Finally, the Texas baseball team was swaying.
It was part of the problem, though, and Kimble Schuessler's swing lapse in UTSA pitcher Robert Orloski's work symbolizes the problems Texas faced in a 7-4 loss to Texas in the NCAA Austin Regional Final at the NCAA Austin Regional Final at the UFCU Disch-Falk-Falk Field on Sunday night.
The Longhorns were awarded second place in the NCAA Championship, ending their chief season with a 44-14 record and a SEC regular season title. Meanwhile, UTSA (46-14) was promoted to a super area for the first time in school history.
"Our season isn't over the way we want it, but that's why we have it next year," said Texas third baseman Casey Borba. "Prepare to go next year."
More: Texas lacks clutch in a loss to UTSA on Saturday | Gold's
Texas' UTSA defeated Kansas State 15-8 to keep its season alive after losing 9-7 to UTSA on Saturday afternoon. But, within 90 minutes between the end of that game and the first game against UTSA, any motivation from the Longhorns disappeared.
So, what happened to them on Sunday?
First, Texas fell 7-0 holes in the first three innings. UTSA's offensive offense is powered by two home runs, with Norris McClure falling into the starting starter Hudson Hamilton. Texas beat 11 times and stranded nine runners. Long-time starters Jalin Flores and Will Gasparino continued to fall and saw their hit averages below .240 but ranked 0th in 6-6. Texas scored a goal against UTSA starter Gunnar Brown, who entered the game with 7.85 ERA but scored five innings.
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Then there is HBP.
Texas hit five UTSA batsmen, two of which happened to the third inning. Texas trailed 2-0 twice, with Ethan Walker hitting two direct routes. Caden Miller was hit up to base and Jordan Ballin was hit and brought home. After the pitching change in Texas, UTSA removed Ty Hodge's doubles base and later added Mason Lytle's RBI singles after another Roadrunner was hit by a court.
Texas pitchers hit 103 batsmen this season. Texas has hit more than 70 hitters at one time in one season since 1967, with 85 HBP in 2002.
"It's obviously a terrible problem," Schlossnagle said. "I think some of it is pitching style. We don't have big fastball arms in this program yet, so we throw a lot of speed pitches. We're famous for that."
"I think the overall work of the pitchers throughout the season is really good. We've played almost a small country in the year. We can't do that next year."
After trailing 7-0, Texas tried to eliminate with UTSA's lead. Borba contributed RBI doubles in the fourth frame, and Schuessler scored a home run in the seventh place. Max Belyeu hit two home runs in ninth with two knockout matches, but Schuessler beat the game on the next hit to finish the game.
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The strikeout ended a season, featuring a 38-5 start and the SEC championship. However, there are lows. The Longhorns lost nine of their last 15 games, taking damage against key players like Belyeu and pitcher Jared Spencer and joining the first Oregon states in Vanderbilt No. 7, Georgia No. 11, Clemson No. 12 and Oregon No. 12.
"In the past, there was no disrespect for the team, but it was the first team that Texas ever had to play in the SEC," Schlossnagle said. "To be an SEC champion and host a region, we all know that Omaha is where we all want to end, but 44-14 in our league wasn't a bad season, it was just not the right end."
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