Rain conspiracy theory invalid

ROUND ROCK, Texas — Conspiracy theorists may believe that Texas being behind in the middle of the seventh inning may have helped speed the decision to suspend play Sunday night in the NCAA Regional at Dell Diamond.

But the objective observer would likely conclude that a reasonable and acceptable protocol was followed before the 84-minute delay prompted the decision-makers to bring everyone back for the scheduled resumption of the game today at 11 a.m.

In anticipation of a storm heading toward the venue, both teams were instructed to leave the field at 6:24 p.m.

A tarp was placed over the infield and both teams relocated from their dugout to their clubhouse. It began to rain soon after and continued until the suspension was announced at 7:48 p.m.

Intermittent rain continued for well more than an hour after the game was suspended and the best available technology was used to evaluate the progress of the storm front.

TEXAS PITCHERS POOPED

Still, UC Irvine supporters who saw the Anteaters come within six outs of advancing to a Super Regional with the program’s first regional title, would be inconsolable, should Texas, with better rest for its beleaguered pitching staff, be able to rally in the suspended game, then win a second game to claim its 31st regional crown.

Such regret would be bolstered by comments made by Texas Coach Augie Garrido after his Longhorns needed 12 innings to eliminate Wake Forest, 7-4, earlier Sunday.

When asked about bringing in Austin Wood, the projected starter against UCI, who, in fact did start against the Anteaters, to close out the Wake win, Garrido said: “[Wood] doesn’t pitch at all, if we don’t win that [Wake Forest] game. We’ll see how this goes. We’re going beyond our normal pitching roles, so we’re going to get into that. And we’ll all see together whether I made good choices or bad choices, in using the pitching the way we did.

“I know [how pitchers are utilized] is always in question, but this is the way that I’ve pretty much done it and what I believe in; you’ve got to get to that next step. Variables are going to take place and the unexpected is going to happen.

“There’s no guarantees. Well, there’s one guarantee: we lose [the Wake Forest elimination game], we don’t play. So, we’re caught between being eliminated and trying to space out our pitching, so we can have it for the games that remain. Someone is going to have to step up.”

AVOIDING DISASTER

Garrido, who said mentality and attitude would help the Longhorns battle back after their Saturday night loss to UCI, said his team beat the odds in the win over Wake Forest Sunday.

Leading, 4-2, in the ninth inning, Texas closer Randy Boone gave up a two-run, game-tying, two-out, two-strike, home run to right field to Demon Deacons’ pinch-hitter Brett Linnenkohl to force extra innings.

“When something traumatic happens, like what happened to us, you usually lose that game,” Garrido said.

Instead, Texas scored three in the top of the 12th and held on to advance.

MESSIN’ WITH TEXAS

Texas’ meeting with UCI Saturday was the first between the two programs. With the loss, Texas’ record against Big West Conference teams fell to 25-26.

TEXAS SHORT HANDED

Sophomore Texas catcher Preston Clark, who hit .286 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs in the regular season, has missed the entire regional with a strained knee ligament. He sustained the injury stepping in a pothole while walking earlier in the week.

The Longhorns also lost senior center fielder Nick Peoples for the season when he broke his left collarbone while making a diving catch of a fly ball Sunday against Wake Forest.

Peoples was hitting .329 with four homers, 38 RBIs and 18 stolen bases, when he went down.

BRUISES APLENTY

UC Irvine considers being hit by pitch part of its offense and the Anteaters have been plunked by opposing pitchers 103 times this season.

But Wake Forest, eliminated Sunday, leads the country in that department, having been hit 113 times in 2007.

LASTING IMPRESSION MADE

After his team was eliminated Sunday, Wake Forest Coach Rick Rembielak was asked whether Texas or UC Irvine was a tougher team to face.

“[UC Irvine] is a very good team,” Rembielak said. “I faced them when I was at Kent State in the regional four years ago and there are only three guys left from that team [still playing for the Anteaters]. So [Coach Dave Serrano and his staff] have done a great job in a short amount of time with that program.

“That is a tough team to defend. They have a great approach offensively. We talked about it after the game [a 13-0 UCI win Friday] and there were, at the most, 10 pitches called strikes that they did not swing at. They swing at just about every pitch across that plate and that’s a good approach. It forces a pitcher to really make a quality pitch each and every time, because they’re not going to chase. Irvine is playing great baseball. [The Anteaters] are the best team right now, I’d say.”