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Saturday - April 2, 2011

Game 27: Missouri at Texas

Texas jumped out to an early lead in today's game against Missouri and never looked back. The Horns won 5-2. The line:

Note the lack of errors. Isn't that pleasant? I certainly think so! Cohl Walla was still out of the starting line-up and the Horns mixed things up again. To wit, the starting lineups:

Missouri		Texas
Blake Brown (lf) Brannon Champagne (cf) Conner Mach (3b) Jonah Schmidt (rf) Dillon Everett (dh) Eric Garcia (2b) Ben Turner (c) Eric Anderson (1b) Jess Santo (ss)		Mark Payton (rf) Brandon Loy (ss) Erich Weiss (3b) Lucas Kephart (dh) Tant Shepherd (1b) Kevin Lusson (c) Jordan Etier (2b) Jonathan Walsh (lf) Paul Montalbano (cf)

Hoby Milner did get the start for the Horns, despite throwing to the final three batters of the game last night, and he did an admirable job...moving his record to 3-1 on the year. His final numbers (by my count): 6.1 innings, 2 runs (both earned), 24 batters faced, 3 hits (2 singles, 1 double), 2 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 hit batter, and 79 pitches (44 for strikes). With runners at 1b and 2b, 1 out, and no runs actually across yet, Kendal Carrillo (rhp) replaced Milner on the mound. Carrillo gave up a walk to load the bases and a single that scored the two Missouri runs before getting the #9 batter in the lineup to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. Carrillo's final numbers: 1.2 innings, no runs, 7 batters faced, 1 hit (single), 1 strikeout, 2 walks, and 25 pitches (12 for strikes). Corey Knebel threw the 9th to earn his 7th save of the year. His final numbers: 1 inning, no runs, 3 batters faced, 1 strikeout, 9 pitches (7 for strikes). Yes! Matt Stites (rhp) threw a complete game for the Tigers and earned the loss, dropping his record to 1-2.

So, how did Texas score their runs? Like so...

• 1st inning
• Payton lined a single into rf to start the game off right for Texas.
• Loy was trying to bunt Payton over but the Tiger defense was unable to convert the out so Loy reached on a bunt single, moving Payton to 2b.
• Weiss advanced the runners to 2b and 3b on a 5-3 sac bunt down the 3b line.
• Kephart lined a single into lf, scoring both runners! He moved up to 2b on the throw from lf to home.
• Shepherd lined a single into cf, moving Kephart to 3b. Kephart had to wait and see if the center fielder was going to catch the ball before he could advance or he would've scored easily.
• Lusson grounded into a 1-6-4-3 double play. The ball glanced off the pitcher and toward ss. Nice turn by the Tigers.
• Texas up 2-0.
• 3rd inning
• Loy drew a full-count 9-pitch 1-out walk.
• Weiss drew a 4-pitch walk.
• On the first pitch to Kephart, Loy stole 3b while Weiss stole 2b. Double steal! Yeah!
• Kephart grounded out to ss, scoring Loy and moving Weiss to 3b.
• Shepherd struck out swinging.
• Texas up 3-0.
• 5th inning
• Loy lined a 2-out single over the third baseman into lf.
• Weiss followed that with a single over the second baseman into rf, moving Loy to 2b.
• Kephart doubled to the cf/rf gap. The right fielder made a diving attempt at the ball but missed. Loy and Weiss easily scored on the play.
• Shepherd lined out to ss.
• Texas up 5-2...which turned out to be the final score.

Please note that Kephart accounted for all 5 of the runs batted in this afternoon. That doesn't happen often. The Horns threatened again in the 6th when Lusson reached on a lead-off single and moved to 2b two batters later when Montalbano lined a single into lf. Alas, the runners were stranded at 1b and 2b. The Horns went down in order in the 7th and 8th.

So, Texas has clinched their second Big 12 series win of the year. They go for the sweep tomorrow. Hook 'em, Horns!

Posted by Joanna at 11:53 PM