The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Sam Houston
Baseball preview: Sam Houston & Mercer
03.06.2023 | Baseball
The Longhorns return home to begin a 14-game homestand at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
TEXAS VS. SAM HOUSTON & MERCER
March 7-8, 2023
Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Time: Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
TV: Longhorn Network
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn/1260 AM
Live stats: https://texassports.com/sidearmstats/baseball
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
TUESDAY–Texas RHP Lebarron Johnson Jr. (1-1, 2.25) vs. Sam Houston LHP Gavi Coldiron (0-0, 9.00)
WEDNESDAY–Texas TBA vs. Mercer TBA
THE MATCHUP—Texas returns home to begin a 14-game homestand, starting with midweek games against Sam Houston and Mercer. The Longhorns won a pair of games over the Bearkats last season and hold an 82-19 advantage in the all-time series. This will be the first meeting between Texas and Mercer.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS—The Longhorns are led by fifth-year senior outfielder Eric Kennedy, who is hitting .386 with four doubles, one triple and two home runs. He has six RBI and six runs scored. The pitching staff has been the Longhorns' strength through the first 11 games, with a staff ERA of 3.36 and holding opponents to a .228 batting average.
DOWNTOWN PORTER BROWN—Porter Brown has made an immediate impact after transferring from TCU. The redshirt junior leads Texas with four home runs and nine RBI, starting all 11 games in left field. Brown also has the biggest hit of the season thus far, a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning against Indiana on Feb. 24. In parts of four seasons at TCU, Brown batted .286 with 20 doubles, nine home runs, 63 RBI and 83 runs scored. He also stole 25 bases during his time at TCU, including eight in each of the last two seasons.
UPCOMING HOMESTAND—Following last weekend's trip to California, Texas returns home for a 14-game homestand at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Beginning with Tuesday's game against Sam Houston, the Longhorns will play 10 games in the span of 13 days. The full homestand will span a three-week stretch from March 7 and concludes with the opening Big 12 series against Texas Tech on March 24-26. This will be the longest Texas homestand in more than 20 years and the longest since the Longhorns hosted 13-straight games at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in 2011. The last time Texas had a longer homerstand was in 2001, when Texas played 21-straight home games from February 6 to March 13. This will be the program's eighth homestand of at least 10 games since 2001.
THE TRANSFERS—The Longhorns have seven transfers from Division I programs that hope to make an immediate impact, including outfielder Porter Brown (TCU), infielder Tanner Carlson (Long Beach State), catcher Garrett Guillemette (USC), RHP Cody Howard (Baylor) RHP Charlie Hurley (USC), LHP David Shaw (Rice) and RHP Heston Tole (Arkansas). Additionally RHP DJ Burke and LHP Chris Stuart transferred from San Jacinto College.
THE SCHEDULE—The 2023 schedule features 36 home games at UFCU Disch-Falk Field after opening the season at the College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington. In Big 12 play, the Longhorns will host Texas Tech, Kansas State, Oklahoma and West Virginia and will travel to Oklahoma State, Baylor, TCU and Kansas. Texas also had a marquee midweek match up at home, welcoming LSU to UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Feb. 28. Texas will also travel to College Station for a midweek game against Texas A&M on A
OWN THE DISCH—A large part of the Longhorns success under head coach David Pierce has come down to dominating at home. Since 2017 Texas has produced a 150-42 (.781) record at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, including a 3-2 mark this season. Since the stadium opened in 1975, Texas has gone 1583-402-3 at home for a .797 winning percentage. The fan base has also done a great job of making the Disch a difficult place to play. With the exception of the 2021 season because of limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas has led the Big 12 in attendance for 15-consecutive seasons.
HOME SWEET HOME—Texas went 27-7 last season at the friendly confines of UFCU Disch-Falk Field. During the regular season, Texas played a total of 34 games at home and 30 games away from UFCU Disch-Falk Field. In home games, Texas had a team batting average of .340 and a .990 fielding percentage. The Longhorns also averaged a program record 6,918 fans in attendance at home last season, the fifth-highest average attendance in the country.
INFIELD HIT MACHINE—Throughout his career on the Forty Acres, Eric Kennedy has used his speed as a means to get on base. With three infield singles (three bunt) this season, Kennedy now has 61 career infield singles (34 bunts). In 2021, Kennedy had a career-best 27 infield singles, including 16 bunt hits.
PRESEASON HONORS—Two Longhorn pitchers Lucas Gordon and Tanner Witt were named to the All-Big 12 Preseason team. Last season Gordon went 7-2 with a 3.05 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 85.2 innings after moving into the weekend rotation. Witt made two starts on the mound in the 2022 season before undergoing season ending surgery. He finished with a 2-0 record, a 1.64 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched.
ROOKIES—Several freshmen will play big roles this season, including infielders Jalin Flores (San Antonio) and Jared Thomas (Waxahachie). Flores is likely to start at third base on Opening Day, while Thomas is expected to be the Longhorns starting first baseman. Additionally, infielders Jayden Duplantier and Cade O'Hara, catcher Rylan Galvan, outfielder Max Belyeu, and pitchers Kobe Minchey, Max Grubbs and Pierce George could all find significant playing time.
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. This season fans will also hear analysis from Longhorn greats Keith Moreland, Ty Harrington and Nathan Thornhill throughout the season.
WATCH 'EM—Nearly 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 for all 36 home games.
