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FINAL
Texas - 2
A&M - 4
Winning Pitcher: Evan Aschenbeck (6-1)
Losing Pitcher: Andre Duplantier (2-2)
BOX SCORE
With the loss, the Horns fall to 36-23 on the season.
RECAP
The game got off to a heck of a start as starter Lebarron Johnson Jr struck out two and walked one batter en route to a clean Top 1st.
In the Bottom 1st, on the very first pitch he saw, Jared Thomas hit a bomb to LF (99 off the bat, 397 feet to give the Horns an early 1-0 lead. Jalin Flores then drew a walk, but Peyton Powell hit into a double play, killing the momentum.
The game stayed 1-0 until the To 5th when LBJ gave up a 1 out solo blast to freshman Caden Sorrell, tying up the game and proving to be the last inning that LBJ would pitch for the Horns.
In the Bottom 6th, the Horns got the lead back as Kimble Schuessler hit a 2 out home run to LF to put the Horns back up 2-1 over the Aggies.
In the Top 8th, the Aggies took advantage of two throwing errors by Jalin Flores as they got the lead off man on when Flores rushed his throw to 1B. Gage Boehm then walked the next batter, putting two men on with no outs. Boehm battled back to get a deep sac fly, but that moved the runner to 3B with just one out. Boehm got a strikeout of DH Hayden Schott, making it 2 outs with runners on 1B and 3B. Unfortunately, Aggies sent the runner from 1B on first movement and the ball was chopped to Jalin Flores at SS, forcing him to make a throw to 1B which he rushed and was wide of the bag, allowing the runner from 3B to score, tying the ballgame at 2-2. ‘
The Horns were able to put up a zero in the Top 9th, despite two runners on in scoring position, but in the Bottom 9th, they quickly went down 1-2-3.
In the Top 10th, Andre Duplantier gave up a 2 out walk, but that was it, again slamming the door and providing an opening for the Horns.
In the Bottom 10th, Will Gasparino led off with a walk and was then moved to 2B when Dee Kennedy laid down an excellent bunt on a 1-2 count, nearly legging out an infield single. Jared Thomas then came to the plate with 1 out and runner on 2B, but ended up hitting a chopper to 2B. While that moves Gasparino to 3B, there were 2 outs. Jalin Flores came to the plate looking for redemption, but instead swung at the first pitch he saw, hitting a shallow fly ball to RF which was caught.
In the Bottom 11th, Duplantier gave up a lead off single to Lake Travis Alum Kaeden Kent, followed by a fly out, followed by a walk, putting two runners on with just one out. Coach David Pierce made the decision to go to the pen and bring in crafty veteran Chase Lummus to face the dangerous Braden Montgomery, who Lummus got out on a pop up.
Unfortunately Lummus issued a walk to the next batter, loading the bases with 2 outs and bringing the senior Ted Burton to the plate. On a 2-2 count, Burton got a breaking ball and chopped it softly towards 3B, seeing it bounce off the front of the bag, preventing Powell from scooping it and tagging the base to end the inning. Instead, the runner from 3B went home to give the Aggies a 3-2 lead. The next batter then saw a wild pitch that brought home the runner from 3B to make it 4-2 Aggies, sending the capacity raucous crowd into elation.
In the Bottom 11th, the Horns went down in order as Powell, Belyeu, and Schuessler failed to get on base. Game over.
BIG MOMENT
With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Chase Lummus got senior Ted Burton to hit a soft chopper down the 3B line for what should have been a routine play. Instead the ball took an awkward bounce off the base itself, allowing the runner to score and give the Aggies a 3-2 lead in the Top 11th. Incredibly cruel way eventually lose the game, but again, that is baseball.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Lebarron Johnson Jr put in his best performance of the season. 5 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 3 walks and 8 strikeouts. He had to deal with base traffic yes, but he kept a very dangerous Aggie lineup off balance and gave his team a chance to win.
TAKEAWAYS
One hell of a game pitched by Lebarron Johnson Jr. After the game, both Coach David Pierce and Coach Jim Schlossnagle lauded LBJ’s strike throwing ability and his overall presence. Coach Schlossnagle talked about LBJ pitching so well against A&M his freshman year at Olsen Field and then again tonight. Said that he was throwing harder than they’ve seen sitting 96-97 and that none of the batters could pick up his splitter.
Yes, Jalin committed two egregious errors, but this is college baseball, that will happen. Unfortunately, it happened on a night when it cost the Horns the game in large part. Talking to folks after the game, the players don’t blame him, he knows it wasn’t a good game. He was simply trying to make a play and rushed his throws.
Unpopular opinion with some and popular with others I am sure, but I don’t believe that Texas has the pitching depth required to beat Louisiana and also beat Texas A&M twice over the next two days to advance. Maybe there will be a miracle, but this loss tonight doomed Texas to a season ending fate, likely tomorrow.
Aggies had their chances, but kudos to the pitching staff, stranding 14 runners on base tonight. Texas pitching did its part…the offense and defense just didn’t have enough.
Speaking of the offense. Yes, the Horns went up against a very talented pitcher in Prager, who was 2nd Team All-SEC and a very talented reliever in Evan Aschenbeck, but there were numerous times when the Horns would swing at the first pitch and pop it up, that just can’t happen. Prager is known as a guy that lives off speed low in the zone. The Horns needed to drive up the pitch count and try to hit line drives instead of home runs.
NEXT UP
Horns will take on Louisiana in an elimination game tomorrow (Sunday) at 2pm. If they were to win that game, they would then turn around and have to face Texas A&M against at 7pm in another elimination game, needing to beat the Aggies Sunday evening and Monday.
LHP Ace Whitehead will get the start against Louisiana to try and stave off elimination.
