The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UTSA
Baseball preview: UTSA and Lamar
02.17.2020 | Baseball
The Longhorns are set to kick off a six-game homestand at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
TEXAS (3-0, 0-0) vs. UTSA (3-0, 0-0)
TEXAS (3-0, 0-0) vs. LAMAR (2-1, 0-0)
February 18-19, 2020
Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Time: Tuesday—6:30 p.m.; Wednesday—4 p.m.
TV: Longhorn Network
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn/1260 AM
Live stats: https://texassports.com/sidearmstats/baseball
All-time series with UTSA: Texas leads, 25-6
All-time series with Lamar: Texas leads, 34-7
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
TUESDAY–Texas TBA vs. UTSA TBA
WEDNESDAY–Texas TBA vs. Lamar LHP So. Josh Hranicky (0-0, 0.0)
THE MATCHUPS—Texas is set for its home opener against UTSA on Tuesday before welcoming the Lamar Cardinals on Wednesday. Last season, UTSA snapped a five-game losing streak to Texas with a 10-7 win at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Against Lamar in 2019, the Longhorns won 7-2 in Austin.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS—Texas Baseball has started the season with a series sweep for the first time since 2009. The 2009 team won its first 11 games and ended the year as the national runner-up with a 50-16-1 record. The Longhorns entered the season with several fresh faces, including 13 true freshmen and three junior college transfers. Those 16 new faces pair up with 17 returning letterwinners. On offense, the Longhorns return their leading hitter from last season in outfielder Eric Kennedy. The pitching staff returns its ace in Bryce Elder and a number of young pitchers that contributed in 2019.
NEXT UP—The Longhorns continue their six-game homestand at UFCU Disch-Falk Field by hosting Boise State for a three-game weekend series, Feb. 21-23. Texas will close the homestand against Sam Houston State next Tuesday, Feb. 25.
TULO—Longhorns' Head Coach David Pierce made a splash during the offseason, with the hiring of 13-year Major League Baseball shortstop and five-time All-Star Troy Tulowitzki as an assistant coach. Tulowitzki, who was also a two-time All-American at Long Beach State, will coach the infielders and work with the hitters, alongside Philip Miller. With the hire of Tulowitzki, assistant coach Sean Allen assumes the role of pitching coach, a role he last held as an assistant at Florida International University from 2008-11. Texas also added Longhorn Legend and two-time MLB All-Star Huston Street to the staff as a student assistant.
THE FRESHMEN—Six Longhorn freshmen made their debuts in the season-opening series at Rice, including three who played in all three games. Brenden Dixon, Trey Faltine and Douglas Hodo III have started every game and each recorded a home run for their first career hit. Andre Duplantier II and Pete Hansen each pitched in relief and did not allow a run. In addition to the freshmen, two junior college transfers made their debut – infielder Murphy Stehly and RHP Dawson Merryman.
PRESEASON PICKS—Junior right-handed pitcher Bryce Elder and sophomore outfielder Eric Kennedy were named to the 2020 Preseason All-Big 12 team. Elder was one of three unanimous selections to the team and Kennedy was one of only three sophomores selected. A second-team selection to the 2019 All-Big 12 team, Elder finished the year with a 2.93 ERA in 83 innings pitched. He led the Longhorns with 86 strikeouts and nine quality starts. The Longhorns' leading hitter as a freshman in 2019, Kennedy batted .310 with eight doubles, three triples and two home runs. During his debut season on the Forty Acres, he scored 41 runs and had 28 RBI to go with nine stolen bases.
PRESEASON RANKINGS—The Longhorns landed on a trio of preseason polls, checking in at No. 22 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, No. 24 in the Perfect Game poll and No. 30 in the NCBWA poll. In the Big 12 preseason coaches' poll, Texas was selected to finish fifth behind preseason favorite Texas Tech (62), Oklahoma State (52), TCU (45) and Oklahoma (40).
DRAFTED—Texas saw three players selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft: RHP Blair Henley (Astros, 7th round, No. 226), INF David Hamilton (Brewers, 8th round, No. 253) and INF Ryan Reynolds (Cubs, 14th round, No. 432).
THE SCHEDULE—The 2020 schedule features 32 home games at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, including a marquee non-conference series with Cal State Fullerton, March 6-8. In addition to 32 home games, Longhorn fans from around the state of Texas will have an opportunity to see the team play. Texas will play seven total games in Houston, with a season-opening series at Rice before returning two weeks later for the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park. In Big 12 Conference play, the Longhorns will host Oklahoma State, Baylor, TCU and Kansas and travel to Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Kansas State and West Virginia.
HONORING A LEGEND—Longhorn Legend Huston Street will have his jersey number retired during the 2020 season. A three-time All-American and the 2002 College World Series Most Outstanding Player, Street becomes the seventh former Texas Baseball star to have his jersey retired. One of the greatest closers in college baseball history, Street holds the Texas record with 41 career saves and ranks 13th in NCAA Division I history in career saves. His 1.31 career ERA ranks second all-time at Texas and his .172 opponents' batting average is the third-best in Longhorn history In his three-year career at Texas, Street made 105 appearances and pitched 178.1 innings. He struck out 177 batters and posted an 18-3 record to go along with his 41 saves.
PACKING THE HOUSE—Last season Texas set and re-set attendance records at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Longhorn fans showed up in droves to see Texas host Texas A&M on April 2, 2019, establishing a new regular season record crowd of 7,952. The April 2 crowd topped the previous regular season record of 7,879, set earlier in the season against Texas Tech (3/16/19). The total attendances for the three-game series against LSU (22,434) and Texas Tech (22,729) were also program records. Texas ranked sixth in the country, and first in the Big 12, in total attendance (175,768) and average attendance (5,493) last season. The Longhorns have led the Big 12 in attendance for 14-consecutive seasons.
PRO PARKS—Including the early season trip to Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas will play in a total of three professional ballparks during the regular season. The Longhorns take on UT Arlington at Dr Pepper Ballpark, home of the Double-A Frisco Roughriders, on March 18. Texas then plays at Whataburger Field, home of the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on April 13. Also for the 21st 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.
HEAR 'EM—In partnership with Learfield 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.
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.
