Pitching on fumes, Big John held on for the complete game win, after giving up a leadoff single, a stolen base wild pitch and walk. Offense came through in the end, but it simply has got to get more effiicent and stop leaving runners in scoring position with less than two outs, and repeatedly failing to get the leadoff baserunner into scoring position. I also just don't get The OG's decision to not only use Simms as a mid-week starter (rather than having him come in in that critical, game on the line spot in the 2nd inning on Sunday), but to have him throw so many pitches tonight, even after he had clearly hit the wall hard. No way John can pitch again, even in relief, until Sunday at the very earliest. Given Big John is arguably our second best pitcher and has as much big game experience as any pitcher on the team, his role has got to be either a weekend starter or our primary closer heading into conference play in 10 days. This would appear to be especially the case given Lemond and Rutter have been struggling of late, and we don't have a reliable reliever at the moment.
Game Ball #1: John Simms (W, 4-1, 9.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 4 BBs, 12 Ks)-- Big John was absolutely dominant through the first 7 innings (surrender just a lonely first inning single), before tiring. Yet another outstanding performance from our vet.
Game Ball #2: Connor Teykl (4-4, 2 RBIs)-- breakout game for the Freshman, though, in reality, he's hitting above .500 since taking over at 3B eight games ago.
Game Ball #3: I could have given it to Leon Byrd (2-5) or Geoff Perrott (1-3, HBP, RBI, game-calling), but it goes to another Freshman, Hunter Kopycinski (2-2, RBI) for getting his first career start, his first hits and his first RBI. Congrats.
This one was far too close for comfort. Should have been an early blowout, but our offense once again failed to take advantage of opportunity after opportunity. Not sure who will get the start for us (Mason?, Rutter?, Spurlin?, Fox?), but I suspect we'll be pitching "all staff". We're going against a JUCO transfer RHP, Omar Ugarte, who hasn't exactly impressed in the early going (7 app, 2 starts, 1-1, 11.0 IP, 7.36 ERA, 2.61 BAA, 12 hits, 12 BBs, 4 HBP, 14 Ks). He obviously is a power pitcher (given the high strikeout total), but very much the wild thing, issuing almost 1.5 free passes per IP. Tomorrow night we REALLY need to be patient at the start, and not help this guy out. He's hittable, for sure, but let's not swing at pitches out of the strike zone.
Go Owls!