UT retires UH in Super Regionals
By Christian Schmidt
The Daily Cougar
AUSTIN — The Cougars managed just two runs in each game of their series
against Texas, and that wasn't enough.
The Longhorns won the Super Regional championship over Houston with
a 5-2 victory Sunday, sending Texas to the College World Series. Houston
started off the series with a 2-0 victory behind a stellar performance
from ace Brad Sullivan. Texas responded with a 17-2 win in Saturday's game,
and closed the deal Sunday.
Things began well for the Cougars Sunday as sophomore Michael Bourn
led off the game with a single. Senior Keith Whatley reached base on an
error, then was tagged out rounding second. Bourn scored when junior Brett
Cooley hit a double down the third base line.
In the bottom of the second, UT first baseman Jeff Ontiveros was hit
by a pitch. Shortstop Brandon Fahey was walked by Houston pitcher Nathan
Mitchell, who made his first start of the year in the game.
Lorrie Novosad/The Daily Cougar
Sophomore hurler Brad Sullivan and the Cougars will have
to wait until next year to get that elusive ticket to Omaha, Neb., site
of the College World Series.
Both runners advanced on a passed ball, and Ontiveros scored when right
fielder Matt Rosenberg grounded out to second. Fahey scored when catcher
Ryan Hubele singled to left field, giving Texas a 2-1 advantage.
Sophomore third baseman Omar Quintanilla scored an unearned run in the
fifth, and Texas added one run each in the sixth and seventh to make the
final score.
Houston's Mitchell pitched four and two-thirds, giving up four hits
and four runs, three of them earned.
Saturday was not pretty for the Cougars. Texas' Ontiveros got things
started with a two-run home run far over the left field wall, giving UT
an early 2-0 lead.
The Cougars responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first
when junior Chris Snyder scored on a double from Cooley.
The game was close until Texas scored three runs in the fourth, giving
the Longhorns a 6-2 advantage. From there, things only got worse for Houston,
as Texas added three more in the sixth and five in the seventh. The final
score was 17-2, Houston's worst loss of the season.
"There is not a whole lot to say," said Noble. "It just came down to
the fact that we were poor in a lot of areas."
Each Texas starter got at least one hit and scored at least one run
in the game. Texas' Hubele went five-for-six with four runs and two RBIs,
while Ontiveros was two-for-five with two home runs, three RBIs, and two
strikeouts.
UT All-American Justin Simmons was less than spectacular, going just
two and two-thirds innings before being pulled. Simmons has struggled in
his last few starts, leading to speculation that he may have tired out
after a long season.
"(Simmons) is not falling apart," Texas head coach Augie Garrido said.
"Houston is a difficult team for him."
Brad Sullivan left nothing to chance in the opener on Friday. He shut
the Longhorns down for seven and one-third innings before closing pitcher
junior Jesse Crain came in to finish up.
Sullivan, saying his stuff was only average, still held the Texas Longhorns
to just seven hits, struck out six, walked three while throwing 128 pitches.
Whatley was responsible for the Cougars' scoring, even though he did
not start the game. Whatley replaced Gabe Lucas. He scored the winning
run on an error by UT shortstop Michael Hollimon, then added an RBI when
he drove in designated hitter Stuart Musslewhite. Whatley was two-for-three
in the game.
Attendance for the three games averaged just over 7,000 per game.
Around the Nation
Rice, Stanford and Georgia Tech all put away their opponents in two
games to advance to the College World Series.
South Carolina, Clemson and Nebraska advanced with wins Sunday.
Florida State and Notre Dame had to postpone Friday's game due to a
rain-out, but will finish their series today to complete the field for
Omaha.
