The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UT San Antonio
No. 6 Baseball Preview: vs. UTSA [Tuesday, Feb. 17]
02.16.2015 | Baseball
Texas plays host to UTSA in the home opener Tuesday at 6 p.m.
No. 6 Texas (2-2, 0-0 Big 12) vs. UTSA (2-1, 0-0 CUSA) • Feb. 17, 6 p.m.
Where: Austin, Texas • UFCU Disch-Falk Field (7,373)
Time: 6 p.m.
TV: Longhorn Network
Talent: Kevin Dunn (Play-by-Play), Greg Swindell (Analyst)
Radio: AM 1300 The Zone, Texas Sports.com/Audio
Talent: Roger Wallace (Play-by-Play), Bill Little (Analyst)
Live Stats: TexasSports.com
All-time Series: Texas leads, 22-5
Probable Starting Pitchers
UT - Fr. RHP Connor Mayes (0-0, 0.0, 1 IP)
UTSA - Jr. RHP Aaron Burns (0-0, 0.00, 0 IP)
A LOOK AT THE MATCHUP
• The No. 6 Texas Longhorns hold their home opener against the UT San Antonio Roadrunners Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.
• Texas leads the all-time series against UTSA 22-5. However, the teams have not met since the 2011 season when the Longhorns defeated the Roadrunners 8-5 in 11 innings in Austin on March 8th.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS
• The Texas baseball team ranks in the Top 12 of each major college baseball poll (NCBWA - 6; USA Today Coaches Poll - 6; Perfect Game - 8; Baseball America - 10; D1Baseball.com - 10; Collegiate Baseball - 12).
• Looking for 1,400: In their 2015 home debut the Longhorns will be attempting to grab all-time win number 1,400 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Horns posted a 23-10 (.697) mark at home in 2014, and have an all-time record of 1,399-332-3 (.809) at the Disch.
• Texas Debuts: Eleven players made their collegiate debuts for Texas against Rice: freshman infielder Joe Baker, redshirt freshman third baseman Bret Boswell, freshman catcher Michael Cantu, freshman pitcher Kyle Johnston, freshman first baseman Travis Jones, redshirt freshman infielder/DH Connor Macalla, freshman catcher Michael McCann, freshman pitcher/infielder Jake McKenzie, freshman outfielder Patrick Mathis, freshman pitcher Connor Mayes, freshman pitcher Tyler Schimpf … Additionally, sophomore Kacy Clemens made his first appearance as a pitcher and sophomore Josh Sawyer made his first career start.
• Clean Sheets: Six Texas pitchers finished the weekend with "clean sheets," not surrendering a run: Culbreth (3 1/3 IP), McKenzie (2 2/3 IP), Travis Duke (2 IP), Mayes (1 IP), Schimpf (1 IP) and Johnston (2/3 IP).
• Turning Two: Texas turned four double plays in the four-game series. The Longhorns turned three in the opener and then one in the finale. Last season, UT ranked second in the nation with 71 double plays.
HOT START
Ben Johnson matched a career high when he had four hits in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Rice. The junior also had four hits as a freshman vs. UCSB (3/10/2013). For the weekend, Johnson went 8 of 15 (.444) with five runs, five RBIs and a home run. With two outs, Johnson went 5-for-6 with four RBI, including a three-run HR.
HITTING SAFELY
Texas had three players hit safely in all four games against Rice: Ben Johnson (eight total hits), Bret Boswell (five total hits) and Brooks Marlow (four total hits).
GOING DEEP
Playing for the first time with a new ball designed with lower seems and expected to travel 15-20 feet further than the old ball, Texas and Rice combined for three home runs in the four-game series. Texas had two and Rice had one. In a four-game season opening series last year, there were two total home runs at Cal Berkeley, which has smaller dimensions (320-365-395) than Rice's Reckling Park (330-375-400).
LEFTY RELIEF
UT used four left-handed relievers against Rice (Sr. Kirby Bellow, Jr. Travis Duke, Jr. Ty Culbreth and So. Jon Malmin), who combined to throw 12 2/3 innings, surrendering just two runs for a 1.42 ERA. Juniors Culbreth and Duke combined for 5 1/3 shutout innings, and Culbreth earned his first career save. As a whole, the bullpen tossed 18 innings and gave up just two runs (1.00 ERA).
