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FINAL
Texas - 7
Cincinnati - 8
Winning Pitcher: Carson Marsh (5-2)
Losing Pitcher: Gage Boehm (5-3)
Horns lose the Wednesday afternoon elimination game and for the second straight year go 0-2 in the Big 12 tournament.
RECAP
Top 1st, Cincinnati got a lead off single who would eventually score on a 2 out RBI single through the left side giving the Bearcats an early 1-0 lead and some momentum.
Top 4th, Cincinnati tacked on another run as Charlie Hurley loaded up the bases with no outs, due the inability to get outs on the infield. Gage Boehm came into the game with no outs and bases loaded and immediately got a double play, but that did allow Cincinnati to score a run to make it 2-0.
In the Bottom 4th, the Horns entered the frame with no hits, but got their first as Peyton Powell hit a single to LF. That brought Max Belyeu to the plate who hie a no doubter to RF to make it a 2-2 ball game. After Kimble Schuessler grounded out to the pitcher, Porter Brown and Rylan Galvan both got hits, bringing up Will Gasparino who stung a ball past the 3B down the line for an RBI double to give the Horns a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately, Jared Thomas and Jalin Flores both struck out swinging after Jack O'Dowd drew a walk, prompting Cincinnati to go to the bullpen.
In the Top 6th, the Bearcats took the lead back as they got a 1 out single, which should have been ruled an error on Jack O'Dowd, followed by a runner reaching due to an error by Jalin Flores. After Boehm got a strikeout, he gave up an 2 run RBI single to the 9 hole hitter to give the Bearcats a 4-3 lead.
In the Top 8th, the Bearcats broke open the game as Lebarron Johnson Jr issued back to back walks to lead off the inning, prompting a visit from David Pierce. LBJ bounced back to get a strike out on the next batter on three straight pitched. Unfortunately, LBJ then hung a slider over the heart of the plate which Kerrington Cross launched into the LF stands for a 3 run home run, making it 7-3 Bearcats. After Tumis came into the game, and made an errant throw to 1B, which allowed the runner from 3B to score, making it 8-3 Bearcats.
In the Bottom 8th, Dee Kennedy led off the inning hit taking a 87mph fastball to the thigh. Rylan Galvan then hit a screamer to 3B that ended up being a double putting runners on 2B and 3B with no outs. Will Gasparino then grounded out on a 3-1 count to the 3B, not allowing the runners to advance. That brought up Jack O'Dowd who hit a grounder to 2B, bringing home Dee Kennedy to make it a 8-4 ball game. Jared Thomas then drew a 2 out walk to put runners on 1B and 3B for Jalin Flores who hit a 2 run RBI double to LF, making it 8-6 Bearcats. Peyton Powell followed that up with a single to RF to make it 8-7 Bearcats and pull the Horns within one run. Unfortunately, Max Belyeu had a horrific at-bat in which he whiffed at 3 off speed pitches to end the rally.
In the Top 9th, Cade O'Hara sat the Bearcats down in order, bringing the Horns back to the plate with some momentum.
In the Bottom 9th, Kimble Schuessler led of with a single up the middle. Casey Borba then pinch hit for Dee Kennedy, laying down a bunt to move over pinch runner Jayden Duplantier to 2B. Rylan Galvan came to the plate having had a solid night at the plate, but hit a hard grounder to the SS, making a head first dive into 1B, but arriving just late due to not extending his left arm. With two outs and a runner on 2B, freshman Will Gasparino came to the plate and inexplicably swung at the first pitch, a 87mph fastball that he popped up to RF, thus ending the game.
Game over, Horns eliminated in an all too familiar scene at Globe Life Field.
BIG MOMENT
In the Top 8th inning, Lebarron Johnson Jr issued back to back walks to lead off the inning, prompting a visit from David Pierce. LBJ bounced back to get a strike out on the next batter on three straight pitched. Unfortunately, LBJ then hung a slider over the heart of the plate which Kerrington Cross launched into the LF stands for a 3 run home run, making it 7-3 Bearcats.
After Tumis came into the game, and made an errant throw to 1B, which allowed the runner from 3B to score, making it 8-3 Bearcats. That ended up being the winning run. In a game of small margins, an errant pick off play ended up being the deciding factor. Definitely something that the freshman will take and learn from going forward.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Gage Boehm kept Texas in the ball game in the middle innings when things went wrong with Hurley, largely due to the defense behind him. Boehm was not perfect, but he went 3 innings and threw a season high 54 pitches, striking out 7 batters, giving up 2 hits, 2 runs, and walking just one.
The big boy has been big time for the Horns this season!
TAKEAWAYS
The Horns had built up momentum ending the season with six straight series wins, including a sweep of Kansas on the final weekend, but what an absolute dud. The Big 12 tournament was always going to be extra taxing on a team like Texas who is not built for this type of format what so ever, but the inability to adjust the offense in a MLB ball park was not good. Even if the Horns had won the Big 12 tourney, they would not host a Regional, so there was not a lot at stake, but having back to back nights like we saw, where Texas was beat late is not the thing you want to see.
The defense today was all over the place and certainly worse than the two errors on the board. Despite some gaudy offensive numbers, the Horns had no hits going into the 4th inning and were swing and making weak contact on a bevy of 82-85 cutters. The top of the lineup has been very up and down lately with some big games but always some very quiet nights, which the Horns cannot afford. They must have production at the top.
Going into Regional, everything resets, but the fact remains, this team has quite a few flaws. How do bridge from starter to Boehm. Can the starters give them a quality start. Can the bottom of the lineup give them production and at least advance the runners. Who outside of Boehm, Duplantier, and O'Hara can the staff trust? Lots of questions that won't be answered, but will have the spot light on very soon as Regional play is no joke. Every team will treat each game as do or die, and every team is going to want to eat Texas' lunch. The Horns MUST show the grit and resiliency that has been very evident at times this season.
Lastly, if I were Coach Pierce, I would immediately call the schedulers and cancel my opening weekend in Arlington as Globe Life Field continues to be an absolute house of horrors for the Horns who have now lost their last 8 games there going back to the Big 12 Tourney in 2022. Yikes,
NEXT UP
Horns will await their fate on Monday (May 27th) as they will find out what Regional they will travel to as the 2 or 3 seed. Odds on favorites is the Fayetteville or College Station Regional.
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