FINAL (7 innings)
Sam Houston - 3
Texas - 13
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Kade Bing (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Danny Valadez (2-2)
RECAP
In the Top 1st, LHP Kade Bing got a start after a really nice showing last Tuesday night. He would retire the side in order, needing just 6 pitches to do so in the first inning worked.
In the Bottom 1st, the Horns got a 1 out walk from RF Max Belyeu, but he was caught stealing. That ended up being and important out for Sam Houston as SS Jalin Flores hit a double to left CF with two outs, but was stranded as C Rylan Galvan hit a ground out to 3B leaving the score at 0-0.
In the Top 2nd, LHP Kade Bing gave up a lead off single on the first pitch he threw. He then gave up a double down the RF line putting runners on 2B and 3B with no outs. The third batter he faced hit a grounder to Kimble at 1B, allowing the runner from 3B to score to give Sam Houston the 1-0 lead and give them some hope. Unfortunately, the next batter hit a hard grounder right to 2B Ethan Mendoza who was playing in and he immediately fired it home for Galvan to apply the tag to the runner going home for the 2nd out. Bing then got the last out of the inning as he picked off the runner going to 2B to keep it at 1-0 Bearkats.
In the Bottom 2nd, the Horns got a 1 out double down the RF line from Kimble Schuessler as the defender misjudged the ball and missed the diving catch. After a strikeout by LF Easton Winfield, CF Will Gasparino got the Horns on the board as he hit a screaming liner (111 exit velo) down the LF line for an RBI double to make it 1-1.
In the Top 3rd, Kade Bing was back on the mound. He struck out the first batter he faced, but then gave up a one out single up middle that just got past his glove and a diving Flores, after a really good back and forth at-bat by the Bearkats. Undeterred, Bing got a fielder's choice for the second out and then got a strikeout swinging to keep it at 1-1 going to the bottom half of the frame.
In the Bottom 3rd, the Horns offense got going in a hurry. 2B Ethan Mendoza led off with a perfectly placed bunt to the left side for a single. RF Max Belyeu then hit a single to RF on a 2-2 count to put runners on 1B and 2B with no outs. That brought SS Jalin Flores to the plate and he got a hanging breaking ball on the first pitch he saw and from the moment it left the bat, the only question was how far it would go. The answer was the Yeti Yard as he deposited it there for a 3 run home run to give the Horns a 4-1 lead.
That prompted a call to the bullpen by the Bearkats. Unfortunately the new pitcher had to face Cuda, aka C Rylan Galvan. On a 2-1 count, Galvan hit a hard single to LF. He would then move over to 2B as freshman 3B Adrian Rodriguez hit a grounder to 1B. That brought 1B Kimble Schuessler to the plate. The first pitch he saw went wide of the plate and to the back stop moving Galvan over to 3B, still with just one out. After running the count full, Schuessler hit one through the left side for an RBI single to make it 5-1 Horns.
In the Top 4th, Sam Houston was able to get a run back. Starter LHP Kade Bing gave up a lead off single to CF and that runner would move to 2B on a steal and then over to 3B on a wild pitch and then eventually score as the Bearkat hitter hit an RBI single to RF to make it 5-2. Once again, Bing did not blink and came right back to end the top half of the frame with back to back strikeouts.
In the Bottom 4th, CF Will Gasparino led off with a pop fly to the SS. DH Jaquae Stewart drew a walk and was then lifted as Jayden Duplantier came in to pinch run. Turning the lineup over meant it was was Doza time and 2B Ethan Mendoza came through as he is apt to do, hitting a RBI double down the RF line and then advancing to 3B on a poor throw in from the defender to make it 6-2 Horns. RF Max Belyeu then did what he does when Mendoza is on the base paths and hit an RBI single to CF to make it 7-2 Horns.
In the Top 5th, freshman RHP Jason Flores came in to pitch in relief of Kade Bing. He immediately retired the side in order, getting a strikeout looking on a nasty sinker and then back to back ground outs, which included an outstanding defensive stop from Kimble Schuessler, who has really shined defensively at 1B this season.
In the Bottom 5th, the Bearkats went back to the bullpen, but once again the new guy had to face the red hot Rylan Galvan, who proceeded to hit a double down the LF line. Galvan did not linger long out on 2B as freshman 3B Adrian Rodriguez, who has really been seeing the ball well lately, hit a 1-0 pitch to the Yeti Yard for a two run oppo taco to make it 9-2 Horns, still with no outs.
After a Kimble Schuessler ground out and a hard hit liner right to the LF defender by Tommy Farmer, Will Gasparino got into the giving mood as he absolutely CRUSHED a home run to LF. No seriously, it was absolutely crushed (438 feet) to make it 10-2 Horns.
In the Top 6th, Jason Flores was back on the mound for the Horns. Hunter Autrey, older brother of 2026 Texas Baseball commit Easton Autrey led of with a single to LF on the first pitch he saw. Flores came back with a strikeout on the next batter he faced, using a deadly mix of his sinker / slider combo to freeze the batter for strike 3 called looking. Sam Houston then had a break not go their way as the next batter hit a ball well on the ground, but unfortunately it hit Hunter as he was running to 2B, which is an out due to runners interference. The runner on 1B then stole 2B as Galvan airmailed a throw into CF and then moved to 3B on the same error play. The batter at the plate then hit a liner to CF for an RBI single to make it 10-3 Horns. Jason Flores would not allow anything else though as he got a strikeout swinging by the next batter.
In the Bottom 6th, the Bearkats went back to the bullpen, but unfortunately he had to face the red hot Doza machine, aka Ethan Mendoza. On the first pitch Ethan saw, he sent it back up the middle for a lead off single. Max Belyeu then drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Both runners would advance 90 ft via a passed ball. Both runners would also come in to score on back to back plays as Jalin Flores hit a deep sac fly to CF and Rylan Galvan hit a ground out back to the pitcher. Those to plated runs made it 12-3 Horns.
In the Top 7th, Jason Flores was back on the mound. He hit the first batter he faced to put the lead off man on, but quickly erased him as he got the next batter to hit into a double play, though an unusual one as the hitter hit a screaming liner right to Kimble Schuessler at 1B who caught the liner and then tapped his toe on 1B to complete the double play.
Texas went to the bullpen and brought in RHP Aiden Moffett and he proceeded to flash his 95mph fastball to get a strikeout swinging for the third out.
In the Bottom 7th, the Bearkats again went to the bullpen and brought in a new arm. Freshman Cole Chamberlain pinch hit for Kimble Schuessler and on a 1-0 count hit a ball to left CF for what should have been a routine single, but Cole was on his horses and due to a lazy effort by the RF allowed Cole to slide in safely at 2B for a lead off double. Matt Scott II then pinch hit for Tommy Farmer, but would strikeout, but not before a wild pitch moved Cole Chamberlain over to 3B. Freshman two-sport athlete Jonah Williams then pinch hit for William Gasparino, but would go down on three straight pitches, chasing a breaking ball away for the second out in the inning. The night was all Texas though as Jayden Duplantier came to the plate and hit a fly ball to RF which fell in as the defender lost it in the lights bringing home Chamberlain from 3B for a walk off win.
Game over. Texas improves to 20-3 on the season.
BIG MOMENT
In the Bottom 3rd inning with the game tied 1-1, Jalin Flores came to the plate with runners on 1B and 2B. Flores got a breaking ball that was right over the heart of the plate and from the moment it left the bat, you knew it was gone and the only question was how far will it go.
It ended up in the Yeti Yard for a 3 run home run to make it 4-1 Texas and really got the engine going.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Quite a few guys that are eligible for this tonight, but I will go with Will Gasparino.
On the night, the sophomore from Cali went 2-3 with 2 hits, 2 RBI, and 1 run. His two hits were a double that 111 exit velo off the bat and a no doubter home run that went 438 feet and was 106 off the bat.
TAKEAWAYS
The Horns did what the #7 team in the nation should against a 7-17 team on a Tuesday night. They were aggressive at the plate and put the ball in play and eventually run ruled the Bearkats.
Despite giving up 8 hits, the Texas pitching staff spread out those hits over 7 innings, while also not walking any batters (there one one hit by pitch) and striking out 8.
Overall, a nice little Tuesday night tune up for the Horns in which they only had to use three pitchers, two of which they wanted to get work anyways.
NEXT UP:
Horns travel to Como (Columbia, Missouri) for a three game away series against University of Missouri. Look for the full weekend preview on Thursday
