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Sunday - May 18, 2008

Game 53: Texas at Texas A&M

Today's game was broadcast on FSN Southwest and this game report is based on that broadcast. The airing was a bit unusual. FSN used the in-stadium video feed and the Aggie radio announcers. I ended up watching the FSN video while listening to Craig Way and Keith Moreland on the radio. The radio broadcast was about 1/2-second ahead of the video but despite their little idiosyncrasies, I had to go with what's comfortable. Nothing against the Aggie radio guys, by the way. They seemed fine. Just not what I'm used to hearing.

The line-ups:

	Texas	Texas A&M
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 -	Michael Torres, dh Travis Tucker, 2b Jordan Danks, cf Kyle Russell, rf Brandon Belt, 1b Russell Moldenhauer, lf Preston Clark, 3b Cameron Rupp, c David Hernandez, ss Kenn Kasparek, p	Kyle Colligan, cf Blake Stouffer, 2b Dane Carter, 3b Jose Duran, ss Luke Anders, dh Darby Brown, 1b Brian Ruggiano, rf Daman Aaron, lf Kevin Gonzalez, c Clayton Ehlert, p

Here's how things played out...

• 1st inning - UT
• Clayton Ehlert on the mound for the Aggies.
• Michael Torres grounded out to the pitcher.
• Travis Tucker lined out to the pitcher.
• Jordan Danks popped out to 2b (in shallow rf).
• 1st inning - A&M
• Kenn Kasparek on the mound for the Horns.
• Colligan popped out to 2b (in foul territory).
• Stouffer lined out to 2b. Hmmm...first two outs in the top to the pitcher, first two outs in the bottom to 2b.
• Carter walked.
• After the second ball thrown to Duran, Skip Johnson made a visit to the mound.
• Duran worked the count full and then struck out swinging.
• 2nd inning - UT
• Kyle Russell struck out swinging. The catcher dropped the ball so had to throw down to 1b to complete the out.
• Brandon Belt struck out.
• Russell Moldenhauer fell behind 0-2, worked the count full, and then singled to cf. The ball glanced off the pitcher's glove on its way out.
• Preston Clark struck out swinging.
• 2nd inning - A&M
• Anders was hit by a pitch (full count).
• Brown hit into a 4-3 double play. Travis Tucker fielded the ball that just skipped under Kenn Kasparek's glove, stepped on 2b for the first out, and threw to 1b to get the batter out.
• Ruggiano struck out looking.
• 3rd inning - UT
• Cameron Rupp grounded out to ss.
• David Hernandez flew out to rf.
• Michael Torres grounded out to 3b.
• 3rd inning - A&M
• Aaron got ahead 3-0 but struck out swinging.
• Gonzalez walked on 4 pitches. Tsk tsk tsk.
• Colligan doubled to the lf/cf gap, scoring Gonzalez (who was off with the pitch on a hit and run).
• Stouffer singled through the right side, scoring Colligan.
• Skip Johnson made a second visit to the mound.
• With Carter at the plate, Stouffer was caught stealing (2-6).
• Carter struck out swinging on the next pitch.
• Texas down 0-2.
• 4th inning - UT
• Travis Tucker doubled down the lf line (first pitch).
• Jordan Danks hit a bloop double down the lf line. Travis had to hold up to see if the left fielder would catch the ball so only advanced to 3b.
• Kyle Russell hit a sac fly to lf, scoring Travis. Jordan tagged and moved up to 3b.
• Brandon Belt hit a sac fly to lf, scoring Jordan.
• Russell Moldenhauer singled to cf.
• Russell was thrown out on a delayed steal (2-4) with Preston Clark at the plate.
• Game tied 2-2.
• 4th inning - A&M
• Duran singled up the middle (first pitch).
• Anders hit into a 4-3 double play. Travis Tucker tagged Duran and threw to 1b to get the batter. Keith could not believe that Duran did not stop and give Anders time to reach 1b safely. I couldn't believe it either. If it was possible to charge offensive errors, Duran would surely have gotten one on that play.
• Brown flew out to cf.
• Game tied 2-2.
• 5th inning - UT
• Raley went into the game in lf for the Aggies (replacing Ruggiano in the line-up). Aaron moved to rf.
• Preston Clark grounded out to ss.
• Cameron Rupp singled to shallow cf.
• David Hernandez walked, moving Cameron to 2b.
• Coach Childress made a visit to the mound.
• Michael Torres grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
• Game tied 2-2.
• 5th inning - A&M
• Raley grounded out to ss.
• Aaron struck out swinging.
• Gonzalez flew out to rf.
• Game tied 2-2.
• 6th inning - UT
• Travis Tucker grounded out to 2b (first pitch).
• Jordan Danks struck out swinging.
• Kyle Russell hit a homerun over the cf wall!
• Brandon Belt fouled off a few pitches and then struck out looking.
• Texas up 3-2.
• 6th inning - A&M
• Colligan homered over the rf fence.
• Stouffer flew out to cf.
• Carter struck out swinging.
• Duran hit a double to the wall in cf.
• Anders flew out to cf.
• Game tied 3-3.
• 7th inning - UT
• The Aggies sent Thebeau to the mound, replacing Ehlert.
• Russell Moldenhauer grounded out to 2b.
• Preston Clark struck out swinging (full count).
• Cameron Rupp was called out on strikes.
• Game tied 3-3.
• 7th inning - A&M
• Brown flew out to lf (right at the wall).
• Texas sent Cole Green to the mound, replacing Kenn Kasparek. Kenn faced 24 and gave up 3 earned runs on 5 hits (including 2 doubles and a homer) with 6 strikeouts, 2 walks, and a hit batter.
• Raley grounded out 1-3 on a bunt attempt.
• Greene (pinch hitting for Aaron) hit a bloop single into cf.
• With Gonzalez at the plate, Greene advanced to 2b on a wild pitch.
• Gonzalez walked on 4 pitches.
• Skip Johnson made a visit to the mound and left Cole in the game.
• Colligan tried to check his swing but went around to strike out and end the inning. Whew.
• Game tied 3-3.
• 8th inning - UT
• Greene stayed in the game in r for the Aggies.
• David Hernandez popped out to 2b.
• Michael Torres hit a triple off the rf wall. He was about to stop at 2b when he saw the center fielder (backing up the right fielder who ran into the wall) bobble the ball. Travis made it to 3b easily.
  UPDATE. At the time, it struck me that it was probably a double and an error but they ruled it a triple. I just noticed as I was about the close the GameTracker window that they had an error listed for the Aggies. So, I went back and checked. Sure enough, they changed the ruling to a double with an error so the run he scored went unearned.
• Travis Tucker hit a sac fly to lf, scoring Michael.
• Jordan Danks tried to check his swing, but like Colligan the inning before, he was called out on strikes.
• Texas up 4-3.
• 8th inning - A&M
• Stouffer grounded out to 2b.
• Carter grounded out to the pitcher.
• Duran walked (full count).
• Anders grounded out to 2b. On the play, Travis Tucker could not field the ball cleanly, but he kept it on the ground in front of him and recovered with plenty of time to get the out at 1b.
• Texas up 4-3.
• 9th inning - UT
• The Aggies sent Starling to the mound, replacing Thebeau.
• Kyle Russell walked (full count).
• Quote from Keith Moreland when Brandon Belt did not get the bunt down on the first pitch: "You gotta put your nose in it and get it down right here."
• Brandon Belt reached on a 5-6 fielder's choice. He bunted the ball too hard down the 3b line.
• Russell Moldenhauer hit his first homerun of the year!!!!!!!!! Fantastic. Keith had just said it would be a good time for him to hit his first homerun of the year. I'd said the same thing to myself during his previous at-bat. Excellent timing, Mr. Moldenhauer. All season long, when I'd see zero homeruns on the board when he was up to bat I'd just shake my head in wonder. It made no sense that he didn't have any. And, now he's got one. Let's see how many more he can hit as the season continues.
• Preston Clark grounded out to 3b.
• Cameron Rupp popped out to 2b in shallow rf.
• Texas up 6-3.
• 9th inning - A&M
• Brown popped out to 3b (foul). Preston dove and snagged the ball over his head. Yes! Great play.
• Raley singled into cf. The ball rebounded off the heal of Cole Green's glove.
• Greene hit a bloop single into shallow cf, moving Raley to 2b.
• Gonzalez flew out to cf. Raley tagged and moved to 3b on the play. Runners at the corners, 2 out.
• Colligan struck out looking!

Texas wins 6-3!! And, sweeps the Aggies. Oh, my. Who woulda thunk it a month ago? Fantastic. How much fun was that? Whew.

The box...from GameTracker:

And, now the Horns move on to the Big 12 tournament. And, we all wait to see if the Horns do well there. And, how these late season heroics affect the folks who will decide post-season Regional sites. You know...the renovated stadium will play into the decision as well. I'm sure there are some folks in the NCAA who want to reward schools for facilities improvements. Hmmmm...

Hook 'em!!!

Posted by Joanna at 3:59 PM