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Sunday - June 5, 2011

Austin Regional Tournament, Day 2

Game 1: Texas State at Princeton

Texas State beat Princeton 3-1 in the first game of the day to send Princeton home. The Bobcats scored 1 in the 4th and 2 in the 8th. The Tigers did not manage to get on the board until the bottom of the 8th. Princeton did strand runners in scoring position in the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. So, they had some chances. But, the Texas State starter (Mitchell Pitts) kept managing to get out of trouble. In contrast, Texas State only left runners in scoring position in the 1st and 5th innings. In the 5th, they actually managed to load the bases on back-to-back-to-back singles. (Although, I'd argue the final single was actually a fielder's choice. With runners at the corners, the Bobcats bunted down the 3b line...safety squeeze. The pitcher fielded the ball and looked the runner back to 3b. By the time he was sure the runner wasn't going to break for home, he did not have a play at 1b. He had time to make the out; however, he chose to make sure his opponent did not score a run. Sounds like a fielder's choice to me.) The 4th batter of the inning, though, hit into a 5-2-3 double play and the next lined out to lf. At that point, it felt a bit as though, the Bobcats might've run out of chances. But, no...they scored two more runs to put the game away and live another day. Interestingly, both starters went 7.1 innings

Game 2: Texas at Kent State

Kent State (playing as the home team) jumped out to an early 1-run lead over Texas in the 1st inning. Texas tied things up in the 4th and scored a go-ahead run in the 5th. However, the Horns did not take advantage of the momentum they seemed to be gathering and went down in order in the next three innings. That was on the offensive side of things. Defensively...wow. Taylor Jungmann suffered his first career-loss at Disch-Falk Field. A walk, 2 singles, and a grand slam into the Texas bullpen to start off the bottom half of the 6th stunned everyone. After the homerun, a fly out (about 10 feet shy of the previous hit) and a ground out were followed with another walk and another single...which chased Jungmann from the game. With Andrew McKirahan on the mound, a double steal and another single to plate two more runs seemed to put the game away as the Horns fell behind 2-7. A spark of something came to life in the 9th, though. With 2 out, Jonathan Walsh reached on a bloop double down the rf line that fell into no-man's land. Paul Montalbano then drew a 4-pitch walk. Which finally chased the Kent State starter (ace Andrew Chafin). Kevin Lusson (pinch-hitting for Jacob Felts) found a little magic of his own when he took the second pitch he saw into that same Kent State bullpen. Talk about bringing the crowd to life. A walk and single to put runners at the corners by pinch-hitters Lucas Kephart and Tim Maitland turned us all into believers. Alas, Tant Shepherd, representing the go-ahead run, could not pull off the miracle. He popped out to 2b. Game over. Texas lost 5-7. Heart break city. Although, there was that group of folks in yellow at the very top of section 101. There were about 20 Kent State fans up there. And, they sure were happy. Texas now needs to win 3 in-a-row in order to advance to the Super Regional round. It can be done. I hope it will be done. UPDATE: I've posted a full game report.

Elsewhere

In other (mostly Big 12-related) action around the country...

Three Big 12 teams went 2-and-out this weekend (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State). All three were beat by #4 seeds on Day 2 of Regional action. Two Big 12 teams are firmly in control of their Regionals (Texas A&M and Baylor). And, one Big 12 team is now in the position of needing to win 3 to stay alive. I so wish Texas wasn't that last team. Damn. Oh, and...you know...hook 'em, Horns!

Posted by Joanna at 7:41 AM