GAME THREAD – Horns host Santa Clara

[Sirhornsalot]

The Horns open a 3-game weekend series with Santa Clara Friday.

Santa Clara (7-4-0) vs Texas (9-1-0)

Mar 7 (Fri) 6:30 p.m. CT
Austin, Texas UFCU Disch-Falk Field
TV: SEC Network+

 

[david ficken]

A big thank you to SHA for starting this tread.

Also, please note that to listen to the series stream the radio through Texassports.com (Friday Craig and Keith) (Saturday Rob and Keith), and (Sunday Keith and Rob?) and that @joeywa on X (Twitter).

A few notes for the series:
Can Mendoza and Beyleu keep the 1-2 punch at the top of the order going.

L.Harrison, has as many or close to as many strikeouts as innings pitched.

Kade Bing needs to show he is ready for a Sunday start or should Dylan Volantis or Jason Flores be ready for Sunday?

Will we see more of Hamilton and Navarre this weekend? Can Mercar and/or McCreery show that they can do more than throw balls and WP and HBP? This will help the bullpen if they can.

 

[BWilk55]

Kade Bing needs to show he is ready for a Sunday start or should Dylan Volantis or Jason Flores be ready for Sunday?

Volantis will get the Sunday start per the baseball twitter

 

[david ficken]

Thru 1 complete 0-0. Both pitchers threw lots of pitches Spencer 26 and the Santa Clara pitcher 29.

 

[david ficken]

Thru 2 complete 0-0. Texas has had both lead off hitters get to scoring position, but left stranded at 3rd base in the 1st and 2nd base in the 2nd. Have to see how the Santa Clara pitcher goes as he has thrown 50 or pitches in 1st 2 innings.

Spencer threw 26 pitches in the 1st, but has settled down since.

 

[david ficken]

Thru 4 complete 0-0.

 

[david ficken]

Thru 5 complete. Texas leads 2-0. Spencer has thrown 87 pitches, with 8 strikeouts. Will see of he comes back out for the 6th with a lead and is the pitcher of record if Texas wins.
Grubbs has come in to start the 6th.

 

[david ficken]

Santa Clara gets 1 run back in the top of the 6th. Texas leads 2-1. Heading to the Texas half of the 6th.

 

[david ficken]

Thru 8 complete 4-1 Texas.
Texas adds a run after 4 straight walks.
Grubbs is out for the top of the 9th.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Good showing by Spencer. Come on bring it home Grubbs!

 

[david ficken]

Texas wins 4-2. Win streak at 11.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Texas wins 4-2. Win streak at 11.

Your thoughts on Spencer tonight?

 

[david ficken]

Your thoughts on Spencer tonight?

Spencer had solid outing. He does what you want going 5 innings though one might like to see him get thru 6 innings, but he got 8 strikeouts no runs allowed. Would need to double check on the walks, but the fact that he had several groundouts to go with the strikeouts is what you want.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Spencer had solid outing. He does what you want going 5 innings though one might like to see him get thru 6 innings, but he got 8 strikeouts no runs allowed. Would need to double check on the walks, but the fact that he had several groundouts to go with the strikeouts is what you want.

Yeah, the 8 Ks is a good night. Ground outs and pop flies make a pitcher look good and can keep pitch counts low.

Its a good start, but like you I'd like to see him go deeper into the game.

 

[Wayne]

Yeah, the 8 Ks is a good night. Ground outs and pop flies make a pitcher look good and can keep pitch counts low.

Its a good start, but like you I'd like to see him go deeper into the game.

It’s more than just a good start. He didn’t give up any runs. I’d consider that excellent but not great. A good start would be pitching to a sub 4 era so two runs in 5 innings.

 

[david ficken]

Game 2
1 inning complete Texas leads 2-0.

 

[david ficken]

Thru 2 complete
Texas adds a run. Now leads 3-0. Could have been more, but infield fly rule and fly out to CF ends the 2nd inning.

 

[david ficken]

Thru 4 complete Texas leads 7-1. Harrison doesn't make out of the 4th inning. Riojas comes in to get all 3 outs in the top of the 4th while limiting the scoring to just 1.
Texas half of the 4th. Multiple walks and 2 HBP. But Beyleu gets tagged out at 3rd on a double steal. Borba clears the bases with a double.
The outfielders are having adventures with the wind.

 

[david ficken]

Thru 6 complete Texas leads 7-2.
Santa Clara adds a run in the top of the 5th with a wind aided double to bring in the run.

 

[david ficken]

In the top of the 8th. Duplantier comes in with 2 outs for Riojas. Riojas went 4.2 innings 3 strikeouts, but 4 walks giving up 2 runs including a homerun in the 8th.
Texas leads 7-3 going to the Texas half of the 8th.