Longhorns Need Win Tonight to Stay Alive at College World Series

Following a 7-6 extra-inning loss on Monday, the Texas Longhorns are on the brink of elimination in the College World Series. Texas must win tonight to force a third and deciding game against the LSU Tigers.

The Longhorns' loss played havoc on fans' emotions, from the highs of five home runs and Chance Ruffin's 10 strikeouts, to the lows of giving back the lead three separate times.

There were plenty of chances for Texas to ask "What if?": from pulling a tiring-but-effective Ruffin in the sixth inning (Austin Wood promptly gave up a game-tying triple), to Brandon Workman giving up the game-winning hit by throwing a breaking ball instead of his overpowering fastball to a weakened Mikie Mahtook (who had already taken an IV to treat dehydration and cramping).

Texas coach Augie Garrido, however, has told his team to forget everything -- both good and bad -- that happened Monday and start fresh.

"If you can't clear this game from your mind, you'll lose it before you start," Garrido told reporters after Monday's game

Tonight's matchup (6 pm, ESPN) features freshman Taylor Jungmann (10-3, 2.21 ERA) for Texas against Austin Ross (6-7, 5.09 ERA) for LSU. Jungmann pitched briefly in relief last night, but only threw six pitches, none for strikes.

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By Jeff Beckham in Other on June 23, 2009 2:18 PM 0 Comments

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RonB

Going off of your points:

Curtains calls- how is this a problem? This is just the players telling the fans they appreciate their support, Texas does this for every HR they hit.

Skip down 3rd - As a fan, I am embarrassed about that for the school. Our players should not do that. That is showing up the other team, and uncalled for.

Passed ball - I disagree, the replays from both front and back clearly show that the batter was not hit. The run scored was legit. Had the batter been hit, they would have sent him to 1st, he was not.

Pulling Wood - that was a bad call by Augie. 1 out to go to win the game, Wood had the right to get that out. Instead Augie didn't let him get it. On top of that, he took Ruffin out too early too. I thought Ruffin should have been allowed to get the final out in the 7th.

Using Jungmann - this is going to be the interesting call of them all. While no longer common, it is done by coaches, especially at the CWS. Though I agree, this could spell doom for Texas if the Tigers get to the Texas bullpen early. Plus Jungmann might have his confidence broken. As young as he is, I don't konw if he can handle how the game played out last night.

Both teams did play a great game, LSU executed when they had to, Texas did not. In the end, there is still baseball to be played, It is still a race to 2 wins.

Hook 'Em Horns!!!

_Sean_

Ok Ron, I wasn't trying to start anything with that but as for the curtain calls: It was one kid, he did it twice and no it was not called for and no there was no UT chant going on to prompt him to do so. He took it upon himself. How many games @ the Dish do you attend yearly? I usually make at least a half dozen or so since I have lived right down the street for over a decade. Of course HR's are a rarity here @ the Dish but curtain calls are even more rare. I had to watch on ESPN360 and they replayed several views and spoke candidly about how dude was actually HBP. C'est le vie. Life goes on and at least it didn't decide the game.

However that's nothing compared to Keyes skipping.

Good luck Horns.

Geaux Tigers!

wilceaux

I agree with pretty much everything you said, Sean, except for the passed ball.

It looked like it just hit Gibbs' glove, and not the batter. Hard to tell either way.

There was absolutely nothing to gain from bringing Jungmann in last night. If the kid comes back tonight and pitches great, that will show a lot of character. But it's going to be tough for him.

The skipping was bad, but I can overlook that.

However, the team should be embarrassed by the curtain calls. Absurd.

_Sean_

Ok since there's going to be a different blog thing on the CWS I'll re-post some points not covered here:

Never mind the curtain calls and the skipping down the third base line on that third HR. Augie blew the game and it was handed to him on a silver platter due to a bad call by the Ump giving UT one run on a "passed ball" call that was a "hit by pitch." Dude should have gone to first and the bases would have been loaded. Thankfully it didn't change the outcome of the game. However it should have ended in the 9th 6-5, LSU still winning it. But nooooooo it was sent into extras on the bad call.

On top of all of that--Pulling Austin Wood out (top of the 8th I think, with one out) creating a situation where Augie then ran through the Horns Pen last night (he used what, 7/8 Pitchers) creates an argument as for his judgement these days. Maybe he started drinking too early yesterday?

Then there's Augie using todays starter in relief last night? No one and I mean no one would have done that, yet Augie did. If your starter tonight doesn't make it through five innings and we (LSU) get to him there are no fresh arms in UT's Pen so game over. Augie's ineffective and thoughtless use of his Pen effectively gives LSU a HUGE advantage for tonight's game.

The Horns played GREAT ball and have an awesome team. I've said it all season, "Hook 'em Horns & Geaux Tigers."

Here's to a good, clean called game tonight.

Geaux Tigers!