The No. 1 Texas Longhorns are headed into Bobcat country. The last time “UT” and Texas State locked horns, it was the Bobcats who had the last laugh. On April 1, the Bobcats went on to win 5-3 at the UFCU Disch-Falk Field, their fourth straight win over Texas in Austin.
Now, that’s something the Bobcats hadn’t done since the early 2000s. The all-time record still leans in favor of UT (56-17), but Texas State has won five of the last seven. And now, with the home crowd with them this time, this match is anyone’s game.
Can Texas Avenge Their Early April Loss to Texas State?
Circle the calendars, folks. The match is set to begin Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET at Bobcat Ballpark. In this rematch, Texas State (19-20) hosts the No. 1-ranked Longhorns (33-5) in their only midweek home showdown of the season.
The match can be seen live on ESPN+. If the last game was a preview, then it might be best to get cozy. Things could change fast in the late innings. So, what can be expected from this matchup?
Well, the Bobcats will likely send right-hander Austin Eaton (2-2, 7.25 ERA) to the mound. Eaton’s been a regular in the midweek slot, and though his numbers aren’t the best, he is someone the team will need against the Longhorns’ offense. Eaton won’t be alone, though.
Matthew Tippie and Carson Laws have been important out of the bullpen. Tippie has a team-high 49 strikeouts and a 3.94 ERA over 29.2 innings, while Laws, who picked up the win in the April 1 showdown and has a 3-0 record and seven saves. So what about the Longhorns?
Well, the Longhorns, they’ve been on a tear. They have won 16 of their last 18. The only losses they have had are a 15-inning heartbreaker at Kentucky and that April 1 game against the Bobcats. Texas has yet to announce Tuesday’s starting pitcher, but that means nothing. Considering the fact that Longhorns have a stacked roster.
Ethan Mendoza leads the way with a .347 average. There’s also Rylan Galvan (.336, 11 HR), Will Gasparino (11 HR, 43 RBI), and Kimble Schuessler (.327) for the batting lineup. To add on, there is also Dylan Volantis with his 1.05 ERA and 46 Ks in 34.1 innings. But the last matchup showed the world that Texas State can punch above its weight.
They’re 5-4 in midweek games this year, with wins over Big XII and SEC schools. Ryne Farber has been the steady bat, hitting .298 with 45 hits and 12 stolen bases. Chase Mora brings five homers and 22 RBIs, while Zachary Gingrich and Samson Pugh keep the triples rolling. What does that all mean for Tuesday night?
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It is going to be a close game. The Longhorns will be looking for revenge. But Texas State has the recent head-to-head edge, and they know how to rise to the moment. And this is especially true at home. If they can keep Texas off-balance early and find timely hitting again like they did on April 1, the Bobcats might be able to pull off the upset.
The Longhorns might have the edge on paper, but momentum’s a funny thing. And right now, it’s rolling through San Marcos.
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