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FINAL:
Texas - 7
Oklahoma - 4
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Dylan Volantis (4-0)
Losing Pitcher: Dylan Crooks (2-1)
RECAP
Top 1st - Future Top 10 MLB Draft pick RHP Kyson Witherspoon was on the mound for Oklahoma and in the first inning, retired the Horns in order.
Bottom 1st - LHP Kade Bing got the start for the Horns. Against the first batter he faced, he threw a breaking ball inside that hit the batter. Bing battled back to get back to back outs, but then gave up a single up the middle to put runners on 1B and 3B. A wild pitch would then score the first run of the game as a slider bounced in the dirt and got away to give OU the 1-0 lead.
Top 2nd - 1B Kimble Schuessler got a two out single through the right side for the Horns in the top half of the frame, but 3B Casey Borba struck out looking to end the threat.
Bottom 2nd - Kade Bing was back out for another inning of work and gave up a 2 out walk, but bounced back to get a strike out swinging to put up a zero on the board.
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Top 3rd - After LF Jonah Williams grounded out to start the inning, CF Tommy Farmer hit a single to the left side to put a man on base. DH Ethan Mendoza then hit a single through the right side off the end of the bat to put runners on 1B and 3B with just one out. After RF Max Belyeu struck out swinging, the Horns were able to plate their first run as Ethan Mendoza intentionally went to induce a throw which would allow Tommy Farmer to score. Mendoza stayed alive long enough on the base path, forcing a bad throw from the OU defender which allowed Mendoza to slide in safely at 2B and plate Tommy Farmer to make it a 1-1 ball game.
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Bottom 3rd - LHP Kade Bing was back out for a third inning of work, but unfortunately, the first pitch he threw was right down the pipe and ambushed as the Sooner lead off hitter sent one deep to RF for a solo shot to give OU the 2-1 lead. Bing then gave up a single to the next batter, but bounced back to get a pop up and fly out. Coach Schlossnagle had seen enough after 52 pitches and made a call to the bullpen to bring in RHP Grayson Saunier. With 2 outs and a runner on 1B, Saunier only had to throw two pitches as the runner was going and Galvan made a perfect throw down to Flores at 2B to gun down the runner.
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Top 4th - After SS Jalin Flores struck out swinging for the first out, 2B Adrian Rodriguez hit a double down the RF line to get a runner in scoring position. Unfortunately, Kimble Schuessler grounded out to the SS and Casey Borba struck out swinging to strand A-Rod at 3B.
Bottom 4th - RHP Grayson Saunier was back on the bump for the Horns and retired the side in order with a strikeout and back to back ground outs.
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Top 5th - The Horns went down in order in the fifth inning as Jonah Williams flied out to CF, nearly hitting it over the head of the defender, followed by Tommy Farmer flied out to shallow LF, followed by a ground out to SS by Ethan Mendoza.
Bottom 5th - RHP Grayson Saunier was back on the bump for another inning of work for the Horns. Against the first batter he faced, he hit the batter. The next batter then hit into a fielder's choice, but the runner was not able to advance. It did not matter though as the runner stole 2B as Galvan's throw down was a bit delayed. The runner then moved to 3B on a ground out to Adrian Rodriguez at 2B. That brought the best Oklahoma hitter to the plate and true to his nature, he hit a double to right CF to plate a run and give the Sooners a 3-1 lead over the Horns. Saunier did bounce back to get a strikeout swinging to end the scoring threat.
Top 6th - The OU starer Kyson Witherspoon continued to cruise in the game as he retired the side in order in the top half of the frame, getting back to back strikeouts of Max Belyeu and Rylan Galvan and then getting a ground out from Jason Flores.
Bottom 6th - Grayson Saunier bounced back to put up another zero on the board though as he retired the Sooners in order with a ground out, fly out and strike out swinging.
Top 7th - Adrian Rodriguez once again came through big for the Horns as he led the inning off with a double on a ball hit on the ground through the right side. Kimble Schuessler then hit a liner to the right side, but it was caught by the 1B who was playing well off the bag for the first out. A passed ball then moved Adrian Rodriguez over to 3B, still with just one out. After a lengthy at-bat, Casey Borba was able to draw a walk to put runners on 1B and 3B. That prompted a pitching change from Skip Johnson as Witherspoon had thrown 102 pitches on the night. The Sooners brought in a lefty to pitch and in turn, Schlossnagle removed left handed hitting Jonah Williams and replaced him with Will Gasparino. After having been benched due to the return of Belyeu, Gaspo worked a walk to load the bases, still with just one out. That prompted yet another pitching change as Skip Johnson then went to another lefty. That brought Tommy Farmer to the plate. On the very first pitch he saw he hit a liner into LF for a 2 run RBI single, tying the game up at 3-3.
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Bottom 7th - Due to the offensive substitution in the top half of the frame, Will Gasparino went to CF and Tommy Farmer went to LF. In addition, the Horns went back to the bullpen and brought in RHP Thomas Burns. He retired the side in order, striking out the first batter pumping heat, then getting an excellent defensive play from Kimble Schuessler, and then getting a fly out to CF.
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Top 8th - To lead off the frame, Rylan Galvan led off with a single to left field, battling back to get the hit after seemingly straining something on a prior swing and miss. Galvan then advanced to 2B on a wild pitch to get a runner in scoring position with no outs. Jalin Flores then popped up to shallow CF for the first out. Adrian Rodriguez then drew a walk to put two men on, still with just one out. That brought the veteran Kimble Schuessler to the plate. After working the count to 2-2, Kimble hit a single through the right side past a diving defender to score Galvan from 2B to give the Horns a 4-3 lead. Texas had the opportunity to add to the lead, but Casey Borba struck out swinging, followed by a ground out by Will Gasparino.
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Bottom 8th - The Horns went to the bullpen in the 8th and brought in LHP Dylan Volantis. After striking out the first batter, Volantis struggled to control his breaking ball and walked the next batter to put a runner on. Volantis then uncharacteristically hit the next batter, putting two men on with just one out. The next batter then hit a single through the left side to tie the game up at 4-4. Volantis bounced back though to prevent any further damage by fielder's choice and then a fly out to CF.
Top 9th - The Sooners went to the bullpen and brought in star closer Dylan Crooks. Tommy Farmer was the first batter at the plate and after running the count full, he hit a double down the LF line to get a man in scoring position with no outs. Ethan Mendoza then hit a soft grounder to the left side, but reached on a throwing error as the shortstop double clutched twice only to see the ball come out of the glove of 1B defender. That brought Max Belyeu to the plate for the Horns. Max was 0-4 on the night up to that point looking rusty at the plate, but none of that mattered as he put a good swing on a first pitch fastball that he sent deep to CF and over the wall for a 3 run home run, giving the Horns a 7-4 lead. After Rylan Galvan struck out swinging, Skip Johnson made a call to the bullpen to bring in a new pitcher. Against the new pitcher, Jalin Flores grounded out to 3B. Adrian Rodriguez was then hit on the leg by a fastball to put a runner on with two outs. A-Rod then stole 2B, but unfortunately the Horns were not able to capitalize as Kimble Schuessler grounded out to 3B.
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Bottom 9th - Dylan Volantis was back on the mound for the Horns to close things out. Against the first batter he induced a pop up to RF that could have ended up falling in, but Max Belyeu made the catch down the RF line. Volantis then walked the next batter he faced, but bounced back to strike out the next two batters and slam the door.
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BIG MOMENT
In the Top 9th inning with runners on 1B and 3B, Max Belyeu came to the plate. He had not made an appearance for the Horns since being injured back on March 28th and in his return to action was 0-4 on the night going into the at-bat. None of that mattered to Belyeu as he swung at the first pitch he saw and hammered one to straight away CF (418 feet) for a 3 run HR to give the Horns a 7-4 lead.
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INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Tip of the cap to Tommy Farmer.
With Max Belyeu back in the lineup, Schlossnagle went with Farmer and Jonah Williams in the OF and Farmer rewarded the coach with a 3-4 night, including a 2 run RBI single to tie the game up at 3-3 in the Top 7th.
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TAKEAWAY
Ups and downs. Struggles and success. At the end of the day, the Horns won the game and are regular season champions of the SEC!
NEXT UP
Horns (41-10, 21-7 SEC) are back in action tomorrow night at 630pm as they look for the series win over Oklahoma (32-18, 13-15 SEC)
