The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Houston
No. 19 Baseball preview: at Houston
03.04.2021 | Baseball
The Longhorns hit the road for a tough weekend series against the Houston Cougars.
TEXAS (5-4) at HOUSTON (6-2)
March 5-7, 2021
Where: Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
Time: Friday at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m.; Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn/1260 AM
Live stats: http://Houston.Statbroadcast.com
All-time series: Texas leads 95-32-2
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY–Texas RHP Ty Madden (1-1, 2.45) vs. Houston LHP Robert Gasser (1-1, 1.80)
SATURDAY–Texas RHP Tristan Stevens (0-1, 5.91) vs. Houston RHP Ben Sears (1-0, 3.00)
SUNDAY–Texas RHP Kolby Kubichek (1-1, 2.25) vs. Houston TBA
THE MATCHUP—Texas heads to Houston for a weekend series with the Cougars and the first meeting between the teams since a midweek match up in Austin in 2018. This will mark the first time for Texas to play on the Cougars' home field since 2013. The last time the Longhorns and Cougars played in a series was the 2002 Super Regional in Austin.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS—The Longhorns have won five of their last six games after starting out 0-3. Texas has also broken out offensively, scoring double digit runs in four of the last five games. Douglas Hodo III currently leads the team with a .421 batting average and nine runs scored. Graduate transfer Palmer Wenzel has been the most reliable bullpen arm early this season and leads the team with two wins and a 0.00 ERA in 9.0 innings.
SPEED KILLS—The Longhorns have speed up and down the lineup, but no one puts in on display quite like Eric Kennedy. The redshirt sophomore outfielder now has 27 infield hits in his career, including 14 bunt singles. So far this season, Kennedy has three infield hits (two bunts). Douglas Hodo III also has four infield singles, including two bunt hits this season. Another speedy player, newcomer Mike Antico is the team leader with four stolen bases on four attempts. One unlikely speed demon is first baseman Zach Zubia, who legged out the Longhorns first inside the park homer since 2015 in the Feb. 26 win over BYU and has the team's only triple.
PRESEASON PICKS—Texas was selected to finish third in the Preseason Big 12 Baseball Coaches' Poll, in a vote of the league's head coaches. The Longhorns earned one first-place vote and sit behind preseason favorite Texas Tech and TCU. The teams sitting behind Texas in order are, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Kansas State, Baylor and Kansas.
PRESEASON HONORS—A quartet of Longhorns received preseason recognition by the league's head coaches, with Ty Madden leading the way as the Preseason Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year. Graduate transfer Mike Antico was named the Preseason Newcomer of the Year and Tanner Witt tabbed as the Preseason Freshman of the Year. Outfielder Austin Todd landed alongside Madden on the Preseason All-Conference team. Madden also landed on four Preseason All-American teams, while LHP Pete Hansen was named to one team.
THE SCHEDULE—Adding to the anticipation for the new baseball season is an exceptional schedule, with 34 home games at UFCU Disch-Falk Field and 18 total games against preseason top-25 ranked teams. Texas will host a marquee non-conference series against No. 18 South Carolina, March 12-14, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns and Gamecocks will meet for the first time since the 2002 National Championship game in Omaha, Neb. In Big 12 Conference play, Texas hosts Oklahoma, K-State, Texas Tech and West Virginia and travels to Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma State and TCU.
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.
NEXT UP—The Longhorns will return to UFCU Disch-Falk Field to host Sam Houston State on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. before welcoming South Carolina for a weekend series.
