FINAL
Texas - 3
Baylor - 4
Winning Pitcher: Ethan Calder (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Gage Boehm (1-2)
BOX SCORE
RECAP
On a night when Texas got 7 strong innings from starter Lebarron Johnson Jr, the Horns offense completely fell on its face. The Horns continue to struggle to perform in all three aspects of the game and that was no more apparent then tonight. While the first four hitters in the lineup went 6-18, the 5-9 hitters went a combined 1-21. No, that is not a typo, ONE for TWENTY ONE. Not only that, the Horns twice had bases loaded and only came away with two runs.
After the game was over, many of the starters sat in the dugout reflecting on what had just transpired. The mood was clearly one of frustration. The biggest question is, how will they respond tomorrow. Will they come out with an edge or will they let tonight's game carry over.
The Horns got things started early, as they had bases loaded with no outs thanks to back to back hits by Thomas and Powell, and Flores reaching 1B on a fielding error. Kimble Schuessler unfortunately hit a ground ball on the infield, resulting in a run scoring, but also a double play. On the second pitch her saw, Max Belyeu hit a ground out to 1B, resulting in a Texas 1-0 lead going to the 2nd.
In the Top of the 2nd, the Bears pulled a run back when they got a 1 out single to left field, followed by a double to right center field, tying up the game at 1-1.
In the Bottom 3rd inning, the Horns took the lead back on a Kimble Schuessler single to left field, scoring Peyton Powell. Unfortunately, the middle of the lineup again failed to bring home a runner in scoring position with just 1 out.
The Texas and Baylor pitching staffs then put up zeroes in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings, before the Bears broke through in the Top 7th with a crooked number.
In the Top 7th, Lebarron Johnson Jr gave up a lead off single to freshman Chase Womack, who entered the game with a batting average of .071. Then with 1 out and a runner on 1B, 9 hole hitter Harrison Caley hit a double to RF over the head of Max Belyeu as he misjudged the path of the ball, tying the game and putting a runner on 2B. Kimble Schuessler then allowed a ball to come out of his glove and trickle behind home plate. As he stood there with no idea where the ball was, the runner on 2B moved over to 3B. The next hitter Mason Greer then hit a slider that caught too much of the plate to RF, giving the Bears a 3-2 lead.
The Horns battled back in the Bottom 8th to tie the game up, but again completely fumbled the job as they had bases loaded again with no outs, but could only get a single run across to tie the game up at 3-3.
In the Top 11th, Boehm gave up a lead off single to third base, as the ball took an awkward hop and came off Peyton Powell. A soft grounder back to the mound moved the runner into scoring position with just 1 out. Boehm then hung a breaking ball and Daniel Altman hit a ball into the gap in left center, scoring the runner and giving the Bears a 4-3 lead.
BIG MOMENT
In the Bottom of the 8th, Max Belyeu came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. Max had the opportunity to make up for his errant fielding earlier in the game and not just tie the game, but set up the Horns to win it. Instead, Max hit a ball on the ground to 2B and the Bears were able to complete the double play. That play did plate a run to tie the game, but the Horns missed a massive opportunity and it eventually cost them.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
There really was not a stand out tonight for the Horns, but if there was, it would be Peyton Powell who went 2-4, scoring 2 runs and walking once.
TAKEAWAYS
There is simply no excuse for going 1 for 21 if you are Texas.
The good news is that the Horns only used two pitchers on the evening, while Baylor used two of their best arms in Hail (30 pitches) and Calder (40 pitches), meaning they likely won't be available till Sunday, if at all.
The Horns will need to play much cleaner baseball, especially late in the game tomorrow if they want to avoid losing the series.
NEXT UP
Texas (13-9, 2-2 Big 12) v. Baylor (8-13, 3-4 Big 12)
Date: Sat March 23rd
Time: 230pm
TV: LHN
Texas - 3
Baylor - 4
Winning Pitcher: Ethan Calder (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Gage Boehm (1-2)
BOX SCORE
RECAP
On a night when Texas got 7 strong innings from starter Lebarron Johnson Jr, the Horns offense completely fell on its face. The Horns continue to struggle to perform in all three aspects of the game and that was no more apparent then tonight. While the first four hitters in the lineup went 6-18, the 5-9 hitters went a combined 1-21. No, that is not a typo, ONE for TWENTY ONE. Not only that, the Horns twice had bases loaded and only came away with two runs.
After the game was over, many of the starters sat in the dugout reflecting on what had just transpired. The mood was clearly one of frustration. The biggest question is, how will they respond tomorrow. Will they come out with an edge or will they let tonight's game carry over.
The Horns got things started early, as they had bases loaded with no outs thanks to back to back hits by Thomas and Powell, and Flores reaching 1B on a fielding error. Kimble Schuessler unfortunately hit a ground ball on the infield, resulting in a run scoring, but also a double play. On the second pitch her saw, Max Belyeu hit a ground out to 1B, resulting in a Texas 1-0 lead going to the 2nd.
In the Top of the 2nd, the Bears pulled a run back when they got a 1 out single to left field, followed by a double to right center field, tying up the game at 1-1.
In the Bottom 3rd inning, the Horns took the lead back on a Kimble Schuessler single to left field, scoring Peyton Powell. Unfortunately, the middle of the lineup again failed to bring home a runner in scoring position with just 1 out.
The Texas and Baylor pitching staffs then put up zeroes in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings, before the Bears broke through in the Top 7th with a crooked number.
In the Top 7th, Lebarron Johnson Jr gave up a lead off single to freshman Chase Womack, who entered the game with a batting average of .071. Then with 1 out and a runner on 1B, 9 hole hitter Harrison Caley hit a double to RF over the head of Max Belyeu as he misjudged the path of the ball, tying the game and putting a runner on 2B. Kimble Schuessler then allowed a ball to come out of his glove and trickle behind home plate. As he stood there with no idea where the ball was, the runner on 2B moved over to 3B. The next hitter Mason Greer then hit a slider that caught too much of the plate to RF, giving the Bears a 3-2 lead.
The Horns battled back in the Bottom 8th to tie the game up, but again completely fumbled the job as they had bases loaded again with no outs, but could only get a single run across to tie the game up at 3-3.
In the Top 11th, Boehm gave up a lead off single to third base, as the ball took an awkward hop and came off Peyton Powell. A soft grounder back to the mound moved the runner into scoring position with just 1 out. Boehm then hung a breaking ball and Daniel Altman hit a ball into the gap in left center, scoring the runner and giving the Bears a 4-3 lead.
BIG MOMENT
In the Bottom of the 8th, Max Belyeu came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. Max had the opportunity to make up for his errant fielding earlier in the game and not just tie the game, but set up the Horns to win it. Instead, Max hit a ball on the ground to 2B and the Bears were able to complete the double play. That play did plate a run to tie the game, but the Horns missed a massive opportunity and it eventually cost them.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
There really was not a stand out tonight for the Horns, but if there was, it would be Peyton Powell who went 2-4, scoring 2 runs and walking once.
TAKEAWAYS
There is simply no excuse for going 1 for 21 if you are Texas.
The good news is that the Horns only used two pitchers on the evening, while Baylor used two of their best arms in Hail (30 pitches) and Calder (40 pitches), meaning they likely won't be available till Sunday, if at all.
The Horns will need to play much cleaner baseball, especially late in the game tomorrow if they want to avoid losing the series.
NEXT UP
Texas (13-9, 2-2 Big 12) v. Baylor (8-13, 3-4 Big 12)
Date: Sat March 23rd
Time: 230pm
TV: LHN
