Horns Beat Kansas Again

by 40AS on Mar 15, 2008 4:54 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns Baseball

Another day, another great performance by the Kiddie Corps in a 6-1 victory. Texas showed off its great bullpen depth with three pitchers combining to hold Kansas to only one run on five hits as the Horns improved to 12-4 (2-0 Big XII).

Kenn Kasparek pitched well for 4.2 innings, and freshman Chance Ruffin pitched 3 perfect innings before being curiously ejected for throwing behind KU hitter Preston Land with two outs in the bottom of the eigth holding a 4-1 lead. Freshman sensation Stayton Thomas came on for the second straight day, recording the final four outs for the save.

I'll (Abram's at the Big XII tourney, so if he can go singular so can I) go into more depth in the series review, but some of the more interesting aspects of this series so far include: Kyle Russell batting eigth (still not hitting, still finding his way on base), Preston Clark playing left field, Slayton Thomas being your 2008 closer, and the continued beyond stellar play of Kiddie Corps leader Cameron Rupp.

The series concludes Sunday at 1 PM, with the Texas starter yet to be announced (my money's on Riley Boening).

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Is Kansas any good?

Or is this a false-treasure?

Go boom, mothers. Please, just go boom.

by Horn Brain on Mar 15, 2008 5:06 PM CDT reply actions

Appetizer. nt

by whills on Mar 15, 2008 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Average...

I would've been shocked if we'd lost 2 of 3, and won't be too elated by a sweep. It's a good conference victory that we need to have if we're going to get a national seed.

by 40AS on Mar 15, 2008 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Is Kansas any good?

Yeah, the Hawks are okay this year. In fact I think this might be the best team Ritch Price has put together since arriving in Lawrence. But the Big-12 is stocked this year, so the Jayhawks are going to have to fight to finish in the top-8. Earlier I was very hopeful of them finishing around 6th, but the starting pitching is not quite as effective as I expected. And Thompson is struggling more in the field and at the plate than I expected. Being realistic, I think the over/under for them right now in terms of Big-12 wins is around 11. They will be fighting with K-State, Tech and Oklahoma for one of the last two slots in the tournament.

The KU starter tomorrow, he is a bit of a wild card. Sam Freeman. Transfer out of Juco. He is in the process of being converted from an outfielder. He throws in the low 90's. Control issues. He was drafted in the 19th round last year by the Cardinals, so he has good stuff. His first two starts, he pitched well for four innings and then the hitters started to catch up with him. He needs a third pitch still. If he has his game on he should keep the Hawks in the game for the first four or five innings. The KU bullpen is very solid, but with Esquibel, Bollman and Garcia already used they will probably go to Smyth early tomorrow.

I tell you what! We'll spot you five points in the basketball game if you spot us five runs at the ballpark.

Regarding Ruffin, he threw at Faunce, got a warning, then threw at Land and was tossed. They were not mistake pitches. He was amazing on the mound. The umpire knew what he was doing and tossed him without missing a beat after the second ball came in right behind the batter’s head. Ruffin didn’t like the KU batters calling time and trying to throw him off his rhythm and so decided to try some intimidation.

Enjoy the game tomorrow. I'd love to be there. The weather looks perfect.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Mar 16, 2008 12:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Ejection

I think the curious part is that there was no clear warning for Ruffin, at least the radio folks didn't see one. Either way it's in the past, looking forward to sweeping KU today.

by 40AS on Mar 16, 2008 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions

I was listening to the KU play-by-play

and watching the Texasports.tv video feed. After he threw behind Faunce he was given a warning. I remember Tom Hedrick mentioning it at the time on the KU broadcast. Maybe it was not mentioned on the Texas audio feed.

My hope for this series was one KU win. Last chance this afternoon. Nebraska already won two games at K-State, and aTm is up 2-0 at home over TTU. Baylor and Oklahoma State have split the first two games.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Mar 16, 2008 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions

kansas

tomorrow we will own kansas!!!!!!!!!!! both on the diamond and on the court. If we win both of the games I'm gonna change the name of this shithole (kansas) officially to Texas' Bitch....

by vivalonghorns on Mar 15, 2008 9:06 PM CDT reply actions

Tom Hedrick, on the KU broadcast,

just said that Kyle Russell had NOT been invited back to the Cape Code league this year? He said it was due to his poor performance with wood. There must be more to that story. The scouts can't be happy that Russell will not give them more looks.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Mar 16, 2008 1:53 PM CDT reply actions