 30 minutes after the first one ended. And, the Horns were a bit flat as things started. They fell behind 0-3 and them seemed to snap out of it. Or something like that.

Riley Boening got the start (and as in the first game) he was the designated starter so was eligible for the win despite going only 4 innings. He did get the win. He went 4 innings and gave up 3 runs (1 unearned) on 4 hits (including 1 double, the only extra-base hit on the day for the Bulldogs) with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk (to the first batter of the game). Stayton Thomas pitched the fifth and sixth. He faced 7 and did not give up any runs. He did give up a hit and a walk. He hit 2 batters (!) and struck out 1. The defense also turned a couple of double plays behind him to help him out. Hunter Harris threw a 1-2-3 seventh. He struck out two and got the third to ground out to ss to end the game.

Like I said, the Horns looked a bit flat at the start of the game. The top of the first played out like so:

• Scott walked (full count).
• Brown put down a sac bunt in front of the mound and reached on an error by 3b. Preston Clark and Riley Boening both went after the ball and nearly collided. Riley pulled up but Preston was unable to field the ball cleanly. Runners safe at 1b and 2b.
• Washington singled through the right side of the infield. Bases loaded.
• Skip Johnson made a quick trip to the mound.
• Childress singled to rf. Scott scored and Brown tried to follow suit. He was thrown out (9-6-2) at the plate. Woo hoo! Runners at 1b and 2b with a run in and 1 out.
• Spencer reached on an error by 3b. Another one? What? The ball was a sharp grounder hit right at Preston. It hit the dirt and skipped through his legs rather than bounce into his glove. Bases loaded again. At this point, we started to wonder if Preston wasn't still feeling the effects of getting hit on the noggin in the first game.
• Evans reached on a 4-6 fielder's choice. Washington scored on the play. Runners at the corners with 2 outs.
• Terry grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice for the 3rd out.

After giving up a third run (on a single, fielder's choice, and double) in the 2nd, Riley Boening took care of business (3-up/3-down) in the 3rd and 4th.

On the offensive side of things, the Horns went to town after failing to score in the first. They hit 5 homeruns (3 in the 5th). Preston Clark led the offensive extravaganza, going 4-for-4 in 4 plate appearances with 2 homeruns, 3 runs batted in, and 3 runs scored. Purty. The other homeruns were hit by David Hernandez (who also hit one in the first game), Jordan Danks, and Kevin Keyes.

Some photos...

Riley Boening on the mound:

High socks! 'Love the high socks!

Preston Clark hit a homerun in the 2nd to score the first run of the game for the Horns. Here he is getting some props from his teammates:

David Hernandez and his shadow trot toward 3b after he hit a 2-run homerun in the 3rd:

Russell Moldenhauer doubled to lead off the 4th (and went on to score):

Stayton Thomas took the mound in the 5th:

Jordan Danks hit a 2-run homerun in the 5th. Here he is rounding 2b:

Kevin Keyes hit a pinch-hit homerun in the 5th. Here he is approaching 3b during his homerun trot:

Preston Clark gets props from Kevin Keyes after hitting his 2nd homerun of the game in the 5th:

Hunter Harris on the mound:

Hook 'em!

Posted by Joanna at 7:57 AM