Houston College Classic (PDF)
Texas Tech (9-3, 0-0)
Location: Minute Maid Park | Houston, TX
Radio: Affiliates
| Date | Start Time | Texas Tech Starting Pitcher |
Opponent Starting Pitcher |
Result |
| 3.2.12 | 12:00 pm | Duke von Schamann (RHP) (2-0, 0.00) |
Arkansas | Ryne Stanek (RHP) (2-0, 1.80) |
L, 1-3 |
| 3.3.12 | 7:00 pm | Rusty Shellhorn (LHP) (2-0, 2.08) |
Rice | Matthew Reckling (RHP) (1-0, 0.00) |
L, 2-6 |
| 3.4.12 | 2:30 pm | Shane Broyles (RHP) (2-0, 3.60) |
Houston | Aaron Garza (RHP) (1-1, 1.59) |
W, 10-4 |
Outfield:
LF - Brennan Moore | CF - Barrett Barnes | RF - David Paiz
Infield:
SS - Tim Proudfoot | 2ND - Jamodrick McGruder
3RD - Reid Redman | 1ST - Scott LeJeune
C - Bo Altobelli
DH - Stephen Hagen
*Click on the score for boxscore.
UPDATING THIS POST AND MY OBSERVATIONS | I liked the way that it worked last week, even if I'm note sure that many people read it, but I think that I'm going to re-publish this post on Monday and do some sort of voodoo mind trick.
You should go set your DVR's or log in on your computer to watch all of these games.
McGruder played a lot in right field last weekend while Bryant Burleson played a lot at second base and Spencer is still searching for a designated hitter that can hit consistently. I don't think Spencer is too enamored with Hagen right now, although I thought Hagen did a good job at 1B last year. I think that the lineup as listed above is the best lineup for the team, but don't be surprised to see Spencer fiddle with the lineup. Also, some of the reason why Spencer does this, I think, is that Paiz pitched on the last game of the last series and I think Spencer wanted to give Paiz a day off from the field before pitching.
I'd love to see some of the bullpen folks step up, and they obviously weren't bad, but John Neely has the highest ERA on the team and he's the All-American. The staff was stretched a bit, but when your 5th starter, Paiz, can give you 5 no-hit innings, life is pretty good. Really good for a college team. I'd also point out that Daniel Coulombe isn't starting, so he give sthe team another option, along with Paiz, Jared McCrummen, Trey Masek, Andre Wheeler and John Neely. Right now, that's a pretty good group, but the bullpen makes me a bit nervous.
More after the jump.
TOUGH COMPETITION, PART I | LAJ's George Watson writes about the tough competition that the Red Raiders will face in the Houston College Classic:
Tech pitching, however, is allowing just 2.67 runs per game."There’s some pressure, but pressure will be there whether it’s the Houston Classic or a regional. It’s all the same," vonSchamann said. "We’ve got to understand as a team we have to be able to play under that pressure and get some wins this weekend, because we really need them."
Conversely, a Tech team hitting a solid .295 must solve not only Baxendale, but also Rice ace Matthew Reckling, who has not allowed an run in either of his two starts covering 151/3 innings.
"We know the task at hand and I think we’re going to be ready for it," Redman said. "As long as we have our pitching staff shutting other team the bats will come. After a good week of practice I think we’ll be good to go with those big boys down in Houston."
TOUGH COMPETITION, PART II | The DT's Brett Winegarner also writes about the tough competition:
Despite the high level of competition and a 5-13 overall record in the tournament, junior center fielder Barrett Barnes said Tech won’t back down at all and is expecting to come away from each game as the victor."We’re going against some good competition, but we love that," he said. "That’s the love of the game. You get to play against good people and that’s what we look forward to doing.
"And we aren’t by any means scared or afraid of any of those teams, and we’re going to come out and play our game and play a good nine innings and hopefully come out with three (wins) this weekend."
Game 1 | Texas Tech 1, Arkansas 3 (official site)
Considering Arkansas is the #4 team in the country, there doesn't appear to be much difference between Arkansas and Texas Tech. RHP Duke von Shamman pitched seven solid innings (7.1 IP | 7 H | 3 ER | 1 BB | 7 SO), but it wasn't enough as the offense never got going. The offense only managed 7 hits (although that's all that Arkansas managed, but one of those hits was a two run home run), led by 3B Reid Redman who went 2-3 with the lone RBI.
Game 2 | Texas Tech 2, Rice 6 (official site)
Rice got to Rusty Shellhorn (4.1 IP | 6 H | 5 ER | 1 BB | 5 SO), who wasn't awful, but wasn't good enough to hold Rice, who is also the #4 team in the country, depending on the voting service, but the bullpen didn't allow a run after Shellhorn was lifted. The offense was stagnant again, although they did get two early runs, but that was it. CF Barrett Barnes continues to rake (2-4, 1 RBI), but Rice only allowed 4 hits on the day.
Game 3 | Texas Tech 10, Houston 4 (official site)
A quality start from Shane Broyles (5.0 IP | 7 H | 4 ER | 1 BB | 1 SO), but an even better effort from Trey Masek (4.0 IP | 3 H | 0 ER | 0 BB | 6 SO) who just shut down Houston for the final four innings. C Bo Altobelli (3-5, 1 RBI) and DH Kevin Whitehead (3-3) each had 3 hits, while 1B Scott LeJeune (2-5, 3 RBI) and 2B Bryant Burleson (1-5, 2 RBI) led the offense.
It was nice to see the team salvage one win here, but Texas Tech was facing two power-houses in Rice and Arkansas, but maybe it's good for the team to know what they need to do to be part of the elite teams. LF Jamodrick McGruder was named to the all-tournament team. I also think it's interesting that McGruder is playing more outfield than second base and I would guess that the way that Burleson is hitting the ball, as a true freshman, this could be a permanent change. The other interesting thing is that Texas Tech has two freshmen starting in the middle of the infield, SS Tim Proudfoot and Burleson. That's pretty good.