Longhorns Baseball Preview: Texas Hosts Houston Christian for Midweek Game
HOUSTON CHRISTIAN:
Texas is gearing up to host Houston Christian at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday, marking the team's first-midweek game of the season.
The Longhorns have maintained a flawless 7-0 record against the Huskies, with all games being played in Austin. It's worth mentioning that Houston Christian is under the leadership of Lance Berkman, a former Rice All-American and a 15-year MLB veteran known for his prowess on the field.
Houston Christian is 3-1 after their series with Le Moyne over the weekend.
HCU suffered a major loss in the offseason with third baseman Reed Chumley transferring to West Virginia after leading the Southland Conference in hitting with a .392 average and tallying 16 home runs in two seasons. However, catcher Dylan LaRue, son of former MLB player Jason LaRue, returns after a strong freshman year. The team faces challenges in defense, committing 89 errors last season, and pitching, with a staff ERA of 8.55, which ranked among the worst in the nation.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS:
Starting the 2024 campaign with momentum, Texas secured wins over San Diego, setting a promising tone for the season ahead.
Standout performances include Jared Thomas' impressive .545 batting average, complemented by Peyton Powell's .462 average featuring a triple and a home run. Jalin Flores made a significant impact with a game-winning grand slam on Opening Day.
On the pitching front, the Longhorns' bullpen demonstrated resilience, boasting a solid 2.79 ERA and tallying 21 strikeouts over 19.1 innings pitched. Noteworthy contributors to this effort were pitchers David Shaw and Grant Fontenot, who delivered standout performances on the mound.
Luke Harrison will draw the start in the midweek game after making his return to the mound on Saturday. Harrison allowed one run on three hits and recorded two strikeouts with just 26 pitches in a 6-5 loss. Despite his performance, he received a no-decision after being substituted in the eighth inning.