It looked like the No. 21 Longhorns (2-0) would follow a solid performance to open the season by letting a win slip away due to some early-season miscues. Texas led 2-1 heading into the top of the ninth, but Louisiana (0-2) - thanks to a parade of bunts, a hit batter, and some defensive miscues – grabbed a 3-2 lead.
Rather than let those blunders defeat them, the Longhorns rallied, which set the stage for Austin Todd. With two outs, the sophomore from Round Rock smashed a deep two-run, walk-off homer to left field to give Texas the 5-3 win.
A few more thoughts:
--- Texas had to get to Todd in order for him to deliver in dramatic fashion. Duke Ellis led off the inning by lining a single off the pitcher, and he moved to second on a David Hamilton sac bunt. Then, Masen Hibbeler, who has been terrific swinging the bat thus far, drove home Ellis and took second on the throw.
It looked like Texas would need to settle for extra innings after Hibbeler was inexplicably thrown out trying to take third when the ball got away from the catcher briefly as Kody Clemens was intentionally walked. But in the end, Todd took a batting practice fastball and smashed it out to left field, to the delight of the tailgaters watching near the new tennis facility.
--- It’s just one game of many, but this was a nice culture-building moment for the Longhorns. After a bit of a meltdown in the top of the ninth, they responded to pick up their teammates, and find a way to win the game. David Pierce and Texas players have spoken often about the chemistry of the 2018 club, and that showed today. There are a lot of guys in the lineup that are grinders, and really compete the first inning through the ninth.
--- Over 6.2 innings in his first start at Texas, Chase Shugart gave up one unearned run, just three hits, didn’t issue a walk, and struck out three. Although I’ve seen his stuff better recently, there were some really bright moments on the mound when it was all working.
Shugart found the feel for his curve in the second inning, and snapped off a few that would grade as plus pitches; it wasn’t as consistent as it could be, but it was a weapon through most of his outing. At point in the middle innings, Shugart shook off a breaking ball to get to a fastball inside and blew 94 MPH by a hitter for a strikeout. He was up to 96 MPH once, and his four-seam was consistently 91-94 MPH while his two-seamer was a little lower with more life at 90-92 MPH. Shugart is still trying to find the feel for snapping off a true slider, but he did throw a few with the proper shape and velocity. As for the changeup, it wasn’t used much, but he did throw a couple of good ones, including one that generated an ugly swing and miss against a lefty.
Overall, it was a very encouraging outing for Shugart, who held his stuff and velocity deep into the outing and although he didn’t rack of the strikeouts, he threw strikes, competed well, and generated a lot of weak contact.
--- Ridgeway just had one of those days. It happens. No reason for concern.
--- The good news about the Texas lineup through two games is it looks like the top half is for real. Hamilton reached base twice, scored two runs, and stole two more bases; Hibbeler went 3-for-5 with a big knock in the ninth inning; Clemens came through with a 2-for-4 outing with a walk, two RBI, and a run scored; and of course, there’s Todd.
The bad news about the Texas lineup through two games is Ryan Reynolds and Tate Shaw look overmatched right now, and Ellis did too until his ninth inning single. At one point, Shaw, although they were good ones, swung and missed six straight changeups. Reynolds doesn’t look very confidence and comfortable in the box right now.
But, again, we’re working with a very, very small sample size here. D.J. Petrinsky swung the bat well with nothing to show for it, and Zach Zubia reached base twice.
--- As I wrote before the season, I’m still yet not quite sure how Bryce Elder does it, but for a pitcher that won’t crack 90 MPH often, he generates a lot of defensive swings and swings and misses with his cutter, fastball, and changeup mix. Good first outing by the freshman today to enter in a tight game and toss 1.1 perfect frames with two strikeouts.
--- Texas goes for the sweep tomorrow with Blair Henley on the mound. First pitch at 1:00 p.m. Texas has to be feeling good about itself right now, and it wasn’t content with a rubber match on Sunday, which is something I felt last year’s team lacked at times; don’t give anything away just because there’s another game tomorrow.
Rather than let those blunders defeat them, the Longhorns rallied, which set the stage for Austin Todd. With two outs, the sophomore from Round Rock smashed a deep two-run, walk-off homer to left field to give Texas the 5-3 win.
A few more thoughts:
--- Texas had to get to Todd in order for him to deliver in dramatic fashion. Duke Ellis led off the inning by lining a single off the pitcher, and he moved to second on a David Hamilton sac bunt. Then, Masen Hibbeler, who has been terrific swinging the bat thus far, drove home Ellis and took second on the throw.
It looked like Texas would need to settle for extra innings after Hibbeler was inexplicably thrown out trying to take third when the ball got away from the catcher briefly as Kody Clemens was intentionally walked. But in the end, Todd took a batting practice fastball and smashed it out to left field, to the delight of the tailgaters watching near the new tennis facility.
--- It’s just one game of many, but this was a nice culture-building moment for the Longhorns. After a bit of a meltdown in the top of the ninth, they responded to pick up their teammates, and find a way to win the game. David Pierce and Texas players have spoken often about the chemistry of the 2018 club, and that showed today. There are a lot of guys in the lineup that are grinders, and really compete the first inning through the ninth.
--- Over 6.2 innings in his first start at Texas, Chase Shugart gave up one unearned run, just three hits, didn’t issue a walk, and struck out three. Although I’ve seen his stuff better recently, there were some really bright moments on the mound when it was all working.
Shugart found the feel for his curve in the second inning, and snapped off a few that would grade as plus pitches; it wasn’t as consistent as it could be, but it was a weapon through most of his outing. At point in the middle innings, Shugart shook off a breaking ball to get to a fastball inside and blew 94 MPH by a hitter for a strikeout. He was up to 96 MPH once, and his four-seam was consistently 91-94 MPH while his two-seamer was a little lower with more life at 90-92 MPH. Shugart is still trying to find the feel for snapping off a true slider, but he did throw a few with the proper shape and velocity. As for the changeup, it wasn’t used much, but he did throw a couple of good ones, including one that generated an ugly swing and miss against a lefty.
Overall, it was a very encouraging outing for Shugart, who held his stuff and velocity deep into the outing and although he didn’t rack of the strikeouts, he threw strikes, competed well, and generated a lot of weak contact.
--- Ridgeway just had one of those days. It happens. No reason for concern.
--- The good news about the Texas lineup through two games is it looks like the top half is for real. Hamilton reached base twice, scored two runs, and stole two more bases; Hibbeler went 3-for-5 with a big knock in the ninth inning; Clemens came through with a 2-for-4 outing with a walk, two RBI, and a run scored; and of course, there’s Todd.
The bad news about the Texas lineup through two games is Ryan Reynolds and Tate Shaw look overmatched right now, and Ellis did too until his ninth inning single. At one point, Shaw, although they were good ones, swung and missed six straight changeups. Reynolds doesn’t look very confidence and comfortable in the box right now.
But, again, we’re working with a very, very small sample size here. D.J. Petrinsky swung the bat well with nothing to show for it, and Zach Zubia reached base twice.
--- As I wrote before the season, I’m still yet not quite sure how Bryce Elder does it, but for a pitcher that won’t crack 90 MPH often, he generates a lot of defensive swings and swings and misses with his cutter, fastball, and changeup mix. Good first outing by the freshman today to enter in a tight game and toss 1.1 perfect frames with two strikeouts.
--- Texas goes for the sweep tomorrow with Blair Henley on the mound. First pitch at 1:00 p.m. Texas has to be feeling good about itself right now, and it wasn’t content with a rubber match on Sunday, which is something I felt last year’s team lacked at times; don’t give anything away just because there’s another game tomorrow.
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