Kevin McCanna gets the critical road start. The usual lineup, but with Teykl and Ewing switching places...

Quote:Rice Owls‏@RiceOwlsdotcomnow
Rice lineup: Byrd CF, Stringer 2B, Stainback SS, Aquino DH, Cook LF, Perrott C, Ratterree RF, Ewing 1B, Teykl 3B, McCanna P. Start time 9 am

Rice reitred 1-2-3 (3 ground outs) on 7 pitches in top of the first inning. Against a slow tossing pitcher, which is what I presume Williams is, I truly hope we don't try to pull everything, or we're going to be hitting an awful lot of ground balls today.

We really need McCanna to have a breakout game this morning.

Ratt brings in Aquino and the Owls lead. 1-0

Come on Kevin.

1-2-3 first inning for Kevin (ground out, two flies).

Aquino leadoff double! That's a nice start. Let's capitalize. No need for a bunt here, so long as the batter looks to hit the ball toward the right side of the field.
Cook flied out to CF. So much for that.
Perrott struck out swinging.
Ratterree clutch, 2-out, 2-strike RBI single! Rat's 3rd in 3 games. Rat advances to 2B on throw.
Ewing first pitch fly out to CF.

Good guys take an early 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the second inning.

Ahead 1-2 in the count, and Kevin throws 3 consecutive pitches in the zone. Sorry, I just don't get it.

(04-07-2013 09:18 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Ahead 1-2 in the count, and Kevin throws 3 consecutive pitches in the zone. Sorry, I just don't get it.

Could he be struggling to MISS the zone?

(04-07-2013 09:20 AM)elf owl Wrote:  

(04-07-2013 09:18 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Ahead 1-2 in the count, and Kevin throws 3 consecutive pitches in the zone. Sorry, I just don't get it.

Could he be struggling to MISS the zone?

Not if you consider he walked the next batter on 4 pitches.

Well, there goes the shutout. HR puts us behind 3-1.

(04-07-2013 09:21 AM)elf owl Wrote:  Well, there goes the shutout. HR puts us behind 3-1.

Happens to true Freshmen, unfortunately. Lost his composure after the 2-strike double...and proceeded to throw 7 straight balls before grooving one.

ANother inconsistent start by the Rice pitching staff. 3-1. One minute the staff pitches like Cy Youngs, the next minute well ....... And ECU is 1-4 in our fairly weak conference.

Let's hope he settles down now and hangs in there the rest of the way.

I think the pitching staff has done great this year. The hitting - not as much.

Leadoff baserunner, good bunter at the plate, and we're swinging away at the first pitch? Leon really have a series to forget this weekend (save for his game-saving catch on Friday).

As we once again waste a leadoff baserunner.

The lack of the hitting magnifies the problems of the pitching but the pitching has hung in there pretty well with the exception of a few games.

It took 12 seconds for JP to report the bunt was foul. Everything but what happened from JP.

Mc Dowell, who I thought would start, in to take over from McCanna. Run scores on a groundout, 4-1 ECU.

(04-07-2013 09:25 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I think the pitching staff has done great this year. The hitting - not as much.

The pitching is usually great. I did not say it was not. Inconsistent. We have had too many starters lifted in the first second or third innings because they simply did not have it that day. This is particularly important since, as you noted, the hitting is not particularly effective. ECU is a mediocre team, and our offense will be challenged to come back from a 4-1 deficit.

Another run in on a ground single puts the Owls deeper into the hole, 5-1.

The error hurt of course. 5-1 going to the 4th.