WATCH: Ivan Melendez controversially strikes out with the bases loaded
Texas was in desperate need of offense against Texas A&M to keep their College World Series hopes alive. When the bases were loaded in the sixth inning, the man you would want up to bat stepped into the batter’s box — Ivan Melendez.
Melendez fouled off a few pitches before taking a ball and working a 1-2 count. Texas A&M reliever Jacob Palisch was trying to work the inside corner on the Texas slugger and when it mattered most, got the strikeout he needed to end the sixth inning.
People on the Texas side were not too happy with the call from the home plate umpire, including Melendez. You can watch the full moment here.
With the thought being the called third strike was low, Melendez did not have the opportunity to swing the bat again. However, Creighton Baseball Analytics provided an image of the pitch, showing how it possibly touched the inside corner at the last moment.
Top 10
- 1
Quinn Ewers
Directly answers portal rumors
- 2
'We want Ohio State'
Marcus Freeman reacts to Love comment
- 3
Kyren Lacy
Negligent homicide: LSU WR wanted
- 4Hot
Carson Beck
Georgia QB signs with Miami
- 5
Colt McCoy
Defending Quinn Ewers
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Overall, Melendez is having a rough afternoon at the plate, not getting on base in three attempts. He has also struck out twice and in one of the biggest moments of the season. Some kind of spark is needed for the Longhorns’ offense to get going over the next three innings. Melendez will have another chance at some point.
Texas head coach David Pierce discusses start from Lucas Gordon
Texas head coach David Pierce pulled starting pitcher Lucas Gordon after just 1.2 innings of work in which he gave up four runs and four hits. As of the bottom of the fourth, Texas found itself on its third pitcher of the game. Despite this, the Longhorns coach knows he can’t change the mistakes, but he can turn things around with plenty of time to go.
“Lucas wasn’t as sharp as we needed him to be,” Pierce said on the ESPN broadcast. “We just needed to get out of that (inning) with just two. We’ve got a lot of guys, so we’ll just keep mixing and matching and go to the next guy if the guy in there is not hot.”