HI NOTES: Ups & Downs

♦ Tech holds off Missouri for 4-3 win; von Schamann leaves with strained bicep (redraiders.com)
Asked to describe the emotional gamut experienced in Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Missouri at Rip Griffin Park, normally sure-worded Texas Tech coach Dan Spencer was at somewhat of a loss.

He’d just watched his team get off to a blazing start with four runs in two innings, then get shut down the rest of the way by Missouri’s bullpen, and along the way had to pull ace right-hander Duke von Schamann with a strained bicep muscle in his pitching arm. Then, to preserve a one-run lead in the ninth, he had to turn to his Sunday starter, Trey Masek, who opened the year as Tech’s closer.

♦ Tech baseball evens series with Missouri (kcbd.com)

Starting pitcher Duke von Schamann (6-3) earned the win for the Red Raiders going 5.2 innings allowing three runs (all unearned) on just two base hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Three Tech relievers, Shane Broyles (1.2 IP), Daniel Coulombe (0.0 IP) and Jerad McCrummen (0.2 IP) held Tech's one-run lead before handing the ball off to sophomore Trey Masek in the ninth.

Masek, scheduled as Tech's Sunday starter, allowed a lead-off single in the ninth, but then retired three consecutive batters with a strikeout looking, fly out to right fielder Jordan Lopez and a groundout to McGruder at second base to earn his second save of the season.

Missouri starting pitcher Blake Holovach (5-3) took the loss allowing four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings with one walk.

♦ The rise and fall of innings pitched by Blake Holovach

• 0.2 2/17 relief
• 1.0 2/19 relief
• 0.1 2/24 relief
• 0.2 2/26 relief
• 5.0 3/4 start W
• 6.2 3/10 start W
• 9.0 3/12 start W
• 8.2 3/24 start W
• 6.1 3/31 start W
• 5.2 4/6 start L
• 5.2 4/14 start L
• 5.0 4/21 start L
• 1.2 4/28 start L

NOTE: I don't have the actual pitch count in Holovach's appearances, but according to the Pitch Count Watch list at boydsworld.com, Holovach has not thrown enough pitches in any one game to merit inclusion on that list (Zastyzny has once).

On the other hand, Blake has not had years to build up his pitching endurance like most other college pitchers his age. According to reports, the first time he pitched was in his senior year in high school, just three years ago.

Holovach pitched an average 64 innings in each of his two years at Coffeyville Community College before coming to Mizzou.  As of yesterday, he has pitched 55.1 innings for Mizzou this season.