Spring Break
Big 12 Notebook
By: Brett Sebastian
Issue date: 6/3/09 Section: Sports
This past weekend, eight baseball teams from the Big 12 took the field in various Regional tournaments around the country. The conference had the most teams of any conference in the tournament, including the No. 1 overall seed, Texas. Though only one team advanced to the Super Regionals, the weekend was not lacking in drama.
Texas
The No. 1 overall seed in the country advanced out of the Austin Regional, but it was not easy. On Saturday, the Longhorns beat No. 2-seeded Boston College in 25 innings, making it the longest game in NCAA history. Closer Austin Wood threw 13 innings and 169 pitches in the game. Twelve of those innings were of no-hit ball. Sunday night, in search of more drama, the No. 1 seed defeated Army 14-10 on a walk off grand slam by Preston Clark. It capped off a comeback where the Longhorns went into the ninth inning down 10-6. "The whole game is about overcoming adversity," said Horns Coach Augie Garrido on texassports.com. "We faced about as much adversity as you possibly can and came out on top the last two days. That has a great chance to really do some great things for the individuals involved and the team." The Longhorns will play TCU in the Super Regional this coming weekend.
Kansas State
The No. 2-seeded Wildcats, in the Houston Regional, found themselves with two chances to close out No. 1-seeded Rice after beating both Xavier and Rice on Friday and Saturday. However, Kansas State was blanked 8-0 on Sunday and routed 13-4 on Monday night. It ended the Wildcats' record-breaking season at 43-18-1.
Baylor
Baylor was sent to the Baton Rouge regional. The No. 3-seeded Bears, on Friday night, shut out Minnesota 5-0. They then took the No. 1-seeded Tigers of LSU to extra innings on Saturday only to fall 3-2. On Sunday, the Bears' season came to a close at the hands of Minnesota, 15-12. The Bears' comeback fell short after scoring seven runs in the ninth. "I was proud of our guys," said Bears Coach Steve Smith on baylorbears.com. "We had all of the seniors out there and none of them wanted to make an out, so that kind of got us going a little bit and at least left a good taste in their mouth."
Oklahoma State
The No. 3-seeded Cowboys, playing in the Clemson Regional, went 2-0 in their first games. They started out regional play by beating Alabama 10-6. They followed that up on Saturday by beating the No. 1-seeded Tigers of Clemson 3-2 behind a dominant pitching performance by Andrew Oliver. However, the Cowboys, with two chances to close out Clemson, couldn't come up with enough plays to advance. Sunday, Oklahoma State was blown out 15-1, and Monday night, the Cowboys blew a four run lead and lost in heartbreaking fashion, 6-5. "It's tough knowing that we created a little bit of a lead there and gave it back pretty quick," said Cowboys pitcher Tyler Lyons on clemsontigers.com. "Just tough, we had them right where we wanted them for a while."
Oklahoma
The No. 1-seeded Sooners, playing in the Norman regional, could not get over the hump that was Arkansas. After defeating Wichita State 5-4 on Friday, Oklahoma was dominated on Saturday by the Razorbacks 17-6. In an elimination game on Sunday, the Sooners defeated Washington State 7-2, and the Sooners then needed two victories over Arkansas to advance. It only took one game for the Razorbacks, as they upset Oklahoma 7-0, thus ending their Cinderella season. "There is a lot of disappointment right now," said Sooner Coach Sunny Golloway on soonersports.com. "I feel for our players. We have some outstanding men at the University of Oklahoma and, in time, I told them they would reflect on a great year."
Missouri
The Tigers, playing in the Oxford Regional, started out play on Friday with a blowout 11-5 loss at the hands of Western Kentucky. After defeating Monmouth 9-0 on Saturday, the Tigers, in an elimination game, again fell to the Hilltoppers. The 11-6 loss ended Missouri's season at 35-27.
Kansas
The Jayhawks, in the Chapel Hill regional, started their NCAA tournament with a surprising loss to Coastal Carolina 11-3. On Saturday, Kansas defeated Dartmouth 16-0. In an elimination game on Sunday, Kansas enacted revenge on Coastal Carolina by a score of 5-1 thus advancing to the Regional final. However, their run came to a halt against the No. 1-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels. The Heels' 12-1 victory sent them to the Super Regional and sent the Jayhawks home. "I think we're obviously excited about getting to the championship game," said Kansas Coach Ritch Price on tarheelblue.com. "It's a big step forward for us obviously, and I think it's one of those things where we're still trying to grow and mature as a team."
Texas
The No. 1 overall seed in the country advanced out of the Austin Regional, but it was not easy. On Saturday, the Longhorns beat No. 2-seeded Boston College in 25 innings, making it the longest game in NCAA history. Closer Austin Wood threw 13 innings and 169 pitches in the game. Twelve of those innings were of no-hit ball. Sunday night, in search of more drama, the No. 1 seed defeated Army 14-10 on a walk off grand slam by Preston Clark. It capped off a comeback where the Longhorns went into the ninth inning down 10-6. "The whole game is about overcoming adversity," said Horns Coach Augie Garrido on texassports.com. "We faced about as much adversity as you possibly can and came out on top the last two days. That has a great chance to really do some great things for the individuals involved and the team." The Longhorns will play TCU in the Super Regional this coming weekend.
Kansas State
The No. 2-seeded Wildcats, in the Houston Regional, found themselves with two chances to close out No. 1-seeded Rice after beating both Xavier and Rice on Friday and Saturday. However, Kansas State was blanked 8-0 on Sunday and routed 13-4 on Monday night. It ended the Wildcats' record-breaking season at 43-18-1.
Baylor
Baylor was sent to the Baton Rouge regional. The No. 3-seeded Bears, on Friday night, shut out Minnesota 5-0. They then took the No. 1-seeded Tigers of LSU to extra innings on Saturday only to fall 3-2. On Sunday, the Bears' season came to a close at the hands of Minnesota, 15-12. The Bears' comeback fell short after scoring seven runs in the ninth. "I was proud of our guys," said Bears Coach Steve Smith on baylorbears.com. "We had all of the seniors out there and none of them wanted to make an out, so that kind of got us going a little bit and at least left a good taste in their mouth."
Oklahoma State
The No. 3-seeded Cowboys, playing in the Clemson Regional, went 2-0 in their first games. They started out regional play by beating Alabama 10-6. They followed that up on Saturday by beating the No. 1-seeded Tigers of Clemson 3-2 behind a dominant pitching performance by Andrew Oliver. However, the Cowboys, with two chances to close out Clemson, couldn't come up with enough plays to advance. Sunday, Oklahoma State was blown out 15-1, and Monday night, the Cowboys blew a four run lead and lost in heartbreaking fashion, 6-5. "It's tough knowing that we created a little bit of a lead there and gave it back pretty quick," said Cowboys pitcher Tyler Lyons on clemsontigers.com. "Just tough, we had them right where we wanted them for a while."
Oklahoma
The No. 1-seeded Sooners, playing in the Norman regional, could not get over the hump that was Arkansas. After defeating Wichita State 5-4 on Friday, Oklahoma was dominated on Saturday by the Razorbacks 17-6. In an elimination game on Sunday, the Sooners defeated Washington State 7-2, and the Sooners then needed two victories over Arkansas to advance. It only took one game for the Razorbacks, as they upset Oklahoma 7-0, thus ending their Cinderella season. "There is a lot of disappointment right now," said Sooner Coach Sunny Golloway on soonersports.com. "I feel for our players. We have some outstanding men at the University of Oklahoma and, in time, I told them they would reflect on a great year."
Missouri
The Tigers, playing in the Oxford Regional, started out play on Friday with a blowout 11-5 loss at the hands of Western Kentucky. After defeating Monmouth 9-0 on Saturday, the Tigers, in an elimination game, again fell to the Hilltoppers. The 11-6 loss ended Missouri's season at 35-27.
Kansas
The Jayhawks, in the Chapel Hill regional, started their NCAA tournament with a surprising loss to Coastal Carolina 11-3. On Saturday, Kansas defeated Dartmouth 16-0. In an elimination game on Sunday, Kansas enacted revenge on Coastal Carolina by a score of 5-1 thus advancing to the Regional final. However, their run came to a halt against the No. 1-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels. The Heels' 12-1 victory sent them to the Super Regional and sent the Jayhawks home. "I think we're obviously excited about getting to the championship game," said Kansas Coach Ritch Price on tarheelblue.com. "It's a big step forward for us obviously, and I think it's one of those things where we're still trying to grow and mature as a team."
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