FINAL
UTRGV Vaqueros - 4
Texas Longhorns - 11
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Kade Bing (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Jacob Limas (1-2)
RECAP
In the Top 1st, LHP Kade Bing hit a batter with one out and then gave up a single, but got the next batter to hit into a pitchers best friend, a ground ball double play.
In the Bottom 1st, 1B Kimble Schuessler, taking the lead off spot for the first time since the Dartmouth series led off with a walk. C Rylan Galvan then worked a walk after a 13 pitch at-bat, putting the first two men on base. SS Jalin Flores got a pitch he could hit on a 1-0 count and hit it to LF for a 2 run RBI double, giving the Horns a 2-0 lead. CF Will Gasparino and 2B Adrian Rodriguez struck out and flied out to LF, bringing 3B Casey Borba to the plate. On a 0-2 count, Borba smashed a liner down the LF line for an RBI double giving the Horns a 3-0 lead.
In the Top 2nd, Kade Bing was back on the mound and struck out the first two batters, the first swinging and the second looking. Bing then got Rene Galvan to pop up to Jalin Flores at SS.
In the Bottom 2nd, UTRGV went to the bullpen. RF Tommy Farmer led off with a single up the middle past the diving SS. LF Easton Winfield then hit a single to left field to once again put the first two runners on. 1B Kimble Schuessler then dropped down a perfect bunt down the 3B line for an infield single to load the bases with no outs. Rylan Galvan then worked a walk, brining in another run to make it 4-0 Horns. Jalin Flores would strike out for the first out, but the bases were still loaded for CF Will Gasparino who hit a two run RBI single up the middle to make it 6-0 Horns. 2B Adrian Rodriguez then drew a walk to load the bases up again. 3B Casey Borba then drew a walk to bring in another run making it 7-0 Horns. Unfortunately, Jaquae Stewart hit into a ground ball double play to end the frame.
In the Top 3rd, Kade Bing again worked a quick 1-2-3 with three straight fly outs to RF.
In the Bottom 3rd, UTRGV went to the bullpen again. Once again, Tommy Farmer led off with a single, this time to left CF, followed by a walk from Easton Winfield. Kimble Schuessler then drew a walk to load the bases again. Rylan Galvan came to the plate with no outs and the bases loaded and was hit by a pitch to bring in another run to make it 8-0 Horns. That prompted another call to the bullpen by UTRGV. Jalin Flores then popped up to 1B for the first out, bringing Will Gasparino to the plate, who hit a single to LF to bring home a run to make it 9-0 Horns. That was all the Horns would get as Rodriguez flied out and then Borba fouled out to 1B.
Top 4th - Kade Bing again retired the side in order, getting a ground out and then striking out the next two batters, both looking.
In the Bottom 4th, UTRGV went to the pen again and then time was able to retire the Horns in order and prevent them from scoring for the first time in the game.
In the Top 5th, Kade Bing was back out and got a 1 out single, but that was all he gave up as he got back to back fly outs to put up another zero.
In the Bottom 5th, UTRGV went back to the bullpen, but without success as the pitcher led off the inning by hitting Kimble Schuessler on a pitch that ran inside. Rylan Galvan then hit a liner down the LF line for an RBI double to make it 10-0 Horns. Oliver Service came in to pinch run for Galvan at 2B and would move over to 3B on a passed ball. After Jalin Flores struck out, Will Gasparino hit a shallow fly ball to RF allowing Oliver Service to tag and score on a heads up running play as the RF stumbled and had no chance to throw home to make it 11-0 Horns.
In the Top 6th, Kade Bing gave up a lead off single, then another single, and then another single, this time up the middle to bring home a run to make it 11-1 Horns. Jim Schlossnagle made a call to the bullpen and brought in Andre Duplantier, who made his 85th appearance for the Horns, which ties him with Chance Ruffin for 9th all-time. Duplantier got the first batter to fly out to shallow LF and then got the next batter to hit a grounder to Kimble Schuessler who fired to Jalin Flores at 2B who relayed the throw back to 1B to Andre Duplantier who was covering who had to reach back, but made the catch to complete the double play.
In the Bottom 6th, UTRGV again went to the bullpen and for the second time in the game were able to retire the Horns in order.
In the Top 7th, Duplantier was back on the mound and got the first batter to strike out looking. He then gave up a single to RF, prompting the Horns to make another call to the bullpen, this time bringing in LHP Ethan Walker to pitch, his first career appearance for the Horns. Rene Galvan got a single to left field to put two runners on with 1 out. Walker got the next batter, a pinch hitter to strike out swinging to put the Horns within 1 out of a run-rule. Unfortunately, what should have been the last out, a fly ball to LF popped out of the glove of Easton Winfield and dropped in, scoring two runs and putting a runner on 2B, making it 11-3 Horns. Walker then gave up an RBI single to CF to make it 11-4 Horns, but bounced back to get a strike out swinging to end the top half of the frame.
In the Bottom 7th, Jayden Duplantier pinch hit for Easton Winfield. Duplantier popped out to 2B for the first out. Kimble Schuessler then hit a double to LF putting a runner in scoring position. Unfortunately, Oliver Service struck out swinging, following by a fly out by Jalin Flores.
In the Top 8th, RHP Jason Flores came in to pitch and retired the side with a pair of strikeouts sandwiching a ground out. Flores threw his high velo fastball of the season, hitting 96 on several pitches, while also hitting 97 and 98 once each.
In the Top Bottom 8th, UTRGV went to the bullpen again. Will Gasparino led off with a walk, followed by Adrian Rodriguez getting pegged in the thing by a 81mph breaking ball. Casey Borba then struck out for the first out. Jonah Williams pinch hit for Matt Scott, but struck out looking on a 84mph breaking ball . A failed pickoff attempt ended up in CF, moving the runners to 2B and 3B, but Tommy Farmer flied out to LF on a line drive to end the frame.
In the Top 9th, Jason Flores was back on the mound. He gave up a single to left field, but then got Rene Galvan to hit a ball to Kimble Schuessler who stepped on the bag and fired to Flores at 2B for the double play. Flores then struck out the last batter looking to end the game.
BIG MOMENT
In the Bottom 1st, the first two batters reached via walk, including a 13 pitch at bat by Rylan Galvan. Jalin Flores came to the plate and on a 1-0 count ripped a liner to LF for a 2 run RBI double to make it 2-0 Horns. After back to back outs, Casey Borba hit a double down the LF line to make it 3-0 Horns. The first inning set the tone as the Horns would score 9 runs over the first three innings to really put the game out of reach.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Will Gasparino helped drive the Horns offense tonight going 2-3 with 4 RBI and a walk
Honorable Mention - Kimble Schuessler who handled lead off role tonight going 2-2 with 3 runs and 2 BB
TAKEAWAYS
Nice Tuesday night win over a Top 50 RPI club. It was not perfect and should have been a run-rule, but the drop in LF by Easton Winfield negated that. Overall though, the Horns took advantage of the free passes and got timely hits when they needed them, plus a great starting performance from starter Kade Bing.
A great tune-up for the Horns prior to another Top 10 SEC matchup, which is especially important given the short week.
NEXT UP:
#1 Horns (30-5, 13-2 SEC) welcome #8 Auburn Tigers (27-10, 9-6 SEC) for a three game series
