FINAL
Washington Huskies - 9
Texas Longhorns - 10
Winning Pitcher: Jared Spencer (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Max Banks (1-2)
Save: Max Grubbs (2)
RECAP
Baseball. Whew!
Sometimes baseball loves you and sometimes baseball hates you. Tonight was a perfect example of that as the Horns held on to win a narrow one run game against the Huskies in Las Vegas.
Going into the Top 7th, it looked like the Horns might be able to rack up their second run rule of the season, only to see everything come crashing down on them. At the end of the day though, the Horns got the win and despite how it looks, that is all that matters. Ask the #1 ranked team if they would rather have an ugly win or a close loss.
The game started out with both teams getting men on the basepaths, but coming up empty thanks to a pitcher's best friend, the double play.
After LHP Jared Spencer sat the Huskies down 1-2-3 in the Top 2nd, the Horns came to bat in the Bottom 2nd. After back to back strikeouts, it looked like the Horns might go quietly, but instead SS Jalin Flores turned on a mistake pitch by RHP Max Banks and gave it a ride to LF for a solo home run. The HR by Jalin Flores was 103.5 off the bat and went 414 feet.
The Huskies were able to bounce right back in the Top 3rd though as DH Cooper Whitton took advantage of a two strike fastball that was left up and gave it a ride for a solo shot to tie things up at 1-1.
After a quiet 4th inning, the Horns once again took the lead in the Bottom 5th as SS Jalin Flores took advantage of a breaking ball that caught too much of the plate and deposited it over the LF wall. The second HR of the night by Flores went 103.3 off the bat and 396 feet.
In the Top 6th, LHP Jared Spencer got into some trouble after starting off with back to back strikeouts, but was able to bounce back and register his 9th strikeout of the night to preserve the 2-1 Horns lead.
In the Bottom 6th, the Horns went to the craps table and rolled 7s. RF Max Belyeu got things started with a 1 out single up the middle. CF Will Gasparino battled back to draw a walk. 3B Adrian Rodriguez then hit a grounder past the 1B defender to load the bases with just 1 out. 1B Kimble Schuessler, who had failed to register a hit since this past weekend came up and hit a liner through the right side for a 2 run RBI single. SS Jalin Flores was then his by a pitch in the foot, which prompted a pitching change by Washington. Freshman DH Cole Chamberlain collected the first hit of his collegiate career on a 3-1 count where he hit a chopper into RF to plate two more runs. After LF Tommy Farmer struck out, C Rylan Galvan came up to the plate and took advantage of a pitch at the knees over the heart of the plate, sending it over the RF wall for 3 run oppo taco! 2B Ethan Mendoza, who led off the inning at the plate hit a triple into the RF corner but RF Max Belyeu was unable to bring him home as he grounded out. After the dust settled, the Horns had a 9-1 lead over the Huskies and were firmly in control of the game....until they weren't.
In the Top 7th, the Horns turned to RHP Cody Howard. The first batter reached back on a softly hit grounder to the right side that was originally ruled an error on Kimble Schuessler, but later over turned. The next batter then hit laid down a bunt to 3B, putting two runners on with no outs, after a successful review overturn of the original call of out at 1B. Cody Howard then gave up a hard single to the right side to load the bases with no outs. AJ Guerrero proceeded to hit a grand slam to RF to make it a 9-5 game. After Washington got another single off of Cody Howard, Coach Jim Schlossnagle decided he had seen enough and went to the bullpen, bringing in RHP Ruger Riojas.
Unfortuantely, things did not get better. After getting the first out via a pop up to RF, Ruger gave up a single and walk, then advancing the runners on a wild pitch, which allowed the Huskies to plate a run. Ruger was quickly lifted after giving up a single, with Schlossnagle turning to RHP Thomas Burns. The Arizona State transfer gave up an RBI single through the left side after a long battle, making it 9-7 Horns. Thankfully Burns got back to back strikeouts to preserve the lead.
In the Bottom 7th, Will Gasparino led off with a walk and then moved to 3B on a Adrian Rodriguez single to RF. Will Gasparino came home to score, even though Kimble Schuessler hit into a double play, giving the Horns a 10-7 lead.
In the Top 8th, Burns walked the first batter he saw, then hit the next batter, and then loaded the bases with no outs after walking the third batter he saw, prompting Schlossnagle to once again go to the pen. The Horns turned to the veteran righty, Andre Duplantier.
Duplantier hit the first batter he saw, despite being ahead in the count to make it 10-8. The next batter make it 10-9 after hitting a fielders choice to Jalin Flores at SS. Duplantier was able to get back to back strikeouts to end the scoring threat and preserve the Texas lead at 10-9.
In the Top 9th, Schlossnagle turned to Jr RHP Max Grubbs who slammed the door on the Huskies earning his second save of the season and giving the Horns their 7th win of the season.
BIG MOMENT
In the Top 8th, the Horns had a 10-9 lead and the Huskies had 1 out and runners on 2B and 3B with Duplantier on the mound, having already given up two runs via HBP and Fielder's Choice.
Dre dug in and was able to take advantage of a pair of uber aggressive hitters getting back to back strikeouts to help preserve the lead.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Pitcher: LHP Jared Spencer: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K
Hitter: Jalin Flores 2-2, 3 R, 2 HR, 1 BB, 1 HBP
TAKEAWAYS
Obviously it would have been nice if Cody Howard and the bullpen had not imploded, allowing the Horns to cruise, but the fact is a win is a win. That is all that matters at the end of the day.
I hate getting a reliever warm and then sitting him down, especially for an inning plus. That is exactly what happened to Ruger Riojas and I think it had an effect as he was not his normally sharp self.
Overall, it was great to see the offense get going, especially guys like Jalin Flores and Kimble Schuessler. Ethan Mendoza continues to put together really good ABs at the top of the lineup.
Due to the late start and length of the game, the Horns will need to quickly flush this game as they face the Red Raiders a little later today who will be on a high after coming back to win their opening game against Illinois yesterday.
NEXT UP
Texas (7-1) v. Texas Tech (2-5) at 6pm CT
Washington Huskies - 9
Texas Longhorns - 10
Winning Pitcher: Jared Spencer (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Max Banks (1-2)
Save: Max Grubbs (2)
RECAP
Baseball. Whew!
Sometimes baseball loves you and sometimes baseball hates you. Tonight was a perfect example of that as the Horns held on to win a narrow one run game against the Huskies in Las Vegas.
Going into the Top 7th, it looked like the Horns might be able to rack up their second run rule of the season, only to see everything come crashing down on them. At the end of the day though, the Horns got the win and despite how it looks, that is all that matters. Ask the #1 ranked team if they would rather have an ugly win or a close loss.
The game started out with both teams getting men on the basepaths, but coming up empty thanks to a pitcher's best friend, the double play.
After LHP Jared Spencer sat the Huskies down 1-2-3 in the Top 2nd, the Horns came to bat in the Bottom 2nd. After back to back strikeouts, it looked like the Horns might go quietly, but instead SS Jalin Flores turned on a mistake pitch by RHP Max Banks and gave it a ride to LF for a solo home run. The HR by Jalin Flores was 103.5 off the bat and went 414 feet.
The Huskies were able to bounce right back in the Top 3rd though as DH Cooper Whitton took advantage of a two strike fastball that was left up and gave it a ride for a solo shot to tie things up at 1-1.
After a quiet 4th inning, the Horns once again took the lead in the Bottom 5th as SS Jalin Flores took advantage of a breaking ball that caught too much of the plate and deposited it over the LF wall. The second HR of the night by Flores went 103.3 off the bat and 396 feet.
In the Top 6th, LHP Jared Spencer got into some trouble after starting off with back to back strikeouts, but was able to bounce back and register his 9th strikeout of the night to preserve the 2-1 Horns lead.
In the Bottom 6th, the Horns went to the craps table and rolled 7s. RF Max Belyeu got things started with a 1 out single up the middle. CF Will Gasparino battled back to draw a walk. 3B Adrian Rodriguez then hit a grounder past the 1B defender to load the bases with just 1 out. 1B Kimble Schuessler, who had failed to register a hit since this past weekend came up and hit a liner through the right side for a 2 run RBI single. SS Jalin Flores was then his by a pitch in the foot, which prompted a pitching change by Washington. Freshman DH Cole Chamberlain collected the first hit of his collegiate career on a 3-1 count where he hit a chopper into RF to plate two more runs. After LF Tommy Farmer struck out, C Rylan Galvan came up to the plate and took advantage of a pitch at the knees over the heart of the plate, sending it over the RF wall for 3 run oppo taco! 2B Ethan Mendoza, who led off the inning at the plate hit a triple into the RF corner but RF Max Belyeu was unable to bring him home as he grounded out. After the dust settled, the Horns had a 9-1 lead over the Huskies and were firmly in control of the game....until they weren't.
In the Top 7th, the Horns turned to RHP Cody Howard. The first batter reached back on a softly hit grounder to the right side that was originally ruled an error on Kimble Schuessler, but later over turned. The next batter then hit laid down a bunt to 3B, putting two runners on with no outs, after a successful review overturn of the original call of out at 1B. Cody Howard then gave up a hard single to the right side to load the bases with no outs. AJ Guerrero proceeded to hit a grand slam to RF to make it a 9-5 game. After Washington got another single off of Cody Howard, Coach Jim Schlossnagle decided he had seen enough and went to the bullpen, bringing in RHP Ruger Riojas.
Unfortuantely, things did not get better. After getting the first out via a pop up to RF, Ruger gave up a single and walk, then advancing the runners on a wild pitch, which allowed the Huskies to plate a run. Ruger was quickly lifted after giving up a single, with Schlossnagle turning to RHP Thomas Burns. The Arizona State transfer gave up an RBI single through the left side after a long battle, making it 9-7 Horns. Thankfully Burns got back to back strikeouts to preserve the lead.
In the Bottom 7th, Will Gasparino led off with a walk and then moved to 3B on a Adrian Rodriguez single to RF. Will Gasparino came home to score, even though Kimble Schuessler hit into a double play, giving the Horns a 10-7 lead.
In the Top 8th, Burns walked the first batter he saw, then hit the next batter, and then loaded the bases with no outs after walking the third batter he saw, prompting Schlossnagle to once again go to the pen. The Horns turned to the veteran righty, Andre Duplantier.
Duplantier hit the first batter he saw, despite being ahead in the count to make it 10-8. The next batter make it 10-9 after hitting a fielders choice to Jalin Flores at SS. Duplantier was able to get back to back strikeouts to end the scoring threat and preserve the Texas lead at 10-9.
In the Top 9th, Schlossnagle turned to Jr RHP Max Grubbs who slammed the door on the Huskies earning his second save of the season and giving the Horns their 7th win of the season.
BIG MOMENT
In the Top 8th, the Horns had a 10-9 lead and the Huskies had 1 out and runners on 2B and 3B with Duplantier on the mound, having already given up two runs via HBP and Fielder's Choice.
Dre dug in and was able to take advantage of a pair of uber aggressive hitters getting back to back strikeouts to help preserve the lead.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Pitcher: LHP Jared Spencer: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K
Hitter: Jalin Flores 2-2, 3 R, 2 HR, 1 BB, 1 HBP
TAKEAWAYS
Obviously it would have been nice if Cody Howard and the bullpen had not imploded, allowing the Horns to cruise, but the fact is a win is a win. That is all that matters at the end of the day.
I hate getting a reliever warm and then sitting him down, especially for an inning plus. That is exactly what happened to Ruger Riojas and I think it had an effect as he was not his normally sharp self.
Overall, it was great to see the offense get going, especially guys like Jalin Flores and Kimble Schuessler. Ethan Mendoza continues to put together really good ABs at the top of the lineup.
Due to the late start and length of the game, the Horns will need to quickly flush this game as they face the Red Raiders a little later today who will be on a high after coming back to win their opening game against Illinois yesterday.
NEXT UP
Texas (7-1) v. Texas Tech (2-5) at 6pm CT
