Tag: Zach Zubia

Baseball America reveals never too early rankings, Texas top 15

The 2021 Texas Longhorns baseball team is already receiving attention in Baseball America’s never too early top 25 rankings.

It is really never too early to start talking baseball around Austin. The Texas Longhorns baseball got off to a good start in their 2020 campaign before the pandemic shut down their season. The Longhorns were 14-3 and in the midst of a four-game winning streak before it was ended.

The Longhorns are now looking forward to what should be a full season in 2021, fingers crossed anyway. National baseball publication Baseball America has released their “never too early” top 25 rankings. Texas currently sitting inside the top 15 teams in American at number 11.

The Longhorns are joined by Texas Tech, Texas Christian and Oklahoma in the rankings.

  • Texas Tech (2)
  • Texas (11)
  • Texas Christian (16)
  • Oklahoma (18)

The Longhorns lost two key members from their team a year ago with Duke Ellis and Bryce Elder making the jump to Major League Baseball. However outfielder Austin Todd, first baseman Zach Zubia and catcher D.J. Petrinsky are all back for another season.

Prior to the season, Baseball America ranked their 2020 recruiting class number one in the nation. It will be interesting to see how that group plays for the Longhorns in 2021. One of the top prospects in the MLB Draft went undrafted meaning that Tanner Witt will play for the Longhorns in 2021. His signability being a major concern. MLB teams didn’t want to use a pick on a play they may or may not be able to sign since the draft was only five rounds this year.

Given the players who decided to return in 2021 and the rise of freshman pitcher Pete Hansen, the Longhorns look to rise to the challenge of taking back the Big 12.

Texas Baseball: USA Today’s Coaches Poll has Longhorns ranked No 22

The USA Today/Coaches poll has been released and the Texas Longhorns are currently ranked 22nd in the nation.

The Texas Longhorns baseball team has started off hot winning 13 of their first 16 games. In the Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic, the Longhorns beat the number six ranked Arkansas Razorbacks 8-7 and dropped a game to the 11th ranked LSU Tigers 4-3. The Longhorns have also played three weekend series going a perfect 9-0.

In the latest USA Today Coaches Poll that was released on March 9th, the Longhorns came in at number 22 in the poll. They are just two points based on votes behind the number 21 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Texas finished seven points ahead of Texas A&M who comes in at 23rd. The Aggies and Longhorns will have a one-game duel in College Station on March 31st.

Big 12 Teams in the top 25:

  • Texas Tech (3)
  • Oklahoma (13)

Following the five games left on their nine-game homestead, the Longhorns will travel to Frisco, Texas for a matchup with UT-Arlington. The team then starts Big 12 play with a trip to Norman for a three-game set with Oklahoma.

Texas Baseball: Longhorns finish off sweep 8-4

In the final game of the three-game series between the Longhorns and Cal State Fullerton Titans, Texas showed off their power.

The Texas Longhorns and Cal State Fullerton Titans met for the third game of the weekend series. Texas took the first two games, looking for their third sweep of the season. Coy Cobb took the mound looking for his first win on the year.

After the scoreless top of the first inning, the Longhorns got the bats going early. A Trey Faltine double brought home a run on the legs of leadoff hitter Austin Todd to give Texas a 1-0 lead. With runners on second and third, Eric Kennedy came to the plate with an opportunity to give Texas a nice cushion to start off the game.

Cobb would take the mound again in the top of the second inning but he would be pulled and Tristan Stevens would come on in relief as the Titans would tie it up before Stevens could retire the side. with the game now all tied at three, Austin Todd would come to bat to break the tie in the bottom of the second inning.

That gave Todd his first home run on the season and Texas led 5-3 after two. In the third Faltine would score again on a Murphy Stehly RBI ground out to short. It would be a throwing error by Faltine in the top of the next inning that would plate another Titan in Miguel Ortiz that brought them within two runs at 6-4.

The big cat Zach Zubia would drive home Todd in the bottom of the inning to get their three-run cushion back on the sacrifice fly to right field. That would give Zubia 20 RBI’s on the season. On the mound it would be four innings from Dawson Merryman that would allow Texas to take control. He gave up one unearned run and that would do it for the Titans offense.

Peyton Powell would give Texas their eighth run on the day with his first career home run in the sixth inning. To close it out, Andre Duplantier II would come in from third base to pitch the final frame. He faced the minimum with one strikeout to secure the sweep for Texas.

They will face Abilene Christian at DischFalk Field on Wednesday night before hosting another three-game weekend series against the New Mexico Lobos. Merryman improved to 3-0 on the year, picking up his second win of the series and lowering his ERA to 1.74.

Texas Baseball: Longhorns fall to Mizzou in controversial fashion

The Texas Longhorns finished up the final game of the Shriner’s Hospital for Children College Classic in controversial fashion, losing 9-8.

In the final game of the College Baseball Classic at Minute Maid Park, the Texas Longhorns and former conference foe the Missouri Tigers met for some Sunday afternoon baseball. Coy Cobb was on the mound for the Longhorns looking for the team’s 11th win through 12 games.

Early on the Longhorns found themselves playing from behind before they even got their opportunity to bat. Cobb gave up a run on a wild pitch and throwing error before retiring the side. The Longhorns bats wouldn’t come to life until the bottom of the fourth inning with the Tigers leading 2-0. With Cam Williams standing at third base, Eric Kennedy drove him in for the Longhorns first run of the game. In the top of the next inning, the Tigers extended the lead back to two with a Pete Zimmerman solo shot. His second RBI of the game, he ended with three.

In the bottom of the inning Texas would respond. With the bases full of Longhorns, first baseman Zach Zubia would be hit by a pitch to drive in Lance Ford. Williams would walk on four straight pitches to tie the game up at three. Eric Kennedy hit into a fielder’s choice that drove in Duke Ellis. Texas led 4-3 after five. Cobb’s day would be done on the mound, giving way to Kolby Kubichek.

Kubichek threw just 12 pitches to record one out and gave up three earned runs. Zimmerman singled in a run to make the score 8-4 Tigers after five and half innings. Tristan Stevens would relieve Kubichek with less success. Couldn’t record a single out on 11 pitches and gave up the run on the Zimmerman hit.

The Longhorns fought and clawed their way back into the game, closing the gap to 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth. Zubia drove in a run on an RBI single. The seventh run came on a wild pitch that allowed Ellis to score. In the top of the ninth the Longhorns gave up another unearned run on their fifth error of the game. It would be the eventual winning run. The controversy came in the bottom of the ninth with winning run on first base.

In the final pitch of the game with runners on the corners and two outs, Duke Ellis was at the plate with an opportunity to be the hero in Houston. Austin Todd was on first following a RBI single to bring the Longhorns within one, with a 1-2 count, Ellis took the pitch for the called third strike. The Missouri catch did his job with framing the pitch to get the ball.

This loss was a punch to the gut after a weekend of questionable calls. Texas will now face Arizona on Tuesday before a weekend series with Cal State Fullerton.

Longhorns Baseball: Texas-sized upset over No 6 Arkansas

The Texas Longhorns pulled off the upset of number six ranked Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday evening.

After falling to the number 11 ranked Louisiana State Tigers on Friday night, Texas was back at Minute Maid Park to take on an old Southwest Conference foe in the number six ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. Ty Madden took the mound looking to get back on the winning side in the second game of the Shriner’s Hospital for Children College Baseball Classic.

Madden was able to keep the Razorbacks at bay through the first four innings of scoreless baseball. The Longhorns offense went to work after being grounded in the final three innings of their loss to LSU. Zach Zubia started the scoring parade over the early innings with a single that drove in leadoff hitter Austin Todd. Cam Williams drove in the second run on a double play ball that brought Eric Kennedy home.

The offense would explode in the second inning against starter Patrick Wicklander who gave up six runs, four earned in one plus innings pitched. He would be pulled before recording an out in the inning. Kennedy hit a sacrifice fly to bring the score to 5-0 Texas, when Zubia came back to the plate.

The Longhorns finished a six-run second when Cam Williams scored on a throwing error by Arkansas. Madden would go to work with a 8-0 lead, Texas would need ever bit of those eight runs as the number six team in the nation would make a late inning push. Madden pitched six innings throwing 100 pitches. He finished with seven strikeouts, giving up three earned runs. Quality start from the Longhorns number two starter.

Cole Quintanilla lasted just 0.1 innings after giving up two runs allowing Arkansas to get within three runs of Texas after holding a commanding 8-0 lead. Pete Hansen came into the game and shut it down over the next 1.2 to get the game to the ninth. Hansen struck out two batters and allowed just one hit.

It was up to freshman pitcher Andre Duplantier II to close it out in the final inning for Texas to pull off the upset. Duplantier gave up two runs on a Matt Goodheart double that brought the Razorbacks within one, and the tying runner standing at second. The freshman rose to the challenge and got the final outs when Duplantier struck out Casey Opitz and Casey Martin to close the door.

Texas improved to 10-1 on the season. Zubia led all hitters with three RBIs while batting 3-4. The Longhorns look to close out the weekend against another former conference rival in the Missouri Tigers.

 

WATCH: Zach Zubia launches home run against Arkansas

During the game between old SWC conference rivals, Texas first baseman Zach Zubia launched a 2-2 pitch over the left center wall.

The Texas Longhorns returned to Houston, Texas where they swept the Rice Owls to begin the season. In the Shriner’s Hospital for Children College Baseball Classic, Texas faced off with the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second game of the classic. First baseman Zach Zubia came to the plate and worked a 2-2 count before launching a ball into the Houston atmosphere.

Texas Baseball: Longhorns drop first game of the season

The Texas Longhorns and LSU Tigers met for their lone matchup on the season, Jaden Hill ruined the Longhorns comeback hopes late.

The Texas Longhorns took the field at Minute Maid Park in Houston for their biggest matchup of the season so far. The number 11 LSU Tigers (6-3) gave the Longhorns their biggest fight of the season. Bryce Elder took the mound in the rematch from last year’s sweep.

Elder pitched 6.1 against the Tigers giving up three earned runs in that time, one also came across the plate unearned. LSU struck first in the second inning with a RBI triple from Saul Garza fro his lone hit of the evening. Cade Doughty drove in Garza with a RBI single to short, Elder would settle down and keep LSU from scoring until the sixth inning.

The Longhorns would tie the game up in the top of the next inning when catcher D.J. Petrinsky would send a ball over the left center field fence to cut the deficit to one. Zach Zubia would tie it up with a sacrifice fly that brought Brenden Dixon home. Trey Faltine would give the Longhorns the 3-2 lead in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly from Petrinsky for his second RBI of the night.

Elder would take the mound in the sixth inning but he wouldn’t finish the inning after giving up the go-ahead two-run home run off the bat of Daniel Cabrera. Elder would take his first loss, after the Tigers would go to their bullpen with Jaden Hill.

Hill was an absolute force on the mound for LSU as he pitched a near perfect three innings of relief for his first save of the season. Of the 10 batters faced, six struck out and he didn’t give up a single hit. The Longhorns had one baserunner in the final three innings with a walk. Texas looks to get back on track with another huge test against former conference rival, Arkansas.

Texas Baseball: Can the Longhorns make a statement?

The Texas Longhorns baseball heads to Houston for the Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic. This is an opportunity to compete.

The Texas Longhorns baseball team is 9-0 for the first time since 2009. The team in 2009 was the NCAA runner up and started out 11-0 before dropping their first game. Texas is looking to return to their former glory as one of the premier baseball programs in the state. Their 2020 recruiting class was number one in the country, but now the team has to put it all together to prove they are ready to compete with the best in the nation.

This will be the first big test for Texas when they head to Houston for the Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic. The Longhorns will be one of three Big 12 teams participating and one of six teams overall. Their first matchup will be against the LSU Tigers. Texas hosted a three-game set last year at the Disch where the Longhorns swept the number two ranked team in the nation.

Lola Gomez/American-Statesman – USA TODAY Network

Bryce Elder will take the mound on Friday evening for Texas, in last year’s matchup Elder led the Longhorns to an 8-1 victory. He went 6.2 innings only giving up one unearned run on a wild pitch in the first. The Longhorns will need him to provide that same effort so that Texas can get the upset of the 11th ranked team in the country.

The team will follow up the LSU game with the sixth ranked Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday. Then wrap up the classic with unranked Missouri. For Texas this weekend will be the measuring stick for success. Any combination of two wins over the next three games will do wonders for this team. Proving to themselves that they can compete with the best in the country will give this team a real boost head of Big 12 play.

 

Texas Baseball: Fifth Inning Offense Keeps Longhorns Perfect

The Texas Longhorns hosted the Sam Houston State Bearkats in hopes of staying perfect on the season. Pete Hansen would earn his first win.

Texas Longhorns took the field for their ninth game of the season looking to stay perfect ahead of their trip back to Houston. The Longhorns will participate in the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. This will be the team’s first test taking on the 11th ranked LSU Tigers and 6th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. They will wrap up the weekend against the Missouri Tigers.

As far as the Tuesday night game against the Sam Houston State Bearkats, it was bleak early on. Texas gave up an unearned run in the top of the first, Pete Hansen would settle down. He went five innings for the Longhorns, surrendering just two hits while striking out six batters.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the offense was finally able to break though against the Sam Houston State pitching staff. Murphy Stehly drove in the first run. The Longhorns had the bases loaded, Stehly hit into an RBI fielder’s choice driving Eric Kennedy home. After finally tying the game, Austin Todd stepped to the plate with an opportunity to get the team head.

With runners on second and third, in stepped Zach Zubia with a big opportunity to get the pitching staff some breathing room. There isn’t another bat the team wants at the plate than Zubia, he singled to right field to bring two more runs across the plate.

Hansen went from being on the hook for the loss to relying on the bullpen to close out the game for the win. Kolby Kubichek came in to the game, pitching 2.1 innings. He would be the beneficiary of some good defense behind him.

Andre Duplantier II came into the game in the eighth to close the door on the game. He would pitch 1.2 innings to earn his first save of his Texas career. The save also earned Hansen his first win in his collegiate career. Texas improved to 9-0.

 

Texas Baseball: Longhorns Outlast UTSA to Stay Perfect

The Texas Longhorns stay perfect after riding a five-run fourth inning to help them to a 6-2 victory at the Disch.

The Texas Longhorns returned home for their first baseball game of the 2020 season at DischFalk Field in Austin. The Longhorns fell into an early 2-0 hole against the UT-San Antonio Roadrunners heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. Cole Quintanilla was on the mound and gave up just one earned run in four innings with five strikeouts.

In the bottom of the inning, the Longhorn bats came to life. With runners on the corners and one out, Trey Faltine would drive in the Longhorns first run of the game.

Texas would go on to take the lead with catcher Silas Ardoin would get his first hit as a Longhorn and it was a big one, driving in two more runs on a double.

But wait, there’s more. With runners on second and third, the man they called the hammer, Cam Williams came to the plate looking to do more damage. He hit a two-run double to left field to plate two more Longhorns. Williams was thrown out at third going for the triple to end the inning. The damage was already done and Texas led 5-2 after a five-run inning.

Texas didn’t just show off the bats in this game as they were able to show off the leather as well. In the sixth inning, Faltine scooped up the ball from deep in the hole and fired it to first to get the out. Great throw by Trey and even better scoop by Zach Zubia.

Tristan Stevens and Pete Hansen would pitch the remaining five innings of shutout baseball for Texas. They gave up a combined five hits over that span. Stevens would pick up the win and Hansen with the three-inning save. For the play of the game, that came from Austin Todd who gunned down a runner at the plate to end their scoring threat in the seventh inning.