BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[dp643]

I've been watching the team stats as well, and you bring up some great points.

Alot of UMHB's offense has been up and down, and a lot of that has to do with so many young hitters in the lineup. One game against Hardin-Simmons I think UMHB had 5 freshman in the starting lineup. I think thats why the numbers are improving, but will remain inconsistent. For example, scoring 16 runs and 26 runs in games versus Trinity and Southwestern to  scoring 5 in two games against Sul Ross. I think this offense will continue to improve. Marcus Volz has been a .400 hitter the last 2 years, and led the nation in doubles per game last year in D-3. He has been off to a slow start batting average and doubles wise, but he is too good of a hitter to stay around .250. I think once he gets hot this offense has the ability to be one of the best in the west. especially if the freshman continue to produce this well. I think the offense is very balanced with many guys that can hit the doubles, steal bases, sac bunt, etc. Im predicting a huge second half for Volz, and that will make UMHB climb in the Total bases and Runs scored columns fast.

Big series this weekend versus McMurry and if the CRU can take the series up in Abilene, it would put them in a good position to take one of the conference tourney spots.

[Ralph Turner]

UMHB is up 3-0 going to the bottom of the 8th.

McM pitcher Kyle Martin looks to take the loss with a line of 8 IP, 3 runs (in the UMHB 4th) on 7 hits.  Hopper had held McM for 4 hits on the night.

Hopper has a very nasty curve tonight!

Hopper leaves the game after 7.1 innings.  He gave up three straight singles and then a Sac fly to left.  Cleanup hitter Derrick is going against LHP Van Hoozer with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out.  UMHB 3-1.

Derrick -- high pop fly to shallow left.  2 outs.
Mullin --  out swinging 1 run 3 hits no errors 3 LOB.  UMHB 3-1 top of the 9th.

Zach Hewitt is in relief in the top of the 9th and gets 2K's and a 4-3 ground out.  UMHB 3-1.  (Good relief outing by the freshman.)  UMHB retires McM on a 6-4-3 DP.

Final UMHB wins 3-1.

Thanks to McMurry for the streaming video.  The DH tomorrow will have treaming video, too.

[Just_Some_Guy]

3/20 Scores:

Hardin Simmons 12 - Schreiner 11 --> SU gives them all they can handle, but HSU wins on walk off home-run in the bottom of the 9th. HSU had squandered a 4 run lead by giving up 5 unearned runs in the top of the 9th. Kyle Barton gets the win to move to 5-0.

Texas Lutheran 9 - Howard Payne 8 --> TLU has to fight backin the last three innings, capped off by a solo shot from Clay Childress in the top of the 9th. Macklin gets the win, Steinert continues to be great out of the pen.

UMHB 3 - McMurry 1 --> UMHB's 3-run 4th was enough for Hopper who went 7.1, 1 ER, 8 Ks. VanHoozer worked the last bit for his 6th save of the year (He leads the conference.) Martin threw a solid game for McMurry.

UT Tyler 17 - Ozarks 10 --> Towns, Hodges and Daleiden tore the cover off the ball, and Rozell moved to 3-0 on the year, presumably starting in place of Booher? (Don't know that Wolfe's done anything to lose his spot.) Bullpens were bad for both teams.

Mississippi College 7 - UT Dallas 4 -->  LF Jared Smith had a good game for Dallas, but wasn't enough as Brett Hinson moved to 4-1 on the year, going 7 IP with 2 ER, and 7Ks. Brannon Walls and Bo Bell both contributed 2 RBI each.

LeTourneau 13 - ETBU 3 --> Ed Hurtu goes 8 IP, 3 ER on the bump and also goes 3-5 at the plate to lead LeTu over ETBU who made 4 errors. I don't think either of these teams are playoff caliber teams.

JSG

[dp643]

Its very interesting what I think Hardin-Simmons is doing with Barton. It seems as if they are using him initially as the closer for all three games if they are ahead in game one of the series and it is close. If they do not have to use him in game one (which probably means they have won comfortably or lost by a decent amount) then they are starting him in the 7 inning game on Saturday. I may be reading too much into this but it is a very unique situation for the preseason pitcher of the year, and i think a good strategy for Hardin Simmons.

The video stream is cool on McMurrys website. Ralph, you should volunteer to announce the webcast!

Going back to the Hardin-Simmons game, did anyone notice that Schreiner hit a 2 out grand slam to take the lead in the 9th off Barton? Only to give up two homeruns, including the walkoff in the bottom of the 9th. This is a very close conference this year with all the teams.

Interesting how we are in the 3rd weekend of conference in the west and a few of the teams still are mixing and matching their rotations.

[Jack Parkman]

I like the McMurry live-video, but I have a question...is that mound as huge as it looks on "TV"??  That bump looks like it is half the size of the infield!!!

[dp643]

UMHB wins game one 11-1 to take a 2-0 series lead over McMurry.

TLU wins game one 13-3 to take a 2-0 series lead over Howard Payne.

Schreiner wins game one to even the series at one game a piece over Hardin Simmons.

CTX was blowing out sul ross in game one of the series.

[dp643]

Did you see that play at home in the 6th? That home plate umpire I dont think had the best day calling balls and strikes either, for both sides.

[Ralph Turner]

I like the McMurry live-video, but I have a question...is that mound as huge as it looks on "TV"??  That bump looks like it is half the size of the infield!!!

I think that the bump is as big as you are seeing.

The McMurry SID did the stream last pm.  Kit Kimbrell and Leon Rawlings Jr do the regularly scheduled radio broadcast.

[Jack Parkman]

I like the McMurry live-video, but I have a question...is that mound as huge as it looks on "TV"??  That bump looks like it is half the size of the infield!!!

I think that the bump is as big as you are seeing.

The McMurry SID did the stream last pm.  Kit Kimbrell and Leon Rawlings Jr do the regularly scheduled radio broadcast.

Just making sure my old eyes were not screwing with me.  I didn't pick up the video until the last inning.  I will be sure to check out some of game 3.

[dp643]

Ill give the ol blue the benefit of the doubt because of the video angle. That would be cool if all the schools started to do video feeds. It would make time go by at the office a little faster

[dp643]

I dont know if I can watch much more of this. This umpiring is awful. Ive lost count on just the most absurd missed balls/strikes calls.

[dp643]

McMurry gets hosed on another awful call. Its 6-2 Mcmurry in the 6th.

[Ralph Turner]

McMurry gets hosed on another awful call. Its 6-2 Mcmurry in the 6th.

That was definitely a "phantom" put out at second base!

Final McMurry 6 UMHB 4.

McMurry only scored in 3 innings of the 24 at-bats in the series!

We wasted a bunch of good pitching!  That is frustrating.

[Just_Some_Guy]

Texas Lutheran scores 9 unanswered over the last two innings to defeat Howard Payne 16-8, and sweep the series.

Hardin Simmons takes the final game against Schreiner 6-4, and win the series 2 games to 1.

There's lots of baseball to be played, but are TLU, McMurry, UMHB, and HSU emerging as the top 4 teams in the West?

With Coburn and Johnson at the front of CTX's rotation I don't know that you can count them out, and HPU and Schreiner technically have the ability to play spoiler if they get hot and sweep somebody they don't have any business sweeping.

JSG

[Ralph Turner]

Texas Lutheran scores 9 unanswered over the last two innings to defeat Howard Payne 16-8, and sweep the series.

Hardin Simmons takes the final game against Schreiner 6-4, and win the series 2 games to 1.

There's lots of baseball to be played, but are TLU, McMurry, UMHB, and HSU emerging as the top 4 teams in the West?

With Coburn and Johnson at the front of CTX's rotation I don't know that you can count them out, and HPU and Schreiner technically have the ability to play spoiler if they get hot and sweep somebody they don't have any business sweeping.

JSG

McMurry is 4-5 against those three teams and has the rest of the division to go.