FINAL:
Houston Christian - 2
Texas Longhorns - 12
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Jason Flores (3-1)
Losing Pitcher: Jack Hamilton (0-1)
RECAP
In the Top 1st, LHP Kade Bing got a ground out, but then gave up a walk and a single to RF to put runners on 1B and 3B. Bing did not back down though and got a struck out swinging for the second out and followed it up with a fly out to CF to end the scoring threat.
In the Bottom 1st, the Horns went down in order as they flied out twice and then struck out.
In the Top 2nd, Kade Bing got a ground out from the first batter he faced after running the count full and coach Jim Schlossnagle decided to make a call to the bullpen out of precaution. After the game, Schloss said that he threw a 83mph fastball and the numbers just didn't look right, despite Bing saying that he felt fine physically. Freshman RHP Jason Flores came into the game and got two quick ground outs to send it to the Bottom half of the frame, still tied 0-0.
In the Bottom 2nd, HCU went to the bullpen for the first of many many changes on the night, though it was anticipated that they would use a bunch of arms. SS Jalin Flores would ground out to the 3B for the first out. 3B Casey Borba then hit a single to left center field to get the first hit of the game for the Horns. 1B Kimble Schuessler then reaches on an error by the 2B, putting two runners on. DH Jaquae Stewart then drew a walk to load the bases up for RF Tommy Farmer IV who hit a double down the LF line to plate two runners, making it 2-0 Horns.
LF Easton Winfield then followed that up by drawing a walk to load the bases again, prompting another pitching change by the Huskies. 2B Ethan Mendoza hit the first pitch he saw to RF for a single which plated two runners to give the Horns a 4-0 lead. Not finished there, C Rylan Galvan hit a chopped up the middle for an RBI single to make it 5-0 Horns. After CF Will Gasparino drew a walk to load the bases again, SS Jalin Flores who led off the inning hit a fly ball to LF, which allowed Mendoza to tag and score from 3B to make it 6-0 Horns.
In the Top 3rd, RHP Jason Flores was back on the mound for the Horns. The Huskies led off with a single to RF and then followed that up with a double down the LF line to put runners on 2B and 3B with no outs. Jason Flores got the next batter to ground out, but it did score the runner from 3B to make it 6-1 Horns. Flores got another ground out from the next batter, which made it 6-2 Horns. Flores would get out of the inning with a fly out.
In the Bottom 3rd, HCU went to the bullpen again. The first batter at the plate was 1B Kimble Schuessler who hit a 82mph breaking ball over the heart of the plate over the LF bullpen wall for a mammoth HR to make it 7-2 Horns.
DH Jaquae Stewart then reached base due to a throwing error by the 3B, followed by a fly out by Tommy Farmer in which he got a hold of one only to see it caught at the Yeti Yard wall. LF Easton Winfield then hit a double off the Yeti Yard wall to plate Jaquae Stewart to make it 8-2 Horns. 2B Ethan Mendoza followed that up with an RBI single as he drove a ball into RF to make it 9-2 Horns. Unfortunately, the Horns could do more damage as Rylan Galvan hit into a 6-4-2 double play.
In the Top 4th, RHP Jason Flores got a ground out from the first batter, before giving up a single that was hit back up the middle. Flores then got the next batter to hit a pop up into foul territory, before issuing a walk to put a two runners on with 2 outs. Flores would get out of it though as the next batter hit a liner to the left side, only to be robbed of a hit by the diving Jalin Flores at SS.
In the Bottom 4th, the Horns were retired in order as HCU again went to the bullpen to bring in another reliever, sending it to the 5th inning with Horns leading 9-2.
In the Top 5th, Texas went to the bullpen and brought in RHP Grayson Saunier who needed just 7 pitches to retire the side in order, a feat which Schlossnagle praised after the game.
In the Bottom 5th, HCU again went to the bullpen. Kimble Schuessler led off the inning by striking out, followed by a walk from Jaquae Stewart. Freshman Jonah Williams would pinch run for Stewart at 1B. Tommy Farmer then drew a walk to put two runners on, still with just one out. Easton Winfield then hit into a fielder's choice putting runners on 1B and 3B with two outs, but not for long as Winfield swiped 2B to put two runners in scoring position. That brought Ethan Mendoza to the plate and as he did earlier in the game, he came through with a double to left CF to make it 11-2 Horns. Rylan Galvan would then reach based as he was pegged in the back on the first pitch to him, with the ump escorting him down the 1B line to the base. Oliver Service would enter the game as a pinch runner, but did not get to use the wheels as Will Gasparino grounded out to end the frame.
In the Top 6th, freshman RHP Drew Rerick came in to pitch for the Horns. On the first batter he faced, he filled up the zone with a 95-96 fastball, getting a strike out. Rerick then got a fly out to CF for a the second out, but that is when the trouble started. Rerick gave up a walk and then threw a wild pitch to the back stop to move the runner over to 2B, followed by another walk. After a quick chat with Max Weiner, Rerick got the next batter to hit the first pitch he offered onto the ground to Casey Borba at 3B who stepped on the bag to end the threat and keep it at 11-2 Horns.
In the Bottom 6th, HCU again went to the bullpen to bring in their closer, Norton. Jalin Flores led off with a double down the RF line, followed by a Casey Borba walk. Kimble Schuessler then reached on a fielder's choice with the play at 2B getting Borba out. With runners on 1B and 3B and just one out, Jonah Williams came to the play. Much like his only at-bat against Missouri, Jonah never really got a chance to hit the ball as he was hit by a pitch that missed badly inside to load the bases. Matt Scott then came to the plate as he pinch hit for Tommy Farmer, but unfortunately struck out for the 2nd out. Easton Winfield would draw his second walk of the night which made it 12-2 Horns.
In the Top 7th, Texas went to the bullpen again and brought in RHP Aiden Moffett to pitch. After hitting the first batter he faced with a 94mph fastball that ran inside, Moffett settled in to get back to back strikeouts, using a nasty 93-94 fastball and 82 breaking ball. Moffett would then issue a walk to the next batter, but bounced back to get a strike 3 looking to end the scoring threat and ball game as the Horns run ruled the Huskies.
BIG MOMENT
In the Bottom 3rd, after the Horns had given up a two spot and the Horns holding a 6-2 lead, Texas did exactly what you want them to do - respond.
Kimble Schuessler led off the bottom half of the frame and on a 1-1 count, he got a 82mph breaking ball right down the pipe and crushed it to LF over the bullpen wall to make it 7-2 Horns.
That home run was CRUSHED. 431 feet, 103 off the bat. yeesh!
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
It is a Doza world and we are just here to see it. Ethan Mendoza went 3-5 on the even with 1 run and 5 RBI.
Coach Schlossnagle said after the game that Ethan had been struggling a bit at the plate as of late, but worked on a few things in the cages with Tulo and his hard work definitely paid off. Mendoza would end up with a career high 5 RBI on the night and it is the perfect time to get him going as the Horns hit the road to face Kentucky.
TAKEAWAYS
Really nice win for the Horns as they not only run rule the Huskies, but they get to use a few arms out of the pen that haven't had opportunities up until this point. After the game, Coach Schloss specifically called out Grayson Saunier and Aiden Moffett for their performances, noting that Moffett had really looked good as of late in sim games, filling up the strike zone, and noting that he can be a real weapon out of the bullpen with his fastball.
Getting Ethan Mendoza going tonight was another big lift for the club as they prepare to travel to Kentucky for a weekend series, as they need their lead off man firing on all cylinders, especially given the fact that Max Belyeu is out of the foreseeable future. After the game, Schloss mentioned that Mendoza has been working on a few things in the cages with Tulo and got a chance to put them to practice tonight, so that is obviously very encouraging.
Another batter that put together a really nice night was Jaquae Stewart as he continues to settle into his role as DH, getting on base three times, twice by walk.
Finally, Easton Winfield was another guy that Schloss mentioned in post game that he was proud of for his performance. Winfield went 1-2 with a double and 2 RBI and added two walks. Tulo and Schloss challenged Winfield to not pull the ball at all tonight and instead focus on using the entire field and hitting to the Yeti Yard. He did exactly that. If the Horns can get offensive production from Winfield, that would be a massive boost offensively and help to continue filling out the lineup.
Overall, it was a nice team win in which the Horns were able to get out of the ball park early and get some rest before having to travel East, which their opponent Kentucky, went to extra innings against their rival, Louisville, expending a lot of energy in doing so.
Last thing to note tonight - I continue to hear that Adrian Rodriguez may make a return to the lineup in some capacity this weekend. That will certainly be something to follow.
NEXT UP
Horns (27-4, 11-1 SEC) head to Lexington to take on a tough Kentucky ball club
