The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UTRGV
No. 10 Baseball preview: UTRGV
03.15.2021 | Baseball
The Longhorns close a five game homestand against UTRGV on Tuesday night.
TEXAS (11-5) vs. UTRGV (9-6)
March 16, 2021
Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Time: Tuesday–6:30 p.m.
TV: Longhorn Network
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn/1260 AM
Live stats: https://texassports.com/sidearmstats/baseball
All-time series: Texas leads 51-6
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
TUESDAY–Texas LHP Pete Hansen (1-0, 3.48) vs. UTRGV LHP Max Rimac (0-0, 2.70)
THE MATCHUP—Texas hosts UTRGV at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday to close out a five-game homestand. The Longhorns lead the all-time series with a 51-6 record, including a 43-1 mark at home. In the last matchup, the 12th-ranked Longhorns defeated the Vaqueros, 4-3, on a cold night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in March 2019. Texas trailed 3-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth but rallied for three runs to take control of the game. Tristan Stevens picked up the win in relief and Cole Quintanilla closed out the game in the ninth inning.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS—Following a three-game sweep of No. 12 South Carolina, the Longhorns are riding a five-game winning streak and are 11-2 in the last 13 games. The sweep of the Gamecocks was the first over a ranked opponent since knocking off No. 2 LSU early in the 2019 campaign. During the current homestand, the Longhorns have batted .331 and scored 30 runs, including season-highs of 15 runs and 16 hits against Sam Houston State on Mar. 8. Entering the weekend series, South Carolina ranked eighth in the nation averaging 2.64 doubles per game and 10th with 1.91 home runs per game. Longhorn pitchers stifled the Carolina bats, allowing just six extra-base hits over the three games. The Gamecocks arrived in Austin scoring more than eight runs per game and were limited to six runs in the entire series.
QUICKER THAN QUICK—Mike Antico leads the Big 12 and is seventh nationally with nine stolen bases. As a team, the Longhorns have swiped 24 bases, which ranks second in the conference and 16th in the nation. Eric Kennedy has six stolen bases this season, fifth-most in the Big 12 Conference. Kennedy also has five bunt hits this season and six total infield singles.
FLASHING THE LEATHER—Trey Faltine has been a human highlight reel this season, making the difficult look routine. The Longhorns shortstop leads the Big 12 with 47 assists and is tied for third with nine double plays while sporting a .971 fielding percentage in 68 chances.
COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH—Zach Zubia's eighth inning base-hit drove in the game-winning run in the series opener against No. 12 South Carolina on Friday. On the season, Zubia has a team-leading 16 RBI, including nine in the last four games. He has five multiple-RBI games this season, including a five RBI output against Sam Houston.
BREAKOUT HODO—Douglas Hodo III has been clutch in the early going, collecting six two-hit performances in 13 games to hit at a .341 clip while scoring 12 runs and driving in six. He's also reached base in 12-straight games and has a hit in eight of his last 11 games played.
THE ACE—Ty Madden has been brilliant this season, twice earning Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week honors, including following his 14-strikeout, complete game shutout outing on March 5 against Houston. That performance also garnered nods as the NCBWA and Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week, one of Collegiate Baseball's National Players of The Week and one of four nominees for the Golden Spikes Award Performance of the Week. Madden currently leads the Big 12 and ranks 11th nationally with 35 strikeouts this season. He also leads the conference in hits allowed per nine innings (3.33), while ranking third in WHIP (0.70) and eighth in ERA (1.33).
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.
WATCH 'EM—All of Texas' home games will be broadcast on Longhorn Network this season. The team of Keith Moreland and Greg Swindell will return to the booth to call the action.
