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Monday - April 11, 2011

Game 32: Baylor at Texas

The Horns won the rubber match of the Baylor series 5-2. The line:

I loved seeing the Horns fight back to a tie and then have that good 7th inning to win the game. I have to admit that I was worried for a bit there in the middle innings. But, the Horns kept plugging away and finally got things lined up just right to pull off another Big 12 series win. Love it.

The starting line-ups:

Texas		Baylor
Brooks Pinckard (cf) Max Muncy (1b) Cal Towey (rf) Josh Ludy (dh) Dan Evatt (lf) Joey Hainsfurther (c) Lawton Langford (3b) Steve DalPorto (2b) Landis Ware (ss)		Brandon Loy (ss) Paul Montalbano (cf) Erich Weiss (lf) Lucas Kephart (dh) Tant Shepherd (1b) Jordan Etier (2b) Jonathan Walsh (rf) Alex Silver (3b) Jacob Felts (c)

Of note: Alex Silver made his first start at Disch-Falk Field. He went 1-for-4 and drove in the game-tying run. He also made a couple of nice plays at 3b.

Cole Green got the nod today and, despite a few struggles (3 hit batters, anyone?), he stayed in the game through 6 (plus 1 batter). Sadly, the game was tied at 2-2 when he left and he got no decision. He had a really strong start, striking out the side in the first. Purty. He hit the first batter in the second, struck out the next one and then walked the third. A single to lf loaded the bases. Another strikeout and we thought it would all be okay. But, alas, a soft liner into cf (0-2 count) plated two Baylor runs (thankfully, the only two runs they'd get across). Baylor got another runner to 3b (with two out) in the 5th and then went down in order (with two Ks) in the 6th. Green seemed to be going strong. Alas, when he hit the first batter of the 7th, Texas decided his day was over. His final numbers (by my count, as usual): 6+ innings, 23 batters, 2 runs (both earned), 2 hits (those two singles in the 2nd), 9 strikeouts, 3 walks, 3 hit batters, 107 pitches (61 for strikes). Kendal Carrillo replaced Green. He faced two batters (1-3 sac bunt and 5-3 ground out) and was lifted for Sam Stafford. Carrillo's final numbers: 0.2 innings, 2 batters, no runs, 7 pitches (5 for strikes). Stafford struck out (looking) the lone batter he faced in the 7th. He walked the first batter of the 8th on 4 pitches and was replaced by Corey Knebel. Texas had taken the lead in the bottom of the 7th so Stafford got credit for the win, moving his record to 5-0. His final numbers: 0.1 innings, 2 batters, 1 strikeout, 1 walk, 11 pitches (5 for strikes). Corey Knebel went in and got 6 straight outs to earn his 8th save of the year. Knebel's final numbers: 2 innings, 6 batters, no runs, 2 strikeouts, 22 pitches (13 for strikes).

The Horns threatened in the bottom of the 2nd when Shepherd and Etier reached on back-to-back 1-out singles. Alas, a pop-out and fly-out left them stranded. Here's how they scored their runs:

• 5th inning
• Silver grounded out to the pitcher.
• Felts reached on an infield single off the second baseman.
• Loy reached on a bunt single down the lf line, moving Felts to 2b.
• Montalbano struck out looking.
• Weiss lined a single into cf, scoring Felts and moving Loy to 2b.
• Kephart grounded out to ss.
• Horns down 1-2.
• 6th inning
• Shepherd reached on a full-count walk.
• Etier advanced him to 2b on a 1-3 sac bunt.
• Walsh singled through the left side, scoring Shepherd and moving Walsh to 2b.
• Felts flew out to cf.
• Loy flew out to lf at the warning track. I thought that one was gone.
• Game tied 2-2.
• 7th inning
Montalbano singled through the left side.
• Weiss was hit by a pitch, moving Montalbano to 2b.
• Kephart moved the runners to 2b and 3b on a 1-3 sac bunt.
• Shepherd hit a double into lf, scoring Montalbano and Weiss.
• Etier singled to lf, moving Shepherd to 3b.
• Walsh advanced the batters on a 1-3 squeeze bunt (Shepherd scored).
• Silver grounded out to 2b.
• Texas win 5-2.

All-in-all, a nice game for the Horns who now host Dallas Baptist on Tuesday. The Patriots come to town with a very decent 21-11 record. Then the Red Raiders (who lost their series at home against the Aggies this weekend) come to town for the weekend.

Posted by Joanna at 7:38 AM