Tag: Tanner Witt

Ivan Melendez hits two massive home runs as Texas completes the sweep of Rice

Texas outscored Rice 36-3 over the weekend.

The opening weekend of 2022 could not have gone any better for No. 1 Texas.

The Longhorns dominated the Rice Owls 14-2 on Sunday to complete the three-game sweep. Texas outscored Rice by a total of 36-3 on the series.

Tanner Witt picked up the win in his first career start. Witt battled through some traffic most of the day but limited the Owls to just one run over five innings. He struck out his fourth Owl of the day with two runners on to keep the Texas lead at 2-1 in the fourth.

The Texas offense exploded after Witt’s big strikeout. Trey Faltine led off the bottom half of the fourth with a laser over the left field wall. Four batters later Ivan Melendez sent a three-run bomb over the monster to extend Texas’ lead to 9-1.

The “Hispanic Titanic” would add another three-run homer two innings later as the Horns cruised to a 14-2 victory.

Key stats:

  • SP Tanner Witt: 5.0 IP, five strikeouts and one earned run allowed.
  • 1B Ivan Melendez: 2-4, six RBI and two home runs
  • LF Eric Kennedy: 2-3, four runs scored
  • SS Trey Faltine: 1-4, home run and two RBI

Up next for Texas is a road trip to Texas A&M Corpus-Christi for two mid-week games against the Islanders.

No. 1 Texas dominates Rice 15-1, improves to 2-0 on the season

Texas has looked the part in the first two games of the season.

The No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns have looked the part in the first two games of the season.

Following up a 7-0 opening night victory, Texas displayed a fantastic offensive performance on Saturday. The Horns jumped out on the Owls for 15 runs on 10 hits en route to a 15-1 victory.

Senior right-hander Tristan Stevens set the tone on the mound for Texas. He stayed ahead of hitters, mixing in a nice slider to keep the Owls off balance. A beautiful relay from the Texas defense kept Rice off the board in the second.

Stevens finished his outing with six shutout innings, spacing out three hits and a couple of walks.

Much of the Texas offense was provided from the bottom lineup today. Eight-nine hitters Trey Faltine and Murphy Stehley combined for five hits and seven RBI.

Tomorrow the Horns look to complete the three-game sweep over the Owls. Tanner Witt is set to pitch with preseason All-American closer Aaron Nixon still available behind him.

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Two Longhorns named to Golden Spikes Award watch list

The Golden Spikes Award is given annually to the best player in college baseball.

The Golden Spikes Award is given annually to the best player in college baseball.

On Tuesday, USA Baseball announced its 2022 Gold Spikes watch list which included 55 players across the country.

Texas starting pitchers Pete Hansen and Tanner Witt were named to the list.

Hansen enters the 2022 season as the ace of the Longhorns staff. He boasts a career ERA of 1.58 over 108 innings pitched. Hansen was also named preseason Big 12 pitcher of the year.

Witt will move into the weekend rotation after a phenomenal freshman season out of the bullpen. Opposing batters hit just .194 against Witt’s electric fastball and wipeout breaking ball last year.

12 Longhorns have been named a Gold Spikes Finalist but none have ever captured the award, most recently Kody Clemens in 2018. Hansen and Witt will have the chance to change that this season.

Texas begins the 2022 season on Friday, Feb. 18 at home against the Rice Owls.

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LOOK: Texas’ pitching staff headlines Baseball America’s February cover

Texas has a chance for a special season and it all starts on the mound.

Most publications have Texas ranked No. 1 to start the 2022 college baseball season and for good reason. Texas returns the majority of an Omaha lineup and will boast one the best pitching staffs in America.

Texas’ weekend rotation of Pete Hansen, Tanner Witt and Tristian Stevens headlined Baseball America’s college baseball preview magazine cover. Baseball America labeled the Horns “armed and dangerous” and “the best pitching staff in the nation.”

All three pitchers in Hansen, Witt and Stevens had fanatic seasons a year ago.

Hansen posted a 9-1 record with a 1.88 ERA. The southpaw was named preseason Big 12 pitcher of the year by coaches around the league.

Witt will move into the starting rotation after a freshman All-American outing from the pen in 2021. The hard-throwing righty held opponents to a .194 batting average and finished with a 3.14 ERA.

Heading into last season Texas had some question marks in the weekend rotation behind eventual first-round pick Ty Madden. Tristian Stevens stepped into the Saturday role and was excellent all season. Stevens finished the season as an All-Big 12 selection.

Texas has a chance for a special season and it all starts on the mound.

Texas Baseball: Seven Longhorns named to preseason All-Big 12 team

Texas has the pieces to have another great season in 2022.

The 2022 Texas Longhorns are ranked preseason No. 1 by most publications and for good reason. This team has a loaded roster stacked with elite pitching depth and experience.

The preseason All-Big 12 team shows how talented Texas’ roster is.

The Longhorns have seven of the 18 players named to the list. The most in the conference by a wide margin.

  • C Silas Ardoin
  • 2B Mitchell Daly
  • SS Trey Faltine
  • 1B/DH Ivan Melendez
  • P Pete Hansen
  • P Tristian Stevens
  • P Aaron Nixon

Junior pitcher Pete Hansen was named Big 12 preseason pitcher of the year. An honor awarded to former Longhorn Ty Madden a season ago. Hansen appeared in 19 games in 2021 finishing 9-1 with a 1.88 ERA.

Hansen will be joined in the weekend rotation with 2021 first-team All-Big 12 pitcher Tristian Stevens and freshman All-American Tanner Witt.

Texas will open the season at home against Rice on Feb. 18.

Click here for a full 2022 schedule breakdown.

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Texas ranks No. 1 in D1Baseball’s preseason rankings

Texas baseball ranks preseason No. 1 after coming up just short in Omaha a season ago.

We are about a month away from the start of a new college baseball season and Texas fans have lots to be excited about.

The Horns rank No. 1 in D1Baseball’s preseason top 25 rankings and will return the majority of their College World Series team from a year ago.

 

Tanner Witt, Tristan Stevens and Pete Hansen will make up one of the best starting rotations in the nation backed by freshman All-American Aaron Nixon returning as the team’s closer.

In the field, Texas has six of nine guys back from last season. The return of outfielder Austin Todd from injury and Kansas transfer Skyler Messinger help fill the holes left by Mike Antico and Zach Zubia.

Texas will be tested early and often in 2022. The Horns will play 11 games against five teams ranked in D1Baseball’s top 25:

  • No. 19 Tennessee
  • No. 8 LSU
  • No. 14 Texas Tech
  • No. 17 TCU
  • No. 7 Oklahoma State

Click here for a full breakdown of Texas’ 2022 schedule.

The expectation for Texas baseball is to make the College World Series and compete for a national title and this year’s squad will have the pieces to do so.

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Texas Baseball: Horns rank No. 1 in preseason poll

Expectations are high for David Pierce and the Longhorns this year.

The college baseball season is just around the corner and expectations in Austin are as high as ever.

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper ranked Texas as their No. 1 team in the county in a preseason poll they released on Monday.

After a heartbreaking loss in the semifinals of the College World Series a year ago, the Horns will return a major core of that team. Seven position players and four key pitchers will all be back at the Disch in the spring.

The 2022 Longhorns will be stacked with MLB talent. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper has seven Longhorns on their preseason All-American teams:

  • LHP Pete Hansen
  • RHP Tristen Stevens
  • RHP Tanner Witt
  • RHP Aaron Nixon
  • 1B Ivan Melendez
  • SS Trey Faltine
  • 2B Mitchell Daly

David Pierce has done a masterful job with the program since taking over for legend Augie Garrido. Since the start of the 2020 season, Texas is 67-20 with a Big 12 championship and an Omaha appearance.

Click here for a full breakdown of Texas’ 2022 schedule.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Texas Baseball: Five early freshman standouts

The 2021 baseball season is still young, but these Texas Longhorns are making an immediate impact.

It’s still early in the season, but the No. 19 Texas Longhorns (5-4) have plenty of impressive players on the roster including Zach Zubia, Cam Williams and Ty Madden. What’s been even more impressive has been the play of the Texas freshmen at this point.

It’s always key to get solid play from your upperclassmen, but when the young talent is able to step up and contribute it’s encouraging for both the short and long-term future of the program. While some of these young players have contributed as starters, others are making their presence felt in relief.

Since last season was cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19, players were granted an extra year of eligibility, therefore some of the players on this list did appear in the shortened season last year.

Let’s take a look at which young players have been contributing the most up to this point and will likely continue to make their presence felt as the season progresses.

Four Texas Longhorns receive preseason All-Big 12 recognition

The Longhorns are itching to get back on the diamond after last season’s abrupt end. Four players were named in All-Big 12 preseason honors.

The Longhorns 2021 baseball season is almost upon us as the team prepares to open the season at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

In a press release from the University, a total of four Longhorns have been named to the Big 12’s preseason all-conference teams. It’s headlined by pitcher Ty Madden, who served as Saturday’s pitcher last season.

Big 12 Conference preseason honors

Austin Todd and Ty Madden were the two Texas players named to the Big 12 preseason All-Conference team. Two other Longhorns were named to the Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors for the preseason.

Ty Madden, Pitcher

Madden, who shares the recognition with K-State LHP Jordan Wicks, served as the Saturday starter for the Longhorns in 2020, pitching 25 innings and posting a 1.80 ERA with a 3-0 record. He struck out 26 batters and walked just four in 25 innings, while holding opponents to a .196 average.

Austin Todd, Outfielder

Todd got off to a scintillating start to the 2020 season, leading the team with a .375 batting average and 14 runs scored. He finished with four doubles, one triple and one home run, driving in 15 runs. He started all 17 games, reached base safely in every game and had nine multiple-hit games.

Mike Antico, Outfielder

Antico comes to Austin after an accomplished career at St. John’s from 2017 to 2020. He was a career .332 hitter with 22 doubles, seven triples and 13 homers along with 108 runs scored, 67 RBI and 44 career stolen bases. He was a 2019 unanimous first team All-BIG EAST selection and earned ABCA/Rawlings second team All-Region honors.

Tanner Witt, Pitcher

A right-handed pitcher and infielder from Houston, Witt was a four-year starter at Episcopal High School. He was a two-time All-State player and 2019 VYPE Private School Player of the Year. He was ranked the No. 1 shortstop in Texas, No. 4 overall player in the state and No. 18 nationally by Prep Baseball Report. In 2019, he participated in the Under Armour All-American Game and was a member of the 2017 USA Baseball 15U National Team.