The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Incarnate Word
No. 13 Baseball preview: at Incarnate Word
03.25.2019 | Baseball
Longhorns make first trip to San Antonio since 2008
No. 13 TEXAS (17-10) at INCARNATE WORD (15-9)
March 26, 2019
Where: San Antonio, Texas (Nelson Wolff Stadium)
Time: Tuesday, 7 p.m. CT
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn/1260 AM
Live stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/incarnateword/baseball/
All-time series: Texas leads, 2-0
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
TUESDAY—Texas Fr. RHP Ty Madden (3-0, 0.52) vs. UIW R-Sr. RHP John Shull (0-0, 6.75)
GAME NOTES
THE MATCHUP—Texas and Incarnate Word meet for the third time in history on Tuesday at Nelson Wolff Stadium, the home of the Triple-A San Antonio Missions. The Longhorns are 2-0 against the Cardinals with wins at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in 2015 and 2017. Texas is making its first trip to San Antonio since 2008, when the Longhorns beat UTSA 16-5 at Wolff Stadium.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS—Playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation over the last four weeks, the Longhorns have produced a 10-7 record. Texas has played 15 of the last 17 games against nationally ranked teams and produced eight wins over ranked teams. The Longhorns have a 5-2 record in midweek games this season, including one road win at Rice. Freshman outfielder Eric Kennedy leads the Longhorns offensively, with a .320 batting average and 27 runs scored.
HONORED—In five of the six weeks this season, Texas has had at least one player receive one of the Big 12 Conference weekly awards. This week Eric Kennedy was named the Player of the Week and Bryce Elder earned Pitcher of the Week. Kennedy batted .474/.583/.579 in five games against No. 11 Arkansas and No. 22 TCU. The outfielder registered a pair of four-hit games, including a 4-for-5 evening with a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored against TCU on Saturday. Elder pitched yet another gem, allowing just one run on five hits in a career high-tying eight innings pitched against No. 22 TCU. The sophomore struck out seven batters and forced a pair of double plays in the contest. He struck out the side in the second inning.
MARCH MADNESS—Throughout the month of March the Longhorns have tested themselves against some of the best teams in the country, playing 15 games against nationally ranked teams. The Longhorns swept LSU, won the series over Texas Tech, dropped series on the road at Stanford and TCU and split a pair of midweek games against Arkansas. Texas just completed a stretch of playing eight-straight games against ranked teams.
YOUNG GUNS—Head Coach David Pierce's 2019 pitching staff is likely the youngest he has ever head, featuring seven freshmen (one redshirt) and five sophomores (one redshirt). All 12 of the underclassmen pitchers have already appeared in a game this season. Seven of the nine pitchers to have started a game for Texas this season are underclassmen. The young pitching staff has had ups and downs, and leads the Big 12 with 224 strikeouts but also has the most walks (117) and wild pitches (38).
NEXT UP—Texas returns to UFCU Disch-Falk Field for a weekend series with Xavier. The two teams will meet in baseball for the first time. The Longhorns begin the month of April by hosting Texas A&M on April 2 at 6:30 p.m. The game against Texas A&M is already sold out.
RANKED—Texas remains in the national rankings heading into the seventh week of the season. The Longhorns' rankings are: D1Baseball (#13), Baseball America (#7), NCBWA (#17), and USA Today Coaches Poll (#16).
WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS—Five Texas players have received weekly awards from the Big 12 Conference this season, including a pair of multiple-time honorees – Bryce Elder (Pitcher, Feb. 18), Coy Cobb (Newcomer, Feb. 25), Austin Todd (Player, March 4), Eric Kennedy (Newcomer, March 4), Masen Hibbeler (Player, March 18), Bryce Elder (Pitcher, March 25) and Eric Kennedy (Player, March 25).
PRESEASON ALL BIG 12—The Longhorns' top returning hitters, OF Duke Ellis and DH Zach Zubia, were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team. Following the 2018 season – each of their first on the Forty Acres – both Ellis and Zubia were selected as All-Big 12 First Team members.
PRESEASON POLL—In the Big 12 preseason coaches' poll, Texas was selected to finish fourth behind preseason favorite Texas Tech (61), Baylor (58) and TCU (48). Last season, five of the nine Big 12 teams made the NCAA postseason.
DRAFTED—Texas saw five players selected in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft: INF Kody Clemens (Tigers, 3rd round, No. 79), RHP Nolan Kingham (Braves, 12th round, No. 354), RHP Chase Shugart (Red Sox, 12th round, No. 370), LHP Josh Sawyer (Cubs, 16th round, No. 488) and INF Andy McGuire (Blue Jays, 28th round, No. 836).
PIERCE TO THE POSTSEASON—Head Coach David Pierce has reached the NCAA postseason in each of his seven seasons as a head coach at Texas, Tulane, and Sam Houston State. Last season marked the skipper's first trip to the College World Series as a head coach. Pierce advanced to the College World Series four times as an assistant coach at Rice, including winning the 2003 National Championship.
PRO PARKS—Texas plays a pair of regular season games in professional ballparks this season. The Longhorns take on Incarnate Word at Nelson Wolff Stadium, home of the Triple-A San Antonio Missions, on March 26. Texas then plays at Whataburger Field, home of the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on April 30. Also for the 19th time, the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship will be played in Oklahoma City. The Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, plays host to the event.
WATCH 'EM—All but one Texas home game will be broadcast on Longhorn Network this season. The team of Lowell Galindo, Keith Moreland, and Greg Swindell will return to the booth to call the action.
HEAR 'EM—In partnership with IMG-College, Texas games will be broadcast on the Austin Radio Network, primarily on 104.9 The Horn and AM 1260. Craig Way handles primary play-by-play duties alongside Roger Wallace and Quan Cosby.
