The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UT-Pan American
No. 10/16 Baseball preview: vs. UTPA [April 22, 2014]
04.21.2014 | Baseball
Texas takes on UTPA Tuesday at 6 p.m.
No. 10/16 Texas (30-11) vs. UT-Pan American (17-24) • Tuesday, April 22
Where: Austin, Texas • UFCU Disch-Falk Field (7,237)
Time: 6 p.m.
TV: Longhorn Network - Talent: Kevin Dunn (PbP), Greg Swindell (Analyst)
Radio: AM-1300 The Zone, online at www.TexasSports.com/showcase - Talent: Craig Way (PbP), Keith Moreland (Analyst)
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/texas/baseball
All-Time Series: Texas leads, 45-6, 37-1 at home
Probable Starting Pitchers
Sr. RHP Matthew Harrell (2-6, 4.41) vs. Jr. RHP Lukas Schiraldi (5-2, 3.68)
QUICK HITS
· Texas was swept for the first time this season in falling three straight games to TCU over the weekend. Prior to the sweep, Texas had won nine of its last 10 games, 15 of its last 17 and seven consecutive Big 12 contests.
· The Texas pitching staff leads the Big 12 and ranks sixth nationally with a 2.13 ERA. As a staff, Texas is holding opponents to a .221 batting average, also best in the league.
· Texas has won 13 of its last 14 Tuesday matchups dating back to last season. The Longhorns are 21-5 in non-conference games this season.
· Texas has allowed just 111 runs (2.7 runs/game) this year. That's the second lowest number of runs allowed through 41 games in head coach Augie Garrido's 18-year tenure at Texas. The Longhorns allowed 110 runs in the first 41 games in 2010, which ranks as the fewest.
· The Longhorns rank second in the league and 13th nationally in fielding percentage (.978). Texas ranks second in the Big 12 and 12th nationally in double plays (41).
· Texas scored just one run in the series vs. TCU after averaging 6.5 runs per game and hitting .302 as a team with a .417 slugging percentage and .409 on-base percentage in the previous 17 games. The Longhorns are 14-0 when scoring six or more runs this year.
· Tres Barrera (28-79 .354), Zane Gurwitz (25-73, .342), Madison Carter (11-33, .333), Ben Johnson (23-76, .303) and C.J Hinojosa (22-74, .297) have been the offensive leaders over the last 20 games.
· Texas ranks third nationally in RPI and has played one of the most difficult schedules in the nation. The Longhorns have a 8-6 record against teams in the RPI top 30, including 5-1 in road and neutral games. Against the RPI top 100, Texas is 26-11.
· Texas is ranked in the top 20 by all five major polls, including 10th by Baseball America, 16th by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, 11th by Perfect Game, 10th by the NCBWA and 10th by USA Today.
· Mark Payton leads the Big 12 in on-base percentage (.473) and walks (34), is tied for second in triples (5) and ranks fifth in batting average (.345). Payton has reached base safely in 80 consecutive games dating back to last season, which is the longest streak nationally and the second longest in Big 12 history (93 - Nick Martini, K-State, 2009-11).
· Head coach Augie Garrido surpassed Gordon Gillespie for the most wins (1,894) by any college baseball coach at any level with the 5-1 win over Texas State on March 25. He now has 1,904.
· Texas' 44 hits in the Texas Tech series were the most in a three-game series since March 16-18, 2012, when the Longhorns had 45 at Oklahoma.
· Texas swept Oklahoma with great offensive balance. Eight of nine starters had at least one hit Friday, while all nine had at least one on Saturday and Sunday. Texas scored 25 runs and hit .310 as a team in the series. Every Longhorn starter scored at least two runs and six had three or more RBI.
· The Longhorns are 16-2 when scoring in the first inning this season. The two losses came on March 29 at Texas Tech and April 19 vs. TCU.
· The Longhorns are second in the Big 12 with six shutouts, trailing only TCU which has nine. Texas also ranks t-15th nationally.
· Texas is No. 3 in the country in Iterative Strength Rating, according to college baseball site BoydsWorld.com (see more - page 3). The Longhorns have played the 10th most difficult schedule accoring to BoydsWorld.
· The Texas bullpen had a streak of 30 consecutive scoreless innings snapped when it surrendered five runs in the ninth inning against Kansas on March 16. On the year, the bullpen has a 1.65 ERA, while the starters have a 2.39 ERA.
· Texas is 30-4 when scoring two runs or more.
· Texas has stolen 38 bases on 46 attempts this season, with Ben Johnson (10-10), Collin Shaw (9-13), and Mark Payton (8-9) leading the way. The Longhorns have been excellent against the run, with opponents stealing just 16 bases on 25 attempts. That's the lowest number in the Big 12, with West Virginia ranking second (23-31).
· Texas leads nation with 63 sacrifice bunts.
