Game 2 - Texas vs OU (Recap & post-game added)

[joeywa]

did Clemens get the win? I'm too lazy to look.

I'd tell you, but since you're going to watch the replay,  I don't want to play spoiler.

 

[duqu]

I'd tell you, but since you're going to watch the replay, I don't want to play spoiler.

butthead

 

[armadillo slim]

Stick around a while. I think you'll like the culture here.

The only culture we've got around here is Staphylococcus

 

[java]

slim, is your experienced hat still in the office?

 

[Matt Cotcher]

 
submitted Today, 08:34 PM in Texas Longhorns Baseball By Matt Cotcher   

 @mlcotcher
 
FINAL: Texas 4 – Oklahoma 1

After losing another extra-inning hearbreaker on Friday night, Texas faced a must-win situation on Saturday against Oklahoma, their staff ace Alec Hansen, and his 99 mph fastball. The Horns responded with a 4-1 win, using a three run, sixth inning to provide the margin of victory.

When asked if Saturday’s response by the team showed the heart of a champion, Augie Garrido quipped, “Maybe they just got tired of losing.” Texas' overall record now stands at 19-16 and the team is 6-5 in conference play.

Hansen and Texas starter Kacy Clemens held the two offenses in check for the first five frames. The teams each scored a single run early, but Hansen and Clemens did a solid job of keeping hitters off balance.<br>
The Longhorns’ run came in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI groundout by CJ Hinojosa that scored Michael Cantu. That run and Clemens’ six innings pitched where he only allowed one earned run and struck out four Sooners, was enough to keep Texas in the game until the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the home half of the sixth frame, the Longhorns got an RBI triple from Bret Boswell, followed by RBI singles from Tres Barrera and Zane Gurwitz to post three more runs, vaulting Texas to a 4-1 lead. In addition to their RBI, Boswell and Barrera each had two hits and scored a run.

Ty Culbreth, Ty Marlow, and Kirby Bellow shutout OU over the final three innings, with Bellow earning his fourth save of the season. In addition to the strong pitching and timely hitting, Texas played outstanding defense throughout the afternoon.

Both Boswell and Joe Baker had slick plays on the left side of the infield, Texas turned two double plays, and two Sooners were caught stealing. After the game Clemens praised the effort, “The defense really helped me out a lot today.”


POST GAME

Augie Garrido

On responding to last night's loss: â€œI think they obviously found something. Maybe they just got tired of losing. Who knows? I don't know. What I know is they did much better today.”

On the defensive effort: â€œI think the team played well behind him [Kacy Clemens] defensively. There were some really good plays being made. [bret] Boswell probably stole the show on offense and defense - became a key player. It all got down to one inning. We put the three runs up. Hopefully we'll build off of that.”

On the offensive breakthrough: â€œWe put a good rally together in the (sixth) inning and had some timely hits, and we sustained the rally. That's what we haven't been doing, and by doing that, we got the win."

On Kacy Clemens: â€œWe got a very good job on the mound from Kacy [Clemens]. He added his curveball today, which he hasn't had command of to the level that he did today. When you put that in with the fastball, then his curveball, then his changeup, he's got some pretty good weapons that he didn't have at the start of the season. He's getting better every game.”

On veteran's involvement: â€œYeah, they had much better presence I thought, and I think they had more of a focus and a purpose. They had better timing.”

Kacy Clemens

On if things were easier for him today: â€œAs far as feeling any different than any other start, not really. I felt good. I've felt good all year, but everything is starting to come together. The defense really helped me out a lot today.”

On his start: â€œI felt good today, actually. Last weekend, we had a few long games and my legs were kind of not underneath me. This time we were able to come out, and I felt good. Skip [Johnson] and I have been working on some stuff."

On the specifics of his work with Skip Johnson: â€œHonestly, it's not much technical stuff. My mechanics are good. My pitches are good. More how to attack, when to attack, certain pitches, how hitters guess in certain situations. More of getting ahead, staying ahead and not walking people. Of course the one run they get is on a walk, so just stuff like that.”

On the team’s potential: â€œWe obviously came together as a team last night and talked about some stuff. We've just got to execute, and when we do, we're good. When we don't, sometimes we fall short, but today we got a lot of timely hits. The bats kind of woke up again. [Michael] Cantu did a great job behind the plate throwing two guys out. Defense really came out to play. We got out of a jam early with that line drive double play with Brooks [Marlow]. Teamwork is really what we need, and that's what came out and showed out well today.”

Bret Boswell

On returning to game action: â€œI was ready. I've been working on stuff the past couple of days. It gave me some time to get back in the swing of things, take my mind off of it, and then today just get back into it.”
On facing Alec Hansen’s fastball in his first game back: “I faced him a couple of times this summer, so I had already seen him a little bit. It was kind of a little overwhelming at first, but I felt comfortable in there. I saw the ball well.”

On what was different today: â€œEverybody is just tired of the way we've been playing. Kind of not competing, not really executing in certain situations and big situations, and I think we just really did that today.” 

 

[Etex Horn]

Anytime Texas beats OU...regardless of the sport...is another Great Day in my life.  Hope we can

take the series tomorrow.  GREAT DEFENSE today, Texas Baseball team!  Way to pitch Clemens!  

Hook 'em Horns!! 

Thanks to my parents for insisting I attend...and paying my way through...THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS!!!

 

[streettopeschel]

Glad to get the recap. Family duties took me away.

Absolutely a must win today. Get game 3 tomorrow and the awesome brisket I'll be smoking will taste even better.

Forecast here (boerne) is rain. Hopefully they play ball in ATX

 

[java]

Anytime Texas beats OU...regardless of the sport...is another Great Day in my life.  Hope we can

take the series tomorrow.  GREAT DEFENSE today, Texas Baseball team!  Way to pitch Clemens!  

Hook 'em Horns!! 

Thanks to my parents for insisting I attend...and paying my way through...THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS!!!

I echo that sentiment.  My parents were so proud that I attended The University, and they paid my way through.  Of course, I was brought up going to UT games, sitting in the 'knothole' (great place), and learning all things Longhorn.  Greatness.

Hook 'em!