Tag: texas baseball news

We won’t know how good Texas baseball is until it can play defense

Texas baseball is capable of better play.

Texas’ baseball team epitomized the phrase “off the rails” on Sunday. The team couldn’t field the baseball. Continue reading “We won’t know how good Texas baseball is until it can play defense”

Texas outfielder Eric Kennedy to return for the 2023 season

Huge news for Texas baseball!

Big news for Texas baseball as outfielder Eric Kennedy is set to return for the 2023 season.

The senior was not selected in the 2022 MLB Draft but turned down free agency opportunities to return to the Longhorns for another year.

The return of Kennedy serves as a massive boost for the Texas program who lost eight players to the MLB Draft and saw multiple seniors move on.

Kennedy has played a key role in helping Texas reach the College World Series in back-to-back seasons. He is a rock solid defender in the outfield and constant threat on the base paths. Kennedy is a career .285 hitter with 14 home runs and 45 stolen bases.

David Pierce’s 2023 roster is starting to take shape. Kennedy, Dylan Campbell and Mitchell Daly bring back tons of experience in the lineup along with a solid group of incoming transfers joining the program.

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Texas baseball picks up USC transfer Charlie Hurley

Texas baseball picks up a big time transfer in former USC pitcher Charlie Hurley. 

Texas baseball picks up a big time transfer in former USC pitcher Charlie Hurley.

The 6-foot-8 righty tossed 73 innings with a 4.19 ERA and a 45 strikeouts for the Trojans. Hurley held a 6-2 record with a spot in the weekend rotation. He set a career high 8 innings pitched while allowing just two hits to San Jose State on April 3.

He is the second USC player to trade in the Scarlet and Gold for Burnt Orange. Catcher Garret Guillemette joined the program two weeks ago after the Trojans parted ways with head coach Jason Gill.

David Pierce’s squad is going to have a much different look in 2023. Texas is expected to see a high level of turnover after the 2022 season, but set to return key pieces Lucas Gordon, Dylan Campbell and Tanner Witt.

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Texas’ Ivan Melendez wins the 35th Dick Howser Trophy

Melendez becomes the fourth Longhorn to win the prestigious award presented to the best player in college baseball.

Texas first baseman Ivan Melendez is going to need more space in his trophy room before the season comes to an end. After already taking home Big 12 Player of the Year and plenty of All-American honors, the Texas slugger continues to be recognized for his monster season.

Melendez has been named winner of the 35th annual Dick Howser Trophy, presented to the best player in college baseball.

The “Hispanic Titanic” is hitting .396 with the nation’s best 32 home runs and 94 RBI. He provided excellent defense at first base after strictly playing the designated hitter role in 2021.

Melendez becomes the fourth Longhorn to win the prestigious award along with Taylor Jumngman (2011), Brooks Kieschnick (1992-93) and Scott Bryant (1989). No other program has more than three all-time winners.

Texas is off to the 2022 College World Series for the second straight season with the help of Melendez’s play. The Horns open their trip to Omaha with a matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Friday night.

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No. 9 Texas earns a gritty 5-2 victory over Louisiana Tech

Texas shows their toughness in a 5-2 win over Louisiana Tech.

No. 9 Texas baseball is one game away from the Super Regionals after a hard-fought victory over Louisiana Tech. The 5-2 win marks the eighth straight regional win for David Pierce and Texas.

Lousiana Tech starting pitcher Ryan Jennings kept the Texas bats off balance all game. The hard-throwing righty spread out three hits across six innings of work. Dylan Campbell’s solo home run in the second inning is all Texas could muster against Jennings.

Texas’ bats woke up in a big way in the seventh inning. Louisiana Tech made the move to All-Conference closer Kyle Crigger who had been close to unhittable this year. Crigger had no answers for the Horns lineup as Texas rallied for three runs in the frame to break the game open.

Lucas Gordon did a great job of battling without his best stuff on the mound. He escaped jam and after jam to limit the Bulldogs’ offense to just one run in 5.2 innings before turning the ball over to Tristan Stevens.

Stevens picked up the win while slamming the door on Louisiana Tech going 3.1 in his new role out of the pen. His performance secured the victory for Texas as well as keeping the rest of the bullpen fresh for the rest of the regional.

Texas will await the winner of Louisiana Tech and Air Force for the regional final on Sunday night.

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No. 7 Texas vs. No. 23 TCU: Preview and pitching matchups

No. 7 Texas and No. 23 TCU will battle it out in front of sold out crowds in Austin this weekend.

No. 7 Texas (22-9, 3-3) is set to welcome No. 23 TCU (20-9, 6-3) for a three-game series likely to have major Big 12 title implications. This marks Texas’ first conference home series of the season and a chance to get back above .500 in Big 12 play.

The Longhorns seem to be finding their stride after a dramatic series victory over Oklahoma last weekend. Texas scored 11 runs in the final three innings to take down the Sooners in Arlington.

TCU is entering the weekend looking to bounce back from dropping a home series to West Virginia last weekend. The Frogs will still be without ace Austin Krob who is dealing with an arm injury.

Here is a look at the probable pitching matchups for the weekend set:

Friday: Texas LHP Pete Hansen (5-0, 2.51) vs. TCU RHP Riley Cornelio (3-1, 3.10)

Saturday: Texas RHP Tristan Stevens (4-2, 3.16) vs. TCU RHP Marcelo Perez (2-1, 2.16)

Sunday: Texas LHP Lucas Gordon (2-1, 2.63) vs. TCU RHP Brett Walker (3-1, 4.89)

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Texas baseball must replace three solid players on their roster

Bryce Elder, Duke Ellis and Kamron Fields will not be returning to Texas next season.

It’s been an odd year for the sport of baseball. Continue reading “Texas baseball must replace three solid players on their roster”

Former Texas star Kacy Clemens among those cut in minor league

Three former Longhorns were cut from their Minor League Baseball teams this week.

Uncertainty continues to surround Minor League Baseball. Continue reading “Former Texas star Kacy Clemens among those cut in minor league”