RE: Rice at MTSU Game 3
Really nice bounce back series victory-- 5 consecutive now, following Minute Maid, after Friday's heartbreaking loss. Offense was pretty feable this weekend against what had been sub-par pitching, but we had dominant pitching throughout, with arguably the most dominant performance being in our lone loss. Once again, Ricky got stronger and stronger as the game progressed. And our defense has gone from being a major vulnerability all of last year through the first two weeks of the season to now being a team strength.
Game Ball #1: Ricky Salinas (W, 4-1, 7.1 IP, 6 hits, 2 runs, 3 BBs, 8 Ks)-- we desperately needed him to give us 7 strong innings (given our bullpen situation) and he did just that...and then some. What poise getting out of that bases loaded, no outs (and one run already in situation) without surrendering another run. As was the case all weekend, half of MTSU's hits never made it to the infield dirt. (I've never seen more choppers off the dirt in front of the plate in my life!) Great effort.
Game Ball #2: The duo of Andrew Dunlap (1-3, RBI) and Hunter Kopycinski (1-3, BB, run, 2 RBIs) who, with two outs and batting back-to-back in the decisive 6th inning, each fell behind 0-2 in the count, each then fouled off 3 - 4 pitches, and each battled back to hit a clutch, line drive RBI single (2 RBIs in Hunter's case), which together gave us the cushion we needed to close this one out.
Game Ball #3: I could have given this one to Willy Amador (1.2 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 BBs, 0 Ks) who got us out of MTSU's last serious threat of the game in the bottom of the 8th inning, but I'm giving it to Dane Myers (1-2, sac fly, HBP, RBI) for both his offense and, especially for his gold glove-worthy defense all weekend long (despite playing with a still back most of yesterday's game and all of today's).
For those listening or watching on video feed, did JP mention why Warren suddenly was taken out of the game heading into the bottom of the 2 inning? Since he didn't bat that inning, those of us at the game was assuming he was just under the weather and took himself out. I certainly hope that's all it was.
Pitching and defense win ball games, but our offense needs to do a lot better than it did this weekend. Sure, we had tough luck on some of our hardest hit balls, but we managed only 11 hits over 3 games against a pitching staff with an ERA in the mid-4.00's and high BAA. Most of our runs yesterday and today were gifted via a combination of walks, HBPs, errors and wild pitches. And our baserunning and bunting is still an embarrassment for any program, let alone one of our pedigree. We were picked off (not caught stealing, but picked off 1B) 3 times this series (though one time yesterday we made it to 2B thanks to an error on throw). I think we've been picked off 7 - 8 times already this year, which is indefensible.
Looks like we'll be going with "all staff" on Tuesday vs. the Aggies, with Willy starting, but likely be limitted to 3 - 4 innings or 60 pitches, whichever comes first...followed by Esquivel, Kravetz, Jefferies and Otto should be good for 2 innings if we are tied or have a lead late. BTW, Solecitto, Esquivel and Orewiler were all warming up in the pen during that nailbiting 6th inning for MTSU.
It's not going to be easy, but let's end the Aggies 3+ year, 25-game midweek win streak. Go Owls!
(This post was last modified: 04-03-2016 07:38 PM by waltgreenberg.)
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