FINAL
Texas Longhorns (10-7) - 3
Washington Huskies (5-7-1) - 9
Winning Pitcher: Grant Cunningham (1-2)
Losing Pitcher: Gage Boehm (0-1)
BOX SCORE
RECAP
In a game where Texas starter Lebarron Johnson Jr went 6 innings, racking up 10Ks (season high), giving up just 1 run, walking 3 batters, and scattering 5 hits, you would think that the Horns would be in contention to chalk up the 11th win of the season. Boy was that NOT the case.
In the Top 3rd, LBJ gave up his only run of the game when Jeter Ybarra hit 2 out double to CF, scoring the runner runner from 2B who had got on via a 1 out walk and stolen base. The Horns took an inning but answered back with a 3 spot to take the lead in the Bottom 4th when they took advantage of back to back walks to lead off the inning, allowing Kimble Schuessler to hit a hard grounder back up the middle. Jack O'Dowd then followed that up with a rocket to left CF, scoring Schuessler and giving the Horns a 3-1 and chasing Husky starter Engman from the game.
Unfortunately, Grant Cunningham came into the game for the Huskies and did not just settle things down but effectively shut down the Horns as he went the rest of the ball game giving up just 2 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 2 over 5 1/3 innings.
David Shaw was the first name out of the pen for the Horns in relief of Lebarron Johnson Jr in the Top 7th. Unfortunately, he walked the first batter, then gave up a 1 out single to put runners on 2B and 3B. Coach David Pierce immediately went to the pen and brought in reliever Gage Boehm, who was coming out an outstanding showing against Texas Tech to help minimize the damage and right the ship. Unfortunately Boehm was extremely hittable tonight, giving up three straight hits before recording an out. Boehm then gave up two more RBI singles to end the frame as the Huskies put up a 6 spot in the Top of the 7th to take a 7-3 lead.
After a shut down inning by Easton Tumis in the Top of the 8th, he ran into trouble in the Top 9th as the Huskies recorded a single, double, wild pitch, walk, and single before Tumis could get an out, putting the Huskies ahead 9-3. Meanwhile, the Horns went down in order 1-2-3 in both the 8th and 9th inning.
BIG MOMENT
Top 7th, LHP David Shaw entered the game with a 3-1 lead and proceeded to walk the first two batters. This put Boehm in a tough position and his normally hard breaking ball and slider were left up in the zone far too much, giving up the a 6 spot in the top half of the frame, effectively ending the game.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
While I would love to give the award to starter Lebarron Johnson Jr, you simply cannot overlook two players from Washington tonight. RHP Grant Cunningham went 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K for the win, while 3 hole hitter Jeter Ybarra went 5-5 at the plate, scoring 2 runs and 4 RBI. He came up big every time he was at the plate and led the Washington team to a win tonight.
TAKEAWAYS
LBJ gave the starting performance that everyone has been looking for on a Friday night. Unfortunately the bullpen absolutely failed him tonight giving up 8 runs on 9 hits. That is an abysmal performance from the staff. There were a couple of plays defensively that did not help out the pitchers, where the Horns could have turned two, but still, ABYSMAL. David Shaw simply cannot come into a game with a 2 run lead and walk the first two batters he sees. Gage Boehm was unusually ineffective in the fact that he was leaving his slider up, which is not typical. Easton Tumis was very sharp in the 8th inning and looked great, only to get beat up in the 9th. An important lesson for the freshman righty who struggled to really command his slider tonight.
When the top half of the lineup (Thomas, Powell, and Flores) go a collective 3 for 12, the Horns are going to be in trouble, as was the case this evening. Combined with Belyeu going 0-3 and Gasparino going 0-3, it was a night when the Horns only had 5 strikeouts, but just had nothing to show for their time at the plate.
On the flip side, tip of the cap tonight to the much maligned Jack O'Dowd. The game of baseball is a game of failure and yes, he went 1-4, but his first three at bats, he hit absolute rockets, each with an exit velo above 101 only to come away with a double. Instead of leading the team in pop ups, Jack was driving the ball with authority tonight and if he continues to do that, those liners will find green space.
NEXT UP
The Longhorns take on the Huskies for game two tomorrow (Saturday at 230pm) - weather permitting
Texas Longhorns (10-7) - 3
Washington Huskies (5-7-1) - 9
Winning Pitcher: Grant Cunningham (1-2)
Losing Pitcher: Gage Boehm (0-1)
BOX SCORE
RECAP
In a game where Texas starter Lebarron Johnson Jr went 6 innings, racking up 10Ks (season high), giving up just 1 run, walking 3 batters, and scattering 5 hits, you would think that the Horns would be in contention to chalk up the 11th win of the season. Boy was that NOT the case.
In the Top 3rd, LBJ gave up his only run of the game when Jeter Ybarra hit 2 out double to CF, scoring the runner runner from 2B who had got on via a 1 out walk and stolen base. The Horns took an inning but answered back with a 3 spot to take the lead in the Bottom 4th when they took advantage of back to back walks to lead off the inning, allowing Kimble Schuessler to hit a hard grounder back up the middle. Jack O'Dowd then followed that up with a rocket to left CF, scoring Schuessler and giving the Horns a 3-1 and chasing Husky starter Engman from the game.
Unfortunately, Grant Cunningham came into the game for the Huskies and did not just settle things down but effectively shut down the Horns as he went the rest of the ball game giving up just 2 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 2 over 5 1/3 innings.
David Shaw was the first name out of the pen for the Horns in relief of Lebarron Johnson Jr in the Top 7th. Unfortunately, he walked the first batter, then gave up a 1 out single to put runners on 2B and 3B. Coach David Pierce immediately went to the pen and brought in reliever Gage Boehm, who was coming out an outstanding showing against Texas Tech to help minimize the damage and right the ship. Unfortunately Boehm was extremely hittable tonight, giving up three straight hits before recording an out. Boehm then gave up two more RBI singles to end the frame as the Huskies put up a 6 spot in the Top of the 7th to take a 7-3 lead.
After a shut down inning by Easton Tumis in the Top of the 8th, he ran into trouble in the Top 9th as the Huskies recorded a single, double, wild pitch, walk, and single before Tumis could get an out, putting the Huskies ahead 9-3. Meanwhile, the Horns went down in order 1-2-3 in both the 8th and 9th inning.
BIG MOMENT
Top 7th, LHP David Shaw entered the game with a 3-1 lead and proceeded to walk the first two batters. This put Boehm in a tough position and his normally hard breaking ball and slider were left up in the zone far too much, giving up the a 6 spot in the top half of the frame, effectively ending the game.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
While I would love to give the award to starter Lebarron Johnson Jr, you simply cannot overlook two players from Washington tonight. RHP Grant Cunningham went 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K for the win, while 3 hole hitter Jeter Ybarra went 5-5 at the plate, scoring 2 runs and 4 RBI. He came up big every time he was at the plate and led the Washington team to a win tonight.
TAKEAWAYS
LBJ gave the starting performance that everyone has been looking for on a Friday night. Unfortunately the bullpen absolutely failed him tonight giving up 8 runs on 9 hits. That is an abysmal performance from the staff. There were a couple of plays defensively that did not help out the pitchers, where the Horns could have turned two, but still, ABYSMAL. David Shaw simply cannot come into a game with a 2 run lead and walk the first two batters he sees. Gage Boehm was unusually ineffective in the fact that he was leaving his slider up, which is not typical. Easton Tumis was very sharp in the 8th inning and looked great, only to get beat up in the 9th. An important lesson for the freshman righty who struggled to really command his slider tonight.
When the top half of the lineup (Thomas, Powell, and Flores) go a collective 3 for 12, the Horns are going to be in trouble, as was the case this evening. Combined with Belyeu going 0-3 and Gasparino going 0-3, it was a night when the Horns only had 5 strikeouts, but just had nothing to show for their time at the plate.
On the flip side, tip of the cap tonight to the much maligned Jack O'Dowd. The game of baseball is a game of failure and yes, he went 1-4, but his first three at bats, he hit absolute rockets, each with an exit velo above 101 only to come away with a double. Instead of leading the team in pop ups, Jack was driving the ball with authority tonight and if he continues to do that, those liners will find green space.
NEXT UP
The Longhorns take on the Huskies for game two tomorrow (Saturday at 230pm) - weather permitting
