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Monday - June 6, 2011

Game 62: Texas at Kent State (Austin Regional)

I tried to get these game reports done last night but was just too tired. Which means this second one is even shorter than the first one. Sorry about that. I should've planned to take the whole day off. Alas...I did not. Anyway...

Texas staved off elimination from the Austin Regional for the second game in-a-row. And, it was a lovely thing to see. The offense continued to attack as they'd done in the earlier game. It was wonderful to see the Longhorns playing with fire and passion. Truly wonderful. I so hope they can keep it up. Don't you? If the team keeps playing like this, they can go deep in the College World Series. But...I'm getting ahead of myself. The line:

Yep...Texas played visitor to Kent State again. The rules state that the team with the fewest stints as home team in the tournament gets to play home team.

The lineups:

Texas		Kent State
Tant Shepherd (1b) Mark Payton (rf) Brandon Loy (ss) Erich Weiss (3b) Paul Montalbano (cf) Jonathan Walsh (lf) Kevin Lusson (dh) Jacob Felts (c) Jordan Etier (2b)		Evan Campbell (cf) Jimmy Rider (ss) Travis Shaw (3b) Ben Klafczynski (rf) David Lyon (c) Jason Bagoly (dh) George Roberts (1b) Joe Koch (lf) Derek Toadvine (2b)

Hoby Milner (lhp) started on the mound for Texas (no decision) and David Starn (lhp) started for Kent State and took the loss.

Texas used more pitchers in the evening contest. Their numbers:

• Hoby Milner: 2.2 innings, 28 batters, 2 runs (both earned), 5 hits (all singles), 3 strikeouts, 1 walk, 48 pitches (28 for strikes).
• Nathan Thornhill: 3.2 innings, 15 batters, 1 run (earned), 3 hits (all singles), 7 strikeouts, 1 walk, 64 pitches (42 for strikes), win.
• Andrew McKirahan: 1 inning, 4 batters, 1 hit (single), 1 strikeout, 12 pitches (8 for strikes).
• Kendal Carrillo: 1.2 innings, 5 batters, no hits, 15 pitches (9 for strikes), save.

It really was quite lovely. To top off the great team-effort pitching performance, the offense kept up their fighting ways. They jumped all over Starn in the 1st inning and set the tone for the game. Shepherd led off with a 5-pitch walk. Payton moved him to 2b on a really nice 5-3 sac bunt. Loy lined a single into cf scoring Shepherd. Weiss singled through the right side, moving Loy to 2b. They then executed a double steal. Montalbano grounded out to 1b (unassisted), scoring Loy and moving Weiss to 3b. Walsh lined a double into cf, scoring Weiss. Walsh was stranded at 2b but the damage had been done. They kept up the pressure throughout the game and did not go down in order a single time. So purty.

In the 9th, with a 3-run lead, they decided a little insurance would be good. Montalbano reached on a 1-out single up the middle. Walsh lined a single into rf, moving Montalbano to 2b. And, Kevin Lusson...in the 9th, with 2 aboard, and hitting from the left side...hit a beautiful 3-run shot over the rf fence just left of the Wendy's sign. Gorgeous!

Here's hoping the spark continues to burn in the final game of the Regional. Hook 'em, Horns!

Posted by Joanna at 8:44 AM