The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
#17 Texas Tech
No. 24 Baseball preview: at No. 17 Texas Tech
03.07.2024 | Baseball
The Longhorns head on the road to open Big 12 Conference play against the Red Raiders.
#24 TEXAS at #17 TEXAS TECH
March 8-10, 2024
Where: Rip Griffin Park
Time: Friday at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: AM-1300 The Zone
Live stats: https://texastech.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
All-time series: Texas leads, 121-53
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY–Texas RHP Lebarron Johnson Jr. (1-1. 2.25) vs. TTU RHP Kyle Robinson (2-1, 3.14)
SATURDAY–Texas RHP Cody Howard (2-0, 3.29) vs. TTU RHP Mac Heuer (1-0, 2.61)
SUNDAY–Texas RHP Charlie Hurley (1-0, 5.11) vs. TTU RHP Jack Washburn (1-0, 8.49
THE MATCHUP—Texas hits the road for the Big 12 opening series at Texas Tech. This is the Longhorns first true road trip after playing three neutral site games last weekend. Last season the Longhorns swept the Red Raiders at UFCU Disch-Falk Field for their first series win since 2019. The Longhorns last series win in Lubbock came in May of 2018.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS—Texas looks to bounce back after a tough weekend at the Astros Foundation College Classic in Houston and a midweek loss to Texas A&M. The Longhorns had a strong offensive weekend, averaging eight runs per game and launching nine total home runs. The pitching staff had a tough weekend, posting a 9.69 ERA in the three games and allowing eight homers. The Longhorns have gotten great production from the top of the lineup through the first 12 games, with Jared Thomas batting .457 with six doubles, one homer and 16 runs scored. Peyton Powell is batting .440 with five doubles, a triple, four homers and 19 RBI. Jalin Flores has also had a nice start, with five doubles, five homers and 15 RBI.
PRESEASON PICKS—In a vote of the league's head coaches, Texas was selected to finish second in the Preseason Big 12 Baseball Coaches' Poll. The Longhorns sit behind preseason favorite TCU, who received 11 first place votes. Texas picked up the other two first place votes to finish second. Last season, Texas won the Big 12 regular season championship after being picked fourth in the preseason poll.
PRESEASON HONORS—Lebarron Johnson Jr. picked up plenty of preseason praise, being named Big 12 Preseason Pitcher of the Year as well as landing on the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. OF Porter Brown joined Johnson on the Preseason All-Big 12 team as well as picking up some Preseason All-America recognition. Freshman OF Will Gasparino was also named Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year.
DRAFT WINS AND LOSSES—Texas lost five players to the 2023 MLB Draft but also got five key players back for the 2024 season. The Longhorns biggest losses in the draft were 4th round selection Dylan Campbell and sixth-rounder Lucas Gordon. OF Porter Brown and INF Peyton Powell were not selected though and will lead the offense this season, while Charlie Hurley, Lebarron Johnson Jr. and Tanner Witt are expected to play big roles on the mound. OF Will Gasparino making it to the Forty Acres was also a big win for the program.
PRESEASON RANKINGS—Texas made an appearance in all five of the major preseason polls and opened the season at No. 16 in the D1 Baseball poll. The Longhorns highest preseason rank is No. 8 in the Perfect Game poll, while Texas is also 9th in the NCBWA poll, and 13th in both the Baseball America poll and USA Today Coaches poll.
THE GRAND SLAM MAN—Dating back to the end of the last season, Jalin Flores hit three grand slams over a 12-game span. His first career grand slam was in the NCAA Regional Final last season against Miami to help Texas advance to the Super Regional. This season Flores hit a game-winning grand slam on Opening Day and then launched his second against St. John's on Feb. 27.
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 184-50 (.786) record at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, including a 7-2 mark this season. Since the stadium opened in 1975, Texas has gone 1615-410-3 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. This season, the Longhorns are averaging 7,584 fans per game, the fifth-highest average attendance in the country.
FIFTIETH SEASON AT THE DISCH—Texas embarks on its 50th season at UFCU Disch-Falk Field after the facility opened in 1975. The first game at The Disch was played on Feb. 17, 1975 with the eventual National Champions sweeping a doubleheader of St. Mary's. Texas will officially celebrate 50 years of Disch-Falk Field and the 50th anniversary of the 1975 National Championship team during the 2025 season. The Longhorns and Aggies didn't meet at UFCU Disch-Falk Field until 1976 and the Longhorns hold a 51-17 all-time record against Texas A&M at the stadium.
MIDWEEK SUCCESS—In seven seasons under head coach David Pierce, the Longhorns have taken care of business in midweek games. Since 2017, Texas has gone 74-20 (.787) in midweek games including a 12-2 record last season. The Longhorns have been even more exceptional in home midweek games, winning 85% of the time for a 58-10 record.
THE SCHEDULE—The 2024 schedule features 37 home games at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, including 19 of the first 25 games at home. The Longhorns will also play in the Astros Foundation College Classic at Minute Maid Park, March 1-3, against LSU, Texas State and Vanderbilt. The Longhorns open the season with an eight-game homestand, beginning with the Opening Weekend series against San Diego. Texas will also host rival Texas A&M at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday, March 5 before opening Big 12 play at Texas Tech March 8-10. In league play, Texas will host Baylor, BYU, TCU, Oklahoma State and Kansas and will also travel to Kansas State, Houston, Oklahoma and UCF. The 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship returns to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, May 21-25.
HEAR 'EM—In partnership with Learfield IMG College, Texas games will be broadcast on the Longhorn Radio Network, primarily on AM 1300 The Zone. 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 34 home games. The first two games of the TCU series, April 19-20 will be broadcast on ESPNU.
