The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas State
No. 10 Baseball Preview: at Texas State [March 24]
03.23.2015 | Baseball
Longhorns face Bobcats at 6 p.m. in San Marcos
No. 10 Texas (16-8) at Texas State (10-12-1) • Tuesday, March 24, 6 p.m.
Where: San Marcos, Texas • Bobcat Ballpark
TV: None
Radio: AM 1300 The Zone, Texas Sports.com/Audio
Talent: Craig Way, Bill Little
Live Stats: TXStateBobcats.com
All-time Series: Texas leads, 41-9
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
UT - So. LHP Josh Sawyer (2-1, 4.87)
TXST - Fr. RHP Montana Parsons (0-2, 3.78)
A LOOK AT THE MATCHUP
• Texas leads the all-time series with Texas State 41-9, and holds a 2-0 advantage in San Marcos, including a 6-3 win in 2014 (March 11).
• The Longhorns also took a 5-1 home victory over the Bobcats on March 25, 2014, which gave head coach Augie Garrido the collegiate wins record (1,894).
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS
• The Texas State game marks the beginning of a challenging road slate for UT, as seven of the next eight contests are away from home, including a conference series at Oklahoma State.
• Additionally, four of the Longhorns' next five weekend series will be played away from UFCU Disch-Falk Field, with three of these contests coming against top ranked competition: RPI #34 Nebraska (3/27-29), #10 Oklahoma State (4/3-5) and #2 TCU (4/24-26).
• Ben Johnson leads the Big 12 in hits (42), batting average (.404), slugging percentage (.644) and total bases (67) and Collin Shaw leads the league in extra base hits with 16.
• After smashing 10 more extra base hits vs. Kansas State this past weekend (8 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR) Texas has 76 extra base hits on the year through 24 games. At this point of 2014, UT had 37 extra base knocks (23 2B, 11 3B, 3 HR). (Chart on p. 3).
• Texas has played the 26th most difficult schedule in the country according to BoydsWorld.com.
• With 15 assists and three double plays turned vs. K-State, Brooks Marlow now ranks third in school history with 578 assists, and is fourth in double plays with 124.
• Marlow is also on an 11-game hit streak (.349 avg. with three XBH during the streak).
• UT is outscoring its opponents 57-17 from the 7th inning on this year, and is 12-0 when leading after seven frames.
• The pitching staff sported a 1.00 ERA against K-State thanks to all three starters (Parker French, Chad Hollingsworth, Kacy Clemens) allowing a single earned run each and the bullpen not surrendering any runs. For the season, the bullpen holds a 1.80 ERA.
• Texas ranks in the Top 25 of each major college baseball poll (Collegiate Baseball - 10; USA Today Coaches Poll - 12; NCBWA - 14; D1Baseball.com - 16; Perfect Game - 16; Baseball America - 19).
• With five two out runs vs. Kansas State, UT now has now scored 68 of its 133 runs (51.1%) on the year with two down in the inning. The Longhorns are hitting .300 (80-for-267) with two away, and holding opponents to a .212 (51-for-241) mark.
• Ben Johnson (.417), C.J Hinojosa (.393), Brooks Marlow (.364) and Collin Shaw (.333) have come up with clutch two out hits all year long (averages above are with two outs).
• Over his last five outings Kacy Clemens has tossed 22 innings while surrendering just 12 hits, 11 walks and five earned runs (2.05 ERA), and recording 11 strikeouts. He is also believed to be the first Longhorn to start a game as the pitcher/designated hitter since Brooks Kieschnick in 1993.
• Nine of Texas' 14 runs this past weekend came when the leadoff man reached base safely, giving them 94 of 133 runs (70.7%) on the year when the leadoff man gets aboard.
• The Horns are t-17th in the country in walks after walking nine times against the Wildcats over the weekend to give them 111 base on balls in their first 24 contests, and the defense has turned 27 double plays (t-7th) in the NCAA.
• Texas has three players hitting over .300: Ben Johnson (.404), Tres Barrera (.329) and Michael Cantu (.300).
• Four Longhorns boast an OPS over .800: Johnson (1.086), Barrera (1.040), Shaw (.865) and Cantu (.820). Mark Payton (.811) was the only Longhorn with an OPS over .800 last season and 2015 currently holds a .797 OPS after having a .709 in 2014.
• Johnson has recorded multiple hits in 14 of the first 24 games this season, and has had five games with three or more hits thus far.
• Both Johnson (March 8) and Barrera (Feb. 17) have had five-hit games this season, marking the first time two Longhorns have recorded five-hit games in the same year since 2007 (Josh Prince and Bradley Suttle).
