#2 TEXAS (18-5) at #16 TEXAS TECH (18-4)
March 25-27, 2022
Where: Rip Griffin Park
Time: Friday at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.
TV: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn/1260 AM
Live stats:Â texastech.statbroadcast.com
All-time series with Texas Tech: Texas leads, 117-51
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY–Texas LHP Pete Hansen (4-0, 2.57) vs. Texas Tech RHP Andrew Morris (2-0, 4.84)
SATURDAY–Texas RHP Tristan Stevens (4-1, 1.17) vs. Texas Tech RHP Brandon Birdsell (3-1, 1.80)
SUNDAY–Texas LHP Lucas Gordon (1-1, 1.61) vs. Texas Tech LHP Mason Molina (1-2, 2.70)
THE MATCHUPS—Texas heads back on the road to open up Big 12 Conference play at Texas Tech. The Longhorns make their first trip to Lubbock since winning a series at Rip Griffin Park in 2018. Last season, the Red Raiders won the series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns and Red Raiders have one common opponent this season, both sweeping Rice.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS—The Longhorns have won five-straight after a tough stretch of games in which they won only one of the previous five. During the current winning streak, Texas is averaging 13.2 runs per game and batting .388 with 15 doubles and 11 homers. Offensively the Longhorns are led by Murphy Stehly, batting .443 with 39 hits, 10 doubles, five homers, 22 RBI and 20 runs scored. Ivan Melendez is the leading run producer with eight doubles, two triples, 10 homers, 34 RBI and 28 runs scored. Eric Kennedy and Douglas Hodo III have done well at the top of the batting order. Kennedy is batting .358 with four doubles, one triple, three homers and 27 runs scored. Hodo is batting .296 with nine doubles, one triple, two homers and 23 runs scored. Starting pitchers Pete Hansen and Tristan Stevens have set the tone on the mound this season. Hansen is 4-0 with a 2.57 ERA and a team-high 33 strikeouts, while Stevens is 4-1 with a 1.17 ERA in 30.2 innings.
TWO-OUT HITTING—Texas has had a knack for scoring runs with two outs this season, driving in 49% of its RBI with two outs. The Longhorns have 81 total two-out RBI of their 166 runs driven in. Ivan Melendez not only leads the team with 33 RBI, but also leads the way with 15 two-out RBI. Douglas Hodo III also has 14 two-out RBI, while Murphy Stehly has 11 and Trey Faltine has 10. Conversely, the Texas pitching staff has been extremely tough with two outs and allowed just 15 two-out RBI this season and held opponents to a .202 batting average with two outs.
TITANIC—Ivan Melendez launched his 10th homer of the season on Tuesday against Central Arkansas, upping his career total at Texas to 23. He currently ranks in the top-10 nationally in home runs (5th), RBI (5th) and total bases (3rd). He also ranks 15th nationally with 28 runs scored and 16th overall with 20 base on balls. Melendez's first titanic blast of the season was a "Monster Shot," making him the first player to clear the batter's eye in center field three times. Last season Melendez burst onto the scene with 13 homers, a .319 batting average and .603 slugging percentage. He also had a stretch in the month of April in which he homered in six-consecutive games.
MURPH DOG—Murphy Stehly has been unstoppable through the first 23 games of the season, batting .443 with 10 doubles, one triple and five homers. He has a hit in all but two games and has 13 games with multiple hits, including just the sixth three-homer game in Texas Baseball history. His versatility has also been on display, playing first base, second base, third base and right field throughout the season.
INFIELD HIT MACHINE—Throughout his career on the Forty Acres, Eric Kennedy has used his speed as a means to get on base. With two bunt singles this season, Kennedy now has 53 career infield singles (30 bunts). Last season he had 27 infield singles, including 16 bunt hits.
MARCH MADNESS—Texas Baseball started the month of March with a tough stretch of 11 games in the first 16 days of the month. Making it even tougher, the majority of those games were away from UFCU Disch-Falk Field, with 10 of 11 on the road. The road was grueling and the Longhorns started the month with a 6-5 record. The back end of the March schedule will be tough as well, starting Big 12 Conference play at Texas Tech, March 25-27, before hosting Texas A&M for a midweek game on March 29.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS—It's an old adage that played out well in Texas' journey to a record 37th College World Series appearance in 2021. The Longhorns 2.93 ERA led the NCAA by nearly a quarter of a run and the Big 12 Conference by more than a run. Texas' .980 fielding percentage also led the Big 12 and was the 10th-best percentage in the nation. Through 23 games this season, the Longhorns have a 2.63 ERA and are fielding .986.
FLASHING THE LEATHER—Trey Faltine has been a human highlight reel throughout his career, making the difficult look routine. Last season, the Longhorns shortstop led the Big 12 with 203 assists and ranked second with 40 double plays while sporting a .968 fielding percentage in 308 chances. This season, Faltine currently second in the Big 12 with 68 assists, behind Mitchell Daly with 69. Faltine had a career-high eight assists against UIW on March 20.
COMMANDING THE ZONE—Tristan Stevens' command has been outstanding start to the season, winning four of his first five starts and allowing just four earned runs in 30.2 innings pitched. He's struck out 19 batters and issued just three walks, while holding hitters to a .230 batting average. Last season, Stevens led the Big 12 with 11 wins and he only walked 23 batters in 111.1 innings pitched.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT—Texas struck gold last season with the addition of graduate transfer Mike Antico from St. John's. The outfielder became the first Longhorn and first player in Big 12 history to hit 10 homers and steal 40 bases in a season. This season the Longhorns will hope for a big contribution from grad transfer Skyler Messinger from Kansas. Last season he led Kansas in batting average (.324), games played (56), games started (56), at bats (213), runs (43), hits (69), doubles (19), RBI (39) and slugging percentage (.460).
PRESEASON PICKS—In a vote of the league's head coaches, Texas was selected to finish first in the Preseason Big 12 Baseball Coaches' Poll. The Longhorns landed in the top spot in the poll for the ninth time overall and for the first time since 2010. LHP Pete Hansen was named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, leading seven total Longhorns on the Preseason All-Big 12 team. Tristan Stevens and Ivan Melendez were unanimous selections, while Silas Ardoin, Mitchell Daly, Trey Faltine and Aaron Nixon also landed on the team.
MORE NATIONAL ACCOLADES—Pete Hansen and Tanner Witt were named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List to lead a group of seven Longhorns earning national preseason recognition. Hansen and Ivan Melendez were both named first team Preseason All-American by NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball and second team by D1Baseball and Perfect Game. Aaron Nixon earned first team preseason honors from D1Baseball and NCBWA. Witt and Nixon, along with Trey Faltine and Tristan Stevens landed on the Collegiate Baseball preseason second team, joined by Mitchell Daly on the third team. Nixon was also named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List.
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.
