Tag: Undefeated

Texas Baseball: Can the Longhorns make a statement?

The Texas Longhorns baseball heads to Houston for the Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic. This is an opportunity to compete.

The Texas Longhorns baseball team is 9-0 for the first time since 2009. The team in 2009 was the NCAA runner up and started out 11-0 before dropping their first game. Texas is looking to return to their former glory as one of the premier baseball programs in the state. Their 2020 recruiting class was number one in the country, but now the team has to put it all together to prove they are ready to compete with the best in the nation.

This will be the first big test for Texas when they head to Houston for the Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic. The Longhorns will be one of three Big 12 teams participating and one of six teams overall. Their first matchup will be against the LSU Tigers. Texas hosted a three-game set last year at the Disch where the Longhorns swept the number two ranked team in the nation.

Lola Gomez/American-Statesman – USA TODAY Network

Bryce Elder will take the mound on Friday evening for Texas, in last year’s matchup Elder led the Longhorns to an 8-1 victory. He went 6.2 innings only giving up one unearned run on a wild pitch in the first. The Longhorns will need him to provide that same effort so that Texas can get the upset of the 11th ranked team in the country.

The team will follow up the LSU game with the sixth ranked Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday. Then wrap up the classic with unranked Missouri. For Texas this weekend will be the measuring stick for success. Any combination of two wins over the next three games will do wonders for this team. Proving to themselves that they can compete with the best in the country will give this team a real boost head of Big 12 play.

 

Texas Baseball: Fifth Inning Offense Keeps Longhorns Perfect

The Texas Longhorns hosted the Sam Houston State Bearkats in hopes of staying perfect on the season. Pete Hansen would earn his first win.

Texas Longhorns took the field for their ninth game of the season looking to stay perfect ahead of their trip back to Houston. The Longhorns will participate in the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. This will be the team’s first test taking on the 11th ranked LSU Tigers and 6th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. They will wrap up the weekend against the Missouri Tigers.

As far as the Tuesday night game against the Sam Houston State Bearkats, it was bleak early on. Texas gave up an unearned run in the top of the first, Pete Hansen would settle down. He went five innings for the Longhorns, surrendering just two hits while striking out six batters.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the offense was finally able to break though against the Sam Houston State pitching staff. Murphy Stehly drove in the first run. The Longhorns had the bases loaded, Stehly hit into an RBI fielder’s choice driving Eric Kennedy home. After finally tying the game, Austin Todd stepped to the plate with an opportunity to get the team head.

With runners on second and third, in stepped Zach Zubia with a big opportunity to get the pitching staff some breathing room. There isn’t another bat the team wants at the plate than Zubia, he singled to right field to bring two more runs across the plate.

Hansen went from being on the hook for the loss to relying on the bullpen to close out the game for the win. Kolby Kubichek came in to the game, pitching 2.1 innings. He would be the beneficiary of some good defense behind him.

Andre Duplantier II came into the game in the eighth to close the door on the game. He would pitch 1.2 innings to earn his first save of his Texas career. The save also earned Hansen his first win in his collegiate career. Texas improved to 9-0.

 

Late Inning Heroics: Cam Williams crushes Boise State’s dream of a win

A late-game rally sent the Longhorns-Broncos series finale to extra innings, Cam Williams hammers a pitch to give Texas the sweep.

The Texas Longhorns returned to the Disch to take on the Boise State Broncos in their series finale. Late in the game it was all about the heroics of third baseman Cam Williams as he lived up to his nickname of the hammer.

Coy Cobb took the mound in the final matchup of the weekend against the Broncos, pitching into the sixth inning. Cobb pitched well enough to get the win but unfortunately for him, the Broncos put up a fight. Zach Zubia got the Longhorns started  on the scoring with a sacrifice fly that brought Duke Ellis in for the first run of the game.

During the second inning, starter Dawson Day found himself in some trouble. With Williams and Douglas Hodo III on the bases, leadoff hitter Austin Todd drove them in with a double. Texas took a 5-1 lead into the sixth inning before the wheels came off. Cobb would leave in the sixth without recording an out.

Tristan Stevens would sit down all three batters faced but would allow a run to Cobb’s record. Boise State added another run in the seventh. In the top of the ninth inning BSU’s Geon Hyoung Kim blasts a two-out two-run home run off Donny Diaz to tie the game at five. After Mason Bryant got the final out in the ninth, Dawson Merryman retired the Broncos in order to get to the bottom of the 10th.

You know the rules, you hit the walk off home run and teammate Ellis takes care of the rest.

 

Texas Softball: Split double header, drop first game of the year

The Texas Longhorns softball team split a double header and wasted a pitching gem by senior Miranda Elish, who was the hero of game one.

The Texas Longhorns were back for two more games in the Texas Invitational with another matchup with Lipscomb and the Duke Blue Devils. The Longhorns struggled right out of the gate as Shealyn O’Leary was in the circle and had trouble with command of her pitches. Lipscomb, who was run-ruled on Friday by Texas, jumped all over them early 3-0.

Texas would respond and rattle off eight runs in a row over the next several innings while O’Leary kept them at bay. Kaitlyn Slack got the Longhorns started when she hit a RBI fielder’s choice that drove home Lauren Burke for the first run of the game. Mary Iakopo brought in the tying run with a RBI single that brought Shannon Rhodes around to score.

With Texas up 5-3 in the fourth inning, the extra base hit parade got started. Iakopo RBI triple brought it to 6-3 and Reagan Hathaway’s double off the wall brought in another run. Texas led 8-3 after four innings. There would be more trouble on the way for the Longhorns pitching.

Over the next 1.1 innings freshman standout Courtney Day really struggled win the circle. She gave up her first run of the year, then a couple more over one inning plus. Ariana Davis replaced her without much success. They gave six earned runs and found themselves tied. O’Leary would come back into the game but wouldn’t record an out.

All-American senior pitcher Miranda Elish would come into the game with the bases loaded and one out. She would proceed to strike out both batters to end a six-run inning for Lipscomb. Elish returned for the seventh and after loaded the bases back up, struck out the next two to shut down any attempt to take the lead.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Iakopo was on third base and they refused to pitch to Elish. Walking her on four pitches brought a red hot Lauren Burke to the plate who hit into a RBI fielder’s choice that gave Texas the walk off. Elish picked up her seventh win on the year. Texas would then face a red hot Duke team in the night cap.

After pitching the final 1.2 innings of the first game, Miranda Elish took the ball in the second game. After a 12-11 scoring fest in the first game the Longhorns and Duke broke out into a pitchers duel. Elish went the distance with five strikeouts and giving up just one run. The first earned run allowed by Elish in 35 innings.

On the other side of the circle, it was Duke’s Peyton St. George who stole the show. The junior pitcher also went the distance, getting the best of her matchup with Elish. The Longhorns would leave nine on base throughout the game and just couldn’t get a timely hit off of St. George. For the first time this season Texas failed to score a run resulting in a 1-0 shutout. Elish took her first loss on the year (7-1) and St. George improved to 4-1.

The Longhorns wrap up the tournament with a matchup against Weber State on Sunday.

Ty Madden, Eric Kennedy gives Texas seventh-straight win

Ty Madden goes the distance in his first career complete game as the Texas Longhorns edge Boise State 2-1.

Boise State and the Texas Longhorns were back at the Disch, as they played their second game of the three-game series. It was all Ty Madden in this game. His fastball was working early and mixed in his breaking ball well. He gave up just two hits and struck out seven on the afternoon.

The defense behind Madden was ready to play this afternoon. Cam Williams was ready to drop the hammer on opposing base runners with a few web gems again on the afternoon.

Texas got the early lead in the first inning as Zach Zubia drove in the Todd who scored from second base on play. Austin Todd hit safely in his seventh-straight game. Todd was able to get in scoring position when he stole second base, Duke Ellis also added a stolen base for Texas.

Hometown kid Reagan Doss hit a home run in his first career at bat. Doss from nearby Round Rock, Texas and grew up a Longhorns fan. It remained tied heading into the bottom of the seventh inning when sophomore Eric Kennedy came to the plate.

Madden went the distance with the complete game for the first time in his collegiate career. Ty picked up his second win on the season as Texas improved to 7-0 and will be looking for their second-straight weekend sweep on Sunday.

Strong outing by Bryce Elder Leads Texas To Shutout Victory

The Texas Longhorns led by Bryce Elder defeated the Boise State Broncos 7-0 for their sixth win of the year.

The Texas Longhorns opened their series with the Boise State Broncos with their ace Bryce Elder. Elder was very much up to the task of leading the Longhorns to another victory to start the season. He was the workhorse throwing 106 pitches through seven innings. The Broncos were only able to manage three hits on the night. Elder struck out 11 on the night before giving way to the bullpen. He lowered his ERA to 1.38.

Early on the Longhorns offense gave Elder two runs in the first and that is all they would need as far as run support. Zach Zubia stepped to the plate with runners on second and third before hitting a ground rule double to drive them both in. Cam Williams drove Eric Kennedy home in the fourth to make is 3-0 Texas. In the fifth inning, Texas scored on a fielder’s choice that drove Duke Ellis home off the bat of Tray Faltine.

Texas struggled throughout the night with getting hits with men on base as they left nine on base in the game. Multiple times, the Longhorns ended innings with at least two men on base.

Texas would add three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the game away. Silas Ardoin walked with the bases loaded for their first score of the inning. Austin Todd added another on a RBI single and Williams scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-0 after eight.

Web gem of the night belongs to Brenden Dixon for his play at second base.

Dawson Merryman pitched the eighth inning and set them down in order on nine pitches. Jared Southard made his debut taking the ninth inning for Texas, he would throw 20 pitches and faced four batters.

Lucky 13: Texas Softball run-rules their way to another win

The Texas Longhorns struggled early with scoring but broke through in the fourth inning and Miranda Elish pitched a shutout.

The Texas Longhorns softball team were at it again with the second game of their doubleheader in the opening day of the Texas Invitational. After the Longhorns took the first game against Lipscomb, Miranda Elish looked to match her teammate Courtney Day who picked up her third win on the season.

The offense got off to a bit of slower start int this game with not being able to get a run in the first inning but in the bottom of the second Kaitlyn Washington comes through for Texas. With two on,  Washington smashes a two-run triple to get the Longhorns an early 2-0 lead for Elish.

North Dakota State had opportunities against Elish but even with runners on in the second and third innings, they couldn’t get the timely hit to bring anyone around to score. In the fourth, Elish sent them down in order. Day comes through in the fourth to get the scoring started with an groundball to third.

The Longhorns blew the game wide open in the fourth inning setting up their ninth run-rule game in 13 opportunities. MK Tedder added two more runs on single. A hit by pitch drives in a another run. Texas ended the inning the way it started with another RBI single by Day. Longhorns led 10-0 after four innings.

Elish finished off the Bisons in the fifth inning to secure her sixth win of the season with a two-hit shutout. She also struck out eight as Miranda went the distance. The Longhorns will play two on Saturday with another matchup with Lipscomb and Duke.

Texas Softball: Longhorns defeat Lipscomb, remain undefeated

Texas softball defeated Lipscomb on Friday morning, improved to an impressive 12-0 record.

This team is special.

After defeating Lipscomb on Friday morning in the tournament opener, Texas softball has now improved to an impressive 12-0 record. The Longhorns put up 12 runs in just five innings, surrendering 0 runs in return. That now marks eight games this regular season that Texas has run-ruled their opponent.

This is the third-best start to a season in program history. Along with their bats, their pitching staff has been tremendous. Texas’ pitchers have not allowed a home run to an opposing batter this season.

Freshman pitcher Courtney Day earned the win and improved to 3-0 in the circle. Day pitched for three innings and allowed only one hit. Her collegiate career ERA is still 0.00 through 17 innings.

It didn’t take long for Texas’ offense to explode, scoring five runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. Junior right fielder Lauren Burke was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and nearly completed the cycle – finishing just a home run short.

Although it’s still early on in the season, Texas looks unstoppable. Softball America currently ranks the Longhorns as the No. 2 team in the country.

Seahawks can remain unbeaten on the road with win in Philadelphia

The Seattle Seahawks are undefeated on the road at 5-0 this season and can extend that record against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

[jwplayer CyWAa1YN-ThvAeFxT]

The Seattle Seahawks are known throughout the NFL for their daunting home-field advantage at CenturyLink Field. However, they have been less stellar as a road team in the Pete Carroll era. That has changed substantially this season, as the Seahawks are undefeated on the road with a 5-0 record in 2019. This is already one win away from the record for most road victories in franchise history, behind the 2013 season in which they finished 6-2 away from the friendly confines of CenturyLink Field.

Conversely, Seattle suffered their two losses at home against the Saints and  Ravens. Most of the Seahawks’ wins have been close shaves, but they keep finding ways to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. This is particularly evident on the road, as four of their five victories away from Seattle have been by one possession. At the end of the day, what matters is the fact that the Seahawks keep winning, not the method by which they achieve the victories.

The Seahawks (8-2) have a chance to keep their 2019 road record perfect when they face the Eagles (5-5) in Week 12. Seattle has performed well in the City of Brotherly Love, compiling a 4-0 record there over the past 14 years. This could work to the Seahawks’ advantage, especially considering the Eagles are coming off a devastating loss to the Patriots. The game against Philadelphia will take place on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field at 10:00 a.m. PT.

[lawrence-related id=51294]