BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[Ralph Turner]

McMurry is up 13-1 in the top of the fourth in Abilene.

Final McM 14-2.

Maldonado works 2 innings in relief (6th and 7th) of Dakota Smith.

Hermes got the loss for Schreiner

[dp643]

UMHB pulls it out 5-4 despite trying to give them game every way they possibly could that last inning.

[Ralph Turner]

Semchenko starts Game #3 for McMurry.  Maybe McMurry can go with a Hewitt/Smith/ Semchenko rotation, if Chris has a good game today.  That would permit Cory Davis to move to the dugout.  McMurry has not found a third starter by now.

Semchenko has a 1-hitter thru 5 innings.  McMurry is batting in the bottom of the 5th, leading 10-0.

Semchenko has gone 6.0 innings and given up 2 hits.  McMurry leads 17-0.

Semchenko went 7.0 innings of shut-out 3-hit ball.

Final McM 18-1 for the sweep. Cory Davis pitched the 9th.

[dp643]

UMHB Having another one of those error plagued games. Already 3 errors in the first three innings giving up 4 unearned runs already. 6-0 TLU going to the bottom of the 3rd

[Ralph Turner]

Frustrating isn't it, dp643.

[Ralph Turner]

The West seems to be the most balanced that I can remember.

Here are the schedules for the rest of the season.

Texas Lutheran	6-3	19-7	SRSU, at SU, HSU, at CTX	Favorite
Hardin-Simmons	6-3	12-11	at HPU, SRSU, at TLU, at McM	Controls destiny
Sul Ross State	5-4	13-10	at TLU, at HSU, McM, at UMHB	Has hard schedule ahead
McMurry	5-4	12-13	at CTX, HPU, at SRSU, HSU	Big series in Austin this weekend
Concordia	5-4	11-15	McM, at UMHB, SU, TLU	Favorable home schedule
Howard Payne	4-5	13-11	HSU, at McM, UMHB, at SU	Favorable home schedule
Mary Hardin-Baylor	4-5	12-13	SU, CTX, at HPU, SRSU	Favorable schedule
Schreiner	1-8	3-23	at UMHB, TLU, at CTX, HPU	Has key win over HSU

[swbaseball3]

TLU certainly has to be the favorite with SR and HSU at home.  If they continue totake 2 out of 3 and sweep Schreiner, it's pretty much over.  Down the strectch they come....

[Ralph Turner]

TLU certainly has to be the favorite with SR and HSU at home.  If they continue totake 2 out of 3 and sweep Schreiner, it's pretty much over.  Down the strectch they come....

I can imagine HSU sweeping HPU and SRSU.  If they beat TLU 2 out of three, then they have a one-plus game advantage over TLU going into the last weekend with McMurry.

Thru the first three weekends, 7 of the 8 teams are in the race for 4 playoff slots.

The ASC-West hosts the finals, and the top 2 teams in each division host the first weekend's games.

[BigTex]

Things are just starting to get heated up. I dont know if HSU can sweep HPU and SRU just because of the fact they lost a game to SU. Looked like a good series this past weekend with TLU taking 2-1 to UMHB. Also looked like the HSU and Concordia series was a good one with 3 close games. Kind of a shock to see HPU take 2-1 against SRU but it happens. McM had a good series against SU eventhough it wasnt much of competition. Looks like McMurry has found a rotation with the starters (Hewitt, Smith, Semchenko) then two main guys out of the pen (Maldonado, Davis). McM bats have started turning things around and actually playing ball be interesting to see how the upcoming series against Concordia will be. Any news on if the Concordia's field is done? As of right now TLU has the upper hand in the conference after taking series against McM and UMHB. Going to be interesting rest of the way as usual.

[swbaseball3]

Here's the way I see it.  One would be foolish to bet against Orosey.  He's 18-1 in his college career and although we all know he will lose  eventually, he makes every series a MUST sweep on Saturday for the oppostion.

So, with Schreiner about a close to a sure sweep as there is, that leaves 9 games.  Orosey wins his three and that leaves 6 games.  HSU must sweep on Saturday at TLU and not falter at what is probably the hardest stretch down the line. at HPU,  at TLU and at McM and SR at home.   My bet...falter.

Changing subjects, if TLU can sweep SR this weekend at home, big time pressure for HSU to take 2 of 3 should they lose a game this weekend. Why?  CTX and McM...someone is going to lose ground quickly.

[Just_Some_Guy]

Here's the way I see it.  One would be foolish to bet against Orosey.  He's 18-1 in his college career and although we all know he will lose  eventually, he makes every series a MUST sweep on Saturday for the oppostion.

It's not Orosey I'd worry about, it's the TLU offense getting complacent under the assumption that Orosey is going to dominate every outing. It almost happened against UMHB this weekend.

TLU certainly has to be the favorite with SR and HSU at home.  If they continue to take 2 out of 3 and sweep Schreiner, it's pretty much over.

Is TLU the favorite? Certainly, but there's too much season left in my opinion to start deeming it "pretty much over."

Winning the West would be big for TLU because there pitching depth could come back to haunt them against a team like Mississippi in the ASC tournament. The likelihood of an at-large bid after the weekend in Dallas is negligible especially if Trinity wins the SCAC. 

If I was talking to the TLU team heading into the next two weeks I'm letting them know that they can't be content with 2 out of 3 from SRSU or SU. HSU could certainly sweep both of their next two opponents as well.

I continue to be baffled by people that think SRSU is much improved or surprised HPU took 2 of 3. They're awful on the mound and they played a relatively soft schedule to start the year. Arrieta and Smith weren't going to hit .500 all year (though they've both been great).

When the dust settles I think you'll see the same 5 teams fighting for the 4 slots -- the same way we have the past 4-5 years: TLU, HSU, UMHB, McM & CTX.

JSG

[BigTex]

I agree with Just Some Guy and I havent really paid attention to SRU schedule so thats why I was shocked bout HPU taking 2 out 3. I believe it will come down to the end like always and if teams want to insure they make it to the tourney then a big part of it is getting sweeps when you suppose to sweep at team.

On a side note I was looking at this past weekend with McM and came across that they didnt walk a single batter the entire weekend. Maybe things are starting to shape up over there. I hope so because it has been rough.

[swbaseball3]

Love the banter.  TLU goes 5 and 1 in the next week plus and it's a MUST sweep for HSU.  Agreed on SR.  Soft schedule but they did HAMMER UTT one game in Alpine.  Their pitching is very suspect with a 7.50+ ERA and TLU probably hammers that for three games.  SR could pull one out and might but if TLU is smart, they'll pitch around Arrietta and Smith in crucial moments and make some one else beat them.

Down the stretch they come....

[golden_dome]

Who pitched for Mississippi College?

Craig Mackay started, Preston Necaise, Bubba Davis and Daniel Cowart relieved. Mackay has been a weekend starter most of the year after Brandon Martin went down but struggled for the second straight start after getting one out against UTD last weekend. Necaise and Davis haven't had a lot of work this year but have both pitched well. Cowart has been great all year but we were already buried when he came in, and he wasn't bad to be honest.

I'll say this about Millsaps, they barreled about everything they swung at.  Mackay actually beat them earlier this year with a good start but they roughed him up pretty good tonight.  I'm sure they were embarrassed after last weekend, and got after it tonight. MC had given up 47 earned runs in 196 innings, and gave up 18 earned runs tonight in six innings. We swung it well, but just couldn't slow them down at all. Humbling is probably the best way to describe tonight's game for the Choctaws.

We don't get much info from the sweeps of Schreiner (on the road) and Concordia (in Clinton) about how good Mississippi College is.

The UTT games (winning series at SRSU 2-1 series, winning the HSU series in Tyler 2-1, losing 2 each  to TLU and UMHB) make me think that UTT has not put it together yet.

I am trying to figure if Mississippi College has the pitching depth to go far in the tourney.  Pitching has been the weakness of the ASC in the NCAA's.

Ralph,
Thought I'd pull this over to this board to save the SCAC people from ASC discussion.

This is as good as MC has been probably since 2003, particularly with pitching depth, but things are not settled yet with a rotation. Tyler Seaman has had a great season and has wins over Huntingdon and UTD. Chris Ferriss has been very good all year. Terrell Prescott could be getting ready to move to the weekend and has a win over NAIA #16 Belhaven (5 innings 1 hit) to go along with 7 strong innings against UTD. He has put up Orosey type numbers in fewer innings (0.81 ERA   3-0   22.1 innings  15 hits   2 ER   4 BB  19 K   .188 b/avg), and we'll see how he does if he does move into the rotation.

Regarding pitching and the postseason, the depth question might be helped by Brandon Martin. He shut down Birmingham Southern early this year and was dominant. He could also move back into the rotation if he's 100%. He's thrown five scoreless innings since returning and is rebuilding arm strength after 5-6 weeks out. He would be a big addition if he comes back strong.

Brock Campbell and Daniel Cowart have been solid all year working the back half of games. Millsaps put runs up so fast tonight that neither could get into the game when it was still a contest.

[TexasBB]

UT Tyler is finally making a move - improved to 20-7 and having won 10 straight including a weekend sweep of UTD. They are 8-0 in the East. The East will end up a two horse race with Mississipi College just like last year. The Patriots have a young team and had to virtually replace their entire team. Vilade has once again shown to be the top recruiter in the conference. The biggest question mark coming in this year was the pitching staff. They were rocky in the early season but now are settling in. The East is not as strong as the West once again but just like last year their top two are as good as anybody in the west.

TexasBB