BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[Ralph Turner]

UTT's Zeigler has pitched out of jams in the 7th and 8th.

In the 7th, bases loaded and 1 out.

In the 8th, runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out and then bases loaded and 2 outs.

UTT batting in the bottom of the 8th, trailing 11-6.  3B Hodges is hitting out of the 7-hole.

Hodges singles, Skeen doubles. no outs.

Denson in for Craven (the Choctaw starter).
Newell out 5-6
Fox RBI grounder 6-3, scoring Hodges.
Harding flies out to RF.  Mississippi College leads 11-7 after 8.

Ziegler retires MissColl 1-2-3 in the top of the 9th.  11-7 Choctaws going to the bottom of the 9th.

Lemire, Towns and Delaiden up for UTT.

Lemire grounds out.
Towns singles
Delaiden HBP

Reed Prewitt relieves Denson for MC.

DH Jared Hood batting, one out and runners on 1st and 2nd, 5-4-3 DP, game over.

Choctaws win 11-7 and clinch the #1 seed.

IN turn, when McMurry gets halfway to Mississippi College, they can turn right and go on into Tyler for the first round series.

You have to beat the best anyway. 

[TexasBB]

UTT had huge letdowns from Rozell and Wolfe in the 3 game series. Unusual that both of those pitchers were not effective at the same time.  Bad timing for UTT to have that happen. Have to hand it to MC they were swining the bats and played with great confidence. The Patriots scored enough runs to win both games but poor pitching from the above two along with some untimely errors in both games were killers. Alot of second guessing will go on now as to who they will use as the 3rd starter against McM.

[Jack Parkman]

So what are the match-ups in the ASC Tourney?

[Dawgsdad]

So what are the match-ups in the ASC Tourney?

Here is a link to the match ups - no commentary (yet)...

http://www.ascsports.org/News/baseball/2009/4/20/ASC_BASEBALLTOURNAMENT09.asp?path=baseball

[Jack Parkman]

Thank you much, sir.

[golden_dome]

Great weekend for MC. I'm pretty sure UT-Tyler had gone 65-2 in their last 67 home games until losing 2 of 3 to the Choctaws this weekend.

[dp643]

Looks like the CTX UT Tyler first round matchup talks got a little premature. Congrats to Mississippi College and Texas Lutheran for winning the East and West.

There are going to be some awesome first round matchups.

Any predictions?

[BigPoppa]

Does UTT not winning its half of the ASC change its Pool C chances should they not win the tourney?

[TexasBB]

I think UTT can still make a Pool C bid but they must beat McM and make it to the finals of the ASC tournament. They can loose in the finals but must at least make it there, anyhting short and they are out IMO.

[Ralph Turner]

Let's see where UTT is when the Regional Rankings come out.

I think that Texas BB is right about how close to the bubble that they are.

[tloc14]

I honestly feel that UTT has no shot at a pool C bid now unless they reach the championship game of the tourney.

If they had won 2 of 3 this weekend, it would be a different story.  Given UTT's lack of post season heritage to fall back on, they must prove to the voters that they deserve to make it to the Regional playoffs.  Losing 2 of  3 this weekend and also losing the #1 seed in the East and tournament home field advantage (in round 2 assuming all the top seeds win) does not help to prove their post season worthiness.

Hopefully, this last weekend was a hiccup and a wake up call.  Otherwise, this last weekend could very possibly ruin what was a great season for the Patriots.

Also, did anyone find it ironic that the Patriots played their last regular season game on Patriots Day??  I thought it might be a sign.....oh well, guess not.

[Dawgsdad]

Okay, at the risk of potential fall out among such a tough and knowledge crowd, I put forth my thoughts on the upcoming ASC first round.

UT-D (25-15) @ HSU (42-16)

UT-D      HSU
.334   BA   .321
.558   Slug   .525
.426   OBP   .393
6.43   ERA   6.95
.311   OBA   .317

Only one meeting between these two teams prior to this upcoming match up, HSU took that meeting 4-3.  HSU's barton and Kriegel seem to have the tools to prevail if only two games are needed. However, given the balance in this match – I'd call it a toss, UT-D has slight edge.

MCM (24-15) @ UTT (32-8)

MCM      UTT
.351   BA   .348
.562   Slug   .558
.415   OBP   .429
5.50   ERA   3.96
.295   OBA   .261

MCM has already taken two of three from UTT at UTT and one of these two loses was against Holland. This experience in my opinion gives MCM the edge in this match up and I choose MCM to prevail. Holland and Booher will need to be stellar for UTT to get past MCM. MCM can't afford any let down or they can call it a season.

UMHB (22-15) @ MC (23-14)

UMHB   MC
.327   BA   .328
.468   Slug   .468
.419   OBP   .424
4.66   ERA   6.36
.282   OBA   .292

This match up is another toss up. MC is on a high right now after beating UTT at their house. Seaman has thrown two no-no's but got roughed up by UTT. Hopper and Garza will have to be stellar or have both run and arm support from the pen. My call is UMHB will prevail – but this one will be close...

Ozarks (17-22) @ TLU (28-12)
UO      TLU
.287   BA   .329
.444   Slug   .528
.396   OBP   .417
7.20   ERA   5.23
.317   OBA   .284

TLU has the edge in offense and pitching. Although not shown in the other match ups these two teams fielding percentage are nearly identical (.960/.961) and are ranked 3/2 in conference. Given that this game will be played at home for TLU and the potent offense that TLU has along with their proven starters, I pick TLU to prevail (not trying to be a homer). Pitching and defense needs to be solid for TLU or UO may make it a long series.   

[royhobbs]

Dawgsdad, thanks for the good run down, who do you think is the best team in the conference right now? A few are getting hot at the right time. Who's got the deepest pitching?

[Just_Some_Guy]

Dawgsdad, thanks for the good run down, who do you think is the best team in the conference right now? A few are getting hot at the right time. Who's got the deepest pitching?

I think it's virtually impossible to identify a clear #1 right now. Had UT Tyler won the MC series they would probably be the consensus, but TLU and MC have both played great baseball down the stretch and you could make a good case for either of them.

I think that even in spite of their recent short-comings Tyler has the deepest pitching staff. Their ERA is significantly lower than the next closest team (UMHB), and Holland and Booher pack a solid 1-2 punch.

I don't think you blink at Orosey/Macklin either.

Hopper/Garza, Hinson/Seamen, & Barton/Kriegel aren't anything to scoff at either.

The third option and the pen is where I think Tyler can potentially separate themselves (though Wolfe and Rozell have both showed to be vulnerable.)

UMHB w/ Hawkins & VanHoozer and TLU with Steinert/Hembree add decent depth to both the Cru and the Dawgs, but neither have a shut-down option quite like Zeigler (presuming Macklin is in a starting role.)

There's a lot of other variables at work here, but we'll keep it straight forward for time's sake.

JSG

[hsusid]

I think that this weekend pitching depth is not a factor. It is a regular series and you won't go deeper than your top four or five anyway, unless a game gets out of control then you would likely down staff.

Next weekend is where depth can be an issue, if you get in the loser's bracket.