Off and running: Texas at Rice series recap

[Matt Cotcher]

submitted on Today, 08:25 PM in Texas Longhorns Baseball By Matt Cotcher   

 @mlcotcher
 
Game 1: Texas 3 – Rice 1
Parker French solidified his value to this year’s roster by starting the season opener and limiting the Owls to 1 earned run in 5 IP. Rice’s lone run came on a sacrifice fly in the first inning. Travis Duke (2.0 IP), Connor Mayes (1.0 IP), and Ty Culbreth equaled French’s effort by providing four innings of scoreless relief.

On offense, Collin Shaw smacked two doubles, the second of which plated two unearned runs in the 7th inning. Shaw’s RBI double proved to be the game-winning hit.

The difference in the opening game of the series was Texas taking advantage of opportunities to score – the Horns scored an unearned run in the 5th, and both runs in the 7th were unearned (hit batter, and fielding error). Comparatively, the Texas defense turned three double plays to quash potential Rice rallies.


Game 2: Rice 10 – Texas 9

Sophomore Kacy Clemens, making his pitching debut at Texas, gave up six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Although the Horns clawed their way back into the game at several points, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

Clemens regained composure in the 2nd and 3rd frames before giving up a walk and a single to start the 4th. Sophomore lefthander Jon Malmin allowed both inherited runners to score in the 4th before settling in for three solid innings of work. Kirby Bellow pitched the final two frames and gave up one run.

Left fielder Ben Johnson was 4-5 at the plate (including a homerun) after three strikeouts in Game 1. Unlike Friday night, the Owls were productive with their offensive opportunities, pounding out 15 hits, including four for extra bases.


Game 3: Rice 5 – Texas 2

In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Longhorns never seemed to mentally overcome the narrow loss in the first game. The Owls scored their five runs in three of the first five innings and Texas didn’t score until late in the game.

Sophomore Josh Sawyer made his first career start and took the loss. On the positive side of the ledger, the sophomore pitched two scoreless frames in 4.1 innings of work and induced 7 groundouts. Two freshmen, Jake McKenzie and Tyler Schimpf, combined to provide 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Ben Johnson, Brooks Marlow, Bret Boswell and Collin Shaw produced 4 of the Longhorns’ 5 hits – each player hit safely in the first three games of the series. Texas’ two runs came in the form of a 2-run homer off the bat of Tres Barrera.

Rice’s starter, Ricardo Salinas, dazzled in his debut for the Owls. The true freshman tossed six scoreless innings before allowing Barrera’s homerun in the top of the 7th.


Game 4: Texas 4 – Rice 3 (10 innings)

True freshman Michael McCann’s two-out, RBI double in the 10th inning was the game winning hit. After four scoreless innings to start the game, Texas found themselves trailing by 3 runs with a steady onslaught of offense from Rice in the bottom of the fifth.

Chad Holligsworth started for the Horns and threw four scoreless innings before finding trouble in the fifth. Kirby Bellow and Ty Culbreth each pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, and true freshman Kyle Johnston came on in the 10th for the final two outs, recording his first collegiate save.

Ben Johnson and CJ Hinojosa each had RBI singles. Johsnson’s single in the seventh plated two runs and drew Texas within one run of tying the game.


Key Takeaways:

• First and foremost, this was a quality series against a talented team played on the road to open the season. Texas has Omaha-level aspirations this year, and this series was an excellent early mental test.

• Texas trailed in both games they won.

• Texas had eleven players make their debuts for weekend:

Freshmen:
Joe Baker
Michael Cantu
Kyle Johnston
Travis Jones
Michael McCann
Jake McKenzie
Patrick Mathis
Connor Mayes
Tyler Schimpf

Redshirt freshmen:
Bret Boswell
Connor Macalla

• In addition to those 11 players, sophomore Kacy Clemens made his first appearance as a pitcher and sophomore Josh Sawyer made his first career start.

• Texas turned four double plays in the four-game series.

• Texas had 3 players hit safely in all 4 games: Johnson, Boswell and Marlow.

• Six Texas pitchers finished the weekend without allowing a run:

Duke (Junior - 2 IP)
Johnston (Freshman - 2/3 IP)
Mayes (Freshman - 1 IP)
McKenzie (Freshman - 2 2/3 IP)
Schimpf (Freshman - 1 IP)

• Compounding the emotions of making his pitching debut, Clemens also had a true freshman at Catcher (Cantu).

 

[joeywa]

Cantu catching Clemens allowed Texas to add another weapon in the lineup to face LHP Fox.

Know you mentioned something in the game thread as well. I don't see any problem with it. And I don't think it made any difference in how Kacy pitched.

 

[joeywa]

It cannot be stressed enough that 9 true freshmen and 2 RS freshmen saw action this weekend.  The experience those guys received in this series will pay dividends later in the season. 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Cantu catching Clemens allowed Texas to add another weapon in the lineup to face LHP Fox.

Know you mentioned something in the game thread as well. I don't see any problem with it. And I don't think it made any difference in how Kacy pitched.

Clemens' issue on Saturday was all between the ears. I'll be interested to find out who has been catching him in practice.

Being totally dialed in mentally is often the only difference between allowing six runs and one. If a pitcher is thinking about who it behind the mitt instead of the mitt, that's enough (at the college level) to affect him.

I'm not excusing Clemens' performance, rather I'm suggesting that the catcher could have been a considerable contributor.

 

[joeywa]

I think that inning had to do with several things.

• The defense wasn't on point as well as they should have been.
• This was his first game action in over a year, and first as a college pitcher.
• Rice was pounding any fastball he offered up, and the flood gates were opened.
• Nerves. 

Now, take a look at how that inning went:

1. Chandler leads off with a standup double on the 0-1 pitch.  Johnson throws to 2B and nobody is there, E7 and now leadoff is on 3B.
2. Stainback hits a dribbler on 1-1 down the 1B line, Clemens rushes the throw and it's high; Stainback is safe.  Runners at corners.
3. Byrd hits first pitch-Sac fly to LF; Chandler scores.
4. Reeves takes the 2-0 pitch over LF fence; 2 run HR
5. Teykl hits 2-1 pitch to LF and it gets past a diving Ben Johnson-Triple
6. Gray hits first pitch through right side for an RBI single (14)
7. Warren takes 3-1 pitch back up the middle for a single; runners on 1&2
8. Taylor hits 1st pitch up the middle for an RBI double; runners on 2&3
9. Williamson hits the 1-0 pitch to Marlow; FC allows 1 run to score

So, 9 batters, 22 pitches, (13 strikes & 9 balls,) 7 hits, one SAC, one FC and 6 runs.  Also 3 different mound visits. 

He was pounding the zone.

One score-book error on Johnson, one poor throw by Clemens to 1B that misses a sure out, and one chance taken by Johnson that turns a single into a triple. 

Johnny Bench could have been behind the dish and it would not have mattered.  Rice found their groove for an inning. 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

:lol:   I read your response and thought, "Exactly my point!"

An inch or two in pitch location can be the difference between solid contact and a groundie (that's what she said). If he's thinking about anything at all other than the mitt, his ability to control/locate is going to be off slightly. 

We just see this one differently.

 

[joeywa]

I know that both catchers have a great relationship with not only Clemens but all of our pitchers.  They've all been working together, so it's not like there isn't a familiarity.  I just think Rice caught lightening in a bottle on Sat in the 1st inning.  The Clemens you saw in the 2nd and 3rd innings is closer to what we should see moving forward as he gets better.

And this weekend will definitely allow the young pitchers to grow.  They'll learn what worked, what didn't and become better pitchers for it.  This is why I'm very glad we play teams like Rice & Stanford in non conference rather than someone like Holy Cross. 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

One of measures Garrido uses to gauge his team is how many "Division I caliber" players are playing/starting at a position. I'm hoping he'll tell us how many he thinks Minnesota has...

 

[Coal Harbour]

Clemens seemed to be behind in the count to most hitters in the opening frame and that certainly contributed to the wheels flying off more than Cantu playing catcher.  Just can't get behind quality hitters as his next start will tell us alot about where he is at mentally and ability to make adjustments between starts.