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Sunday - March 22, 2009

Game 20: Texas at Kansas

Once again, I listened to the game on the radio...Keith Moreland and Bill Little making the call. They estimated the crowd at 50. Yes, Kansas is playing basketball today at 1:30. Heh.

The starting line-ups:

Texas	Kansas
1 Travis Tucker, 2b 2 Michael Torres, 3b 3 Brandon Belt, 1b 4 Russell Moldenhauer, lf 5 Kevin Keyes, rf 6 Cameron Rupp, dh 7 Preston Clark, c 8 Brandon Loy, ss 9 Connor Rowe, cf - Cole Green, p	1 David Narodowski, ss 2 Brian Heere, rf 3 Robby Price, 2b 4 Buck Afenir, c 5 Tony Thompson, 3b 6 Jimmy Waters, dh 7 Preston Land, 1b 8 Nick Faunce, lf 9 Jason Brunansky, cf - Lee Ridenhour, p

Texas played with the line-up again...moving Russell Moldenhauer into lf (taking Tant Shepherd's spot) and using Cameron Rupp as dh. Kansas again stayed with the same line-up; the one that's worked so well for them in the first two games of the series.

And, here's how the game went:

• 1st inning, Texas: Lee Ridenhour on the mound for Kansas. Tucker grounded out to 2b. Torres singled to rf. Belt reached on a 3-6 fielder's choice. The throw almost pulled the ss off the bag. Moldenhauer grounded out to 2b.
• 1st inning, Kansas: Cole Green on the mound for Texas. Narodowski grounded out to 2b. Heere grounded out to the pitcher. Price reached on a bunt single down the 3b line. Afenir struck out swinging.
• 2nd inning, Texas: Keyes grounded out to 2b. Rupp grounded out to 1b (unassisted). Clark popped out to ss.
• 2nd inning, Kansas: Thompson struck out swinging. Waters was hit by a pitch ("square in the back" according to Keith). Land flew out to lf. Faunce hit into a 6-4 fielder's choice to end the inning.
• 3rd inning, Texas: Loy singled into rf and then got caught up (and tagged out) in a rundown (Keith reported 9-3-6-4; GameTracker reported 9-3-6). Loy took a big turn around 1b and the throw went back to 1b behind him. Keith commented that Heere did a great job of acting like he was going to throw to 2b and then gunning the ball to 1b. Rowe grounded out to 3b (first pitch). Tucker flew out to cf.
• 3rd inning, Kansas: Brunansky grounded out to ss. Nice hustle by Loy to scoop and throw. Narodowski (boy, Keith can NOT say that name!) singled to lf. Heere singled to lf, moving Narodowski to 2b. These back-to-back hits come just a few minutes after Bill Little commented that the 3rd inning has been the death knell (my words...not his; but that was his point) for the Horns in their losses to Kansas and Missouri. Thanks, Bill! Price flew out to rf. Afenir watched 3 balls and then a strike before fouling one off to see the count go full before he struck out swinging. Whew. By the way, I feel compelled to comment on the fact that the yahoos at the ball park in Kansas are running all the same stupid sound effects that they play at Disch-Falk. It's bad enough when there's a big crowd. But, doing all that nonsense when there are 50 people in the stands? Puh-lease. By the way: 'glad the Bill Little curse didn't work.
• 4th inning, Texas: Torres struck out looking (4 pitches). Belt singled up the middle. Moldenhauer singled through the right side, moving Belt to 3b. Yes! Keyes popped out to 2b in foul territory on the right side. Rupp struck out swinging. Sigh.
• 4th inning, Kansas: Thompson was hit by a 2-2 pitch. Waters singled (first pitch) up the middle, moving Thompson to 2b. Which prompted a visit to the mound by Skip Johnson. Land reached on a bunt single down the 3b line. Perfectly hit ball. Bases loaded, no outs. Television coverage, by the way, switched a few minutes ago from the Kansas game to the Okie State game. 'Wonder what the rationale behind that is? The OSU game does seem to be a more competitive game but...?? Big 12 South in favor of Big 12 North? Anyway, Faunce singled over the 2nd baseman, scoring one and keeping the bases loaded. With Brunansky at the plate, Clark almost threw Waters out at 3b (on the 3-0 pitch). Brunansky went on to walk in a run. Bases still loaded, no outs, 2 runs in. Narodowski hit an infield single (high chopper to the pitcher) to score another run. Green fielded and tried to threw the runner out at home but couldn't get the ball there in time. Bases still loaded, no outs, 3 runs in. Texas sent Keith Shinaberry to the mound, replacing Green. It's all a mental thing, right? C'mon, Horns! Heere lined into a double play. He lined to Belt at 1b who then stepped on the bag to double off Narodowski. Yes! Price grounded out to ss. Good job, Shinaberry! Texas, sadly, down 0-3.
• 5th inning, Texas: Clark reached on an error by ss who could not handle the ground ball. First error of the series for Kansas. Loy singled into lf (2nd hit of the day for Loy), moving Clark to 2b. Rowe failed to get the bunt down and then struck out swinging. Tucker grounded out to 1b (unassisted), moving the runners to 2b and 3b. With Torres at the plate, Clark scored (unearned) on a wild pitch. Afenir tried to block the ball but it bounced away from him. Loy moved to 3b on the play. Torres then grounded out to 1b (unassisted), ending the rally. Texas down 1-3.
• 5th inning, Kansas: Austin Dicharry went to the mound for the Horns, replacing Shinaberry. Afenir grounded out to the pitcher. Thompson flew out to cf. Waters grounded out to 3b. Nice play by Torres. Texas down 1-3.
• 6th inning, Texas: Belt tripled down the rf line. The first baseman dove for the ball and just clipped it. The ball went down the line in foul territory and the right fielder had to make a long run to round the ball up. Moldenhauer struck out swinging. Keyes grounded out to ss, scoring Belt. Rupp grounded out to 2b. Texas down 2-3.
• 6th inning, Kansas: Land grounded out to 3b (first pitch). Faunce drew a full-count walk. Brunansky popped out to 2b. Faunce was off with the pitch but got back to 1b easily. Narodowski struck out looking. Texas down 2-3.
• 7th inning, Texas: Clark singled past 2b. Loy reached on a 2-6 fielder's choice. Loy bunted the ball down in front of the plate and Narodowski made a nice play to dig the throw from the catcher in the dirt (passed ball). The first pitch to Rowe got away from the catcher, allowing Loy to move to 2b. Texas sent Tim Maitland to the plate, batting for Rowe with a 1-0 count. Which prompted a visit to the mound for Kansas. Maitland grounded out (1-2 count) to 1b, unassisted. Loy moved to 3b on the play. Tucker singled into rf, scoring Loy! Pitching change: Travis Blankenship (lhp) to the mound for Ridenhour. With a lefty on the mound, Coach Garrido took an offensive timeout to discuss the situation with Torres and Belt (both lefties) due up. Torres grounded out to 2b. Game tied 3-3.
• 7th inning, Kansas: Taylor Jungmann went to the mound for Texas, replacing Dicharry. Maitland stayed in the game in cf. Heere doubled to rf. Keyes dove and almost caught the ball but the officials ruled he trapped the ball. Kansas called an offensive timeout and talked things over with the baserunner and batter. Price moved Heere to 3b on a sac bunt to 3b. With a runner at 3b and 1 out, the defense moved in. Afenir hit a sac fly to cf, scoring Heere. Thompson flew out to rf. Texas down 3-4.
• 8th inning, Texas: Belt popped out to ss in shallow cf. Tant Shepherd was announced as a pinch-hitter for Moldenhauer. Which prompted a pitching change: Colton Murray went to the mound, replacing Blankenship. Shepherd flew out to rf. Keyes struck out swinging. Texas down 3-4.
• 8th inning, Kansas: Waters grounded out to 1b (3-1, pitcher covering 1b). Land reached on an infield single behind 3b. Faunce flew out to cf. Brunansky grounded out to the pitcher (bunt attempt). Texas down 3-4.
• 9th inning, Texas: Kansas sent closer Paul Smyth to the mound, replacing Murray. Rupp grounded out to ss. And, the television coverage of March Madness switches to the Cleveland State/Arizona game? With two Big 12 games in progress? How bizarre is that? Ah well. Back to baseball. Clark singled to lf. Morgan Mickan went in to pinch-run for Clark. Loy grounded out to the pitcher, moving Mickan to 2b. Coach Garrido took another offensive timeout to talk to Maitland, due up. Maitland struck out looking (1-2 count). Texas loses 3-4 and is swept by the Kansas Jayhawks in three 1-run games. Wow.

Taylor Jungmann took his second loss in the series. Blankenship got his second win (again, like yesterday, after only facing 2 batters), and Smyth got his 3rd save in the series.

Here's the line (from GameTracker):

Sigh. Texas got more hits today but it didn't make enough of a difference. They won their first five 1-run games. And, now they've lost three 1-run games in-a-row. The Horns face Dallas Baptist on Tuesday at Disch-Falk. The Patriots, like the Horns, were swept this weekend. I wonder who'll bounce back on Tuesday? Normally, I wouldn't even really think about it. Hmmm...

It really does seem to be a mental thing. Earlier in the season, this team was not pressing. They were doing what needed to get done. And, now? They're really struggling at the plate. Things are starting to look a bit like last season, in that they started out strong, had a bad middle of the season, and then finished strong. Before coming up very short in the post-season. I hope this team turn things around quickly and doesn't flail about too long.

In the post-game interview, Bill Little and Coach Garrido commented that the Big 12 has parity in baseball now...just like football and basketball...and that nobody is going to dominate as they go through conference play. Interestingly, here's how things played out in conference play this weekend:

• Texas (ranked) lost 3 at Kansas.
• Oklahoma State (ranked) lost 2 at Nebraska.
• Texas A&M (ranked) lost 2 at Missouri (the Aggies barely won the 3rd by breaking a tie with an unearned run in the top of the 9th).
• Texas Tech lost 2 at Baylor (ranked).
• OU (ranked) won 2 at Kansas State (after losing the opener 1-9 and squeaking by 12-11 in the 2nd game).

So, three ranked teams lost series this weekend. And, OU almost made it four. Although, the Sooners really stomped all over Kansas State today (scoring 13 in the 1st inning and 11 in the 5th...and going on to win 29-4 in 7 innings). So, yes...it would appear that there is quite a bit of parity in the Big 12 this year.

Posted by Joanna at 5:11 PM