***Texas Baseball vs TCU Weekend Series Thread***

[joeywa]

T4

Gordon gets 2 outs with runners on the corners.  Plays around with runner on 1B holding him on, then throws a WP to plate a run and tie the game at 2.

Headed B4

 

[joeywa]

B4

Leadoff single from Ardoin and a bunt single from Todd puts runners on 1&2 w/0 outs.

Messinger pops up a bunt and Daly hits into a DP to end the frame

Tied at 2 thru 4 complete

 

[joeywa]

T5

Gordon works a 1-2-3 frame

Tied at 2, headed B5

 

[joeywa]

B5

Horns retired in order

Game tied at 2 thru 5

 

[joeywa]

T6

Gordon gets 2 quick outs

Gives up a single and a double, and his day is done

Sthele on to pitch for the Horns

Sthele gets a U3 to end it

Game tied at 2 headed B6

Gordon will get a no decision in this outing.

 

[joeywa]

B6

1-out double by Stehly, Ardoin single puts runners on the corners.

RBI Single by Todd gives Texas a 3-2 lead

Messinger hits into 5-3 DP to end it

Thru 6, Horns up 3-2

 

[joeywa]

T7

Sthele faces the minimum.  1 out single is erased with a 6-4-3 DP

Horns up 3-2 headed B7

Y'all stretch.

 

[joeywa]

B7

2-out RBI Double from Hodo puts the Horns up 4-2

Melendez follows with an RBI Single into LF; Horns up 5-2 thru 7 complete

 

[joeywa]

T8

Eckhardt on to pitch the 8th in relief of Sthele

Gives up a 1-out solo HR over RCF wall; Horns up 5-3

Eckhardt walks a couple with 2 outs, then gets a pop fly to end it.

Headed B8, Horns up 5-3

 

[joeywa]

B8

Ardoin draws leadoff walk

TCU goes to the pen for their closer, LHP Ridings

Todd gets an FC E1 as P throws the ball into CF trying for the DP; runners on corners

Messinger RBI single up the middle; Horns up 6-3; runners again on corners

Daly F6; 1 out

Faltine SAC FLY; F9, RBI; Horns up 7-3

We go to the 9th, Horns up 7-3; Cobb on to close it

 

[joeywa]

T9

Cobb on to pitch.

Gives up a leadoff double, but gets 2 fly balls and a KS to end it

Horns win the game and the series.

 

[joeywa]

[No message]

 

[Dillohorn1]

Need sweeps when playing at home.

 

[joeywa]

Need sweeps when playing at home.

Sweeps against top 25 teams are difficult to begin with. Add to that an unexpected hiccup from your #2 starter, and that amplifies the challenge. Taking 2/3 from TCU is not a bad thing. 
Horns need to take care of midweek business, then go to K St next weekend and not let down. 
There are 15 conf games left, and 7 midweeks, plus a few B12 tourney games. Horns have 24 wins right now. The goal is 40-45 in my mind.  That gets them a top 16 seed with a strong chance at top 8. Keep those numbers in mind as we move through the next few weeks. RPI & SOS are strong enough. Just need to add to the win column. Three of the remaining five conference series are at Disch, with only KSt & WVU on the road. 

 

[tejasrulz]

Eckhardt on to pitch the 8th in relief of Sthele

Gives up a 1-out solo HR over RCF wall; Horns up 5-3

Eckhardt walks a couple with 2 outs, then gets a pop fly to end it.

There were 3 pitches Eckhardt threw that looked like strikes on the TV. Luckily, they didn't hurt us.

 

[joeywa]

There were 3 pitches Eckhardt threw that looked like strikes on the TV. Luckily, they didn't hurt us.

Yes. Blue’s zone floated a bit intermittently as the game went on, for both teams. 

 

[BWilk55]

Nixon, IMO, was used in middle relief to give him an opportunity to pitch some less stressful frames and work on his command/control of the fastball.  That had been lacking.  He had one solid frame.  Came out and couldn't locate.  I believe the staff is trying to get his confidence back.  This is a way to do that. 

Agreed. He's definitely on shaky ground. Hopefully they can get him locked in. 

Cobb got the ball in game 3. Nixon hypothetically could have gone out there to close it out. Not sure if they wanted to save his arm with the Saturday inning and a 4 run lead. Just something to watch going forward.

 

[BWilk55]

Agreed. He's definitely on shaky ground. Hopefully they can get him locked in. 

Cobb got the ball in game 3. Nixon hypothetically could have gone out there to close it out. Not sure if they wanted to save his arm with the Saturday inning and a 4 run lead. Just something to watch going forward.

Nixon got the 9th inning today against SFA with a 13-2 lead. Nice low pressure 9th inning appearance and he performed well. Texas used 8 pitchers overall, only Daniel Blair throw more than 1 inning. 

Offense was good up and down the lineup against a really bad SFA squad. Melendez with two more bombs bringing his total to 16. 16 HRs in a year is the 9th most in school history. He will easily enter to top 3 in season HRs and could challenge for the school lead if he keeps this pace (Russell 28 in 2007). 

 

[tejasrulz]

Nixon got the 9th inning today against SFA with a 13-2 lead. Nice low pressure 9th inning appearance and he performed well.

I wonder how much it effected his confidence when that Tech player stole home on him. Hate to say it but that played made him look bad, very bad. I have noticed he isn't staring at the ground anymore while he's on the mound so at least he learned that!