The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Kansas State
No. 4 Baseball preview: Kansas State
04.08.2021 | Baseball
The Longhorns continue their homestand with a Big 12 Conference series against Kansas State
TEXAS (22-8, 7-2) at KANSAS STATE (17-11, 2-4)
April 9-11, 2021
Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Time: Friday at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2:30 p.m.; Sunday at 1 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, 57-20-1
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY–Texas RHP Ty Madden (4-1, 1.52) vs. K-State LHP Jordan Wicks (4-2, 4.00)
SATURDAY–Texas RHP Tristan Stevens (4-1, 3.27) vs. K-State RHP Carson Seymour (2-2, 3.58)
SUNDAY–Texas RHP Kolby Kubichek (3-2, 2.91) vs. K-State RHP Connor McCullough (2-2, 4.29)
THE MATCHUP—Texas welcomes Big 12 Conference foe Kansas State to UFCU Disch-Falk Field for a three-game weekend series beginning on Friday. The Longhorns lead the all-time series 57-20-1, including 31-11-1 at home. The sides last squared off in 2019, with the Wildcats taking the two series, 2-1. Texas won Game 2 of that series, 10-2, highlighted by a Zach Zubia grand slam. Texas has won 10 of 14 series over the Wildcats in Austin, including sweeps in two of the last three.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS—Texas won a pair of midweek home games against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Stephen F. Austin after sweeping a three-game series at Kansas over the weekend. Against A&M-Corpus Christi and SFA, the Longhorns hit five home runs and drew 23 walks, registering more runs than hits in each game, a feat they've now accomplished five times this season. The Longhorn bats came alive in Lawrence, smashing 10 extra-base hits, including three home runs on Sunday, to average over seven runs per game. Meanwhile, the pitching staff allowed only four runs in the series, including a combined eight-hit shutout by Tristan Stevens and Cole Quintanilla on Saturday. Texas is 22-5 over its last 27 games and has won six-straight series.
MAKING A BIG IMPRESSION—Ivan Melendez came up huge in Kansas, earning Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week after hitting .615 (8-of-13) in the series sweep with three doubles, a home run and two RBIs. The redshirt sophomore collected a hit in each of the three games, including a four-hit game and three-hit game in the final two contests. This week against Texas A&M - Corpus Christi and Stephen F. Austin, Melendez went 6-for-8 with two home runs, two doubles, seven RBI and three runs scored. Over the last four games, Melendez had four multi-hit games, batting .722 (13-for-18) with three home runs, five doubles, nine RBI and seven runs scored.
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 101 assists and is tied for 9th with 14 double plays while sporting a .980 fielding percentage in 148 chances.
COLE IS ON A ROLL—Dating back to the BYU series, Cole Quintanilla has thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings, striking out 13 batters and allowing threee hits in that span. On the year, the redshirt sophomore has thrown 16 innings, surrendering seven hits and four walks, while striking out 14 and allowing one earned run for a 0.56 ERA.
QUICKER THAN QUICK—Mike Antico leads the Big 12 Conference and is 10th nationally with 14 stolen bases. Eric Kennedy is right behind him with 13 steals to rank second in the conference and 17th in the nation. As a team, the Longhorns have swiped 45 bases, which is second in the conference and ranks 14th in the nation. Additionally, Kennedy uses his speed regularly to get on base with 14 infield singles, including seven bunt hits this season. In his career he has 38 infield hits (19 bunts).
DALY GETTING IT DONE—Mitchell Daly has been on a tear at the plate, hitting safely in 18 of the last 21 games. He has six multi-hit games in the last 12, raising his batting average to .380, a 74-point increase over that span. Daly ranks fifth in the Big 12 Conference in batting average and 10th in on-base percentage (.451). Last weekend against Kansas, he went 6-for-14 (428), with a double, two RBIs, a walk and a stolen base. The freshman currently leads the squad in batting average and on-base percentage, is second in hits (30) and OPS (.945), ranks fourth in slugging percentage (.494), and fifth in total bases (39).
HAMMER KEEPS HAMMERING—Cam Williams crushed his team-leading eighth home run of the season in Texas' 14-4 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday. Williams currently leads the team in total bases (59) and is tied for the team lead in RBI (26) and doubles (8). He ranks second in slugging percentage (.562) and third in OPS (.922). Williams' eight home runs are tied for fifth in the Big 12 Conference and rank 34th nationally. His eight doubles are tied for seventh in the Big 12 and his 59 total bases are tied for 11th.
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 is second in the Big 12 and ranks 17th nationally with 55 strikeouts this season. He leads the conference in hits allowed per nine innings (5.13) and opponent batting average (.168), and is tied for the lead in games started (7). Madden ranks second in the Big 12 in innings pitched (47.1), third in WHIP (0.89), fourth in ERA (1.52) tied for fourth in wins (4).
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.
