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Saturday - May 24, 2008
Game 56: Oklahoma at Texas (Big 12 Tournament)
Texas jumped out to a nice early lead and seemed to be coasting along with Kenn Kasparek on the mound. Kenn got into trouble in the 7th, though. The Horns ended up giving up 6 runs in said 7th, allowing the Sooners to go ahead by 1. The Horns tied things back up in the bottom of the 7th. Whew. The Horns then scraped another run across in the bottom of the 8th to go ahead 8-7. 'Thought that would be the game. But, no.
The top of the 9th went, distressingly, like so:
- Texas did that pitching switcharoo thing to start the inning: Pat McCrory went in at 3b, Preston Clark moved to 1b, and Brandon Belt went to the mound.
- Casey Johnson doubled to rf.
- Buser, pinch-hitting for Freeman, reached on a bunt down the 3b line. Runners at the corners, no outs.
- Baker reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Johnson. On the play, as best I could understand the radio guys, Travis Tucker fielded and tossed to David Hernandez covering 2b. David, as he was catching and trying to transfer the ball to his throwing hand (double play opportunity) dropped the ball. The ump near 2b ruled the runner from 1b safe at 2b. So: E6. Tying run in with runners at 1b and 2b, no outs.
- Mysteriously, Texas brought Stayton Thomas in to pitch. Pat McCrory left the game without making an appearance on the mound. Brandon Belt went back to 1b and Preston back to 3b.
- Bryant Hernandez bunted toward 3b. Stayton made a nice play to get the lead runner at 3b. Runners still at 1b and 2b, now with 1 out.
- Harughty reached on a 3-6 fielder's choice. The Horns almost turned a 3-6-1 double play but were just a bit late with the throw from 2b to 1b. Runners at the corners with 2 out.
- Harughty stole 2b with Jamie Johnson the plate
- Jamie Johnson walked to load the bases.
- Davis was hit by a 3-0 pitch to drive in Baker and keep the bases loaded with 2 out.
- Texas sent Kyle Walker to the mound for Stayton Thomas.
- Gosse then walked on 4 pitches, scoring Harughty.
- The Horns then sent Keith Shinaberry to the mound.
- Wise went down swinging after fouling off 217 pitches. Or so it seemed. His at-bat actually went: ball, swing, foul ball, ball, 6 foul balls, ball, foul ball, swing. 13 pitches. Can you believe it? Wow. Texas down 8-10.
I freely admit that my hopes were rather low at this point. Going into the 9th, all the Horns had to do was hold 'em. Ack!
And, then the bottom of the 9th:
- McCarter went to the mound for the Sooners.
- Jordan Danks promptly walked.
- Kyle Russell followed suit! Moving Jordan to 2b.
- So, the Sooners sent Anderson to the mound.
- Runners at 1b and 2b, no out.
- Russell Moldenhauer tried to bunt the runners forward but popped a ball up on the 3b side for an out. Damn.
- Brandon Belt then singled through the right side, scoring Jordan and moving Kyle to 3b!
- Texas down by 1. Runners at the corners, one out.
- With Preston Clark at the plate, Jordan scored and Brandon moved to 2b on a wild pitch!
- Game tied, one out, runner at 2b.
- Preston then went down looking. Craig could not stress how much he agreed with Preston that the ball was a very low pitch that the umpire had been calling a ball all day long.
- Game tied, two out, runner at 2b.
- David Hernandez then singled an 0-2 pitch into left center, scoring Brandon!
Horns win!!! Final score 11-10. Oh. My. What fun. Keith Shinaberry, by the way, got the win. Heh.
Now, we just had to wait and see if the Aggies could do good by us and beat Missouri. And, guess what? They did it. Now we wait on the results of Pool 2 to see who the Horns will be playing in the Championship game. Hook 'em!!!
Posted by Joanna at 8:23 PM