FINAL
UT-Arlington - 4
Texas - 7
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Bryce Navarre (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Tyler Zahradnik (0-1)
Save: Thomas Burns (2)
RECAP
Freshman RHP Drew Rerick got the start for the Horns tonight as Coach Schlossnagle wanted to give the young man a chance and he also wanted to see what fellow freshman RHP Jason Flores looked like coming out of the bullpen, something he is unaccustomed to.
In the Top 1st, RHP Drew Rerick sat the Mavericks down in order as he flashed his 96mph fastball.
In the Bottom 1st, the Horns were facing a familiar name in LHP Caden Noah, the southpaw who spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Longhorns. Noah was very efficient and sat the Horns down 1-2-3 as well.
After another clean 1-2-3 inning for Drew Rerick in the Top 2nd, the Horns offense came to the plate against the UTA bullpen. Freshman DH Adrian Rodriguez led off by hitting a single up the middle. After 1B Kimble Schuessler and LF Tommy Farmer were sat down, 3B Casey Borba came to the plate and hit a hard single (110 exit velo) to LF. That brought CF Will Gasparino to the plate and he came through with a clutch 2 out double down the LF line plating Adrian Rodriguez to make it 1-0 Horns.
In the Top 3rd, Drew Rerick ran into some trouble as the Mavericks were able to get back to back singles off him as he left a pair of 93mph fastballs over the plate at the knees. Rerick ran into even more trouble as he made an awkward spin move to throw to 2B, which the ump correctly judged to be a balk. That put runners on 2B and 3B with no outs. To his credit, the young man bounced back to get a strike out on the 9 hole hitter, but the two runners in scoring position remained and that would come to bite him as the lead off man Cade Dodson hit a grounder to 1B, plating a run to tie it 1-1.
Uncharacteristically, the Horns failed to respond in the Bottom 3rd as Ethan Mendoza, Max Belyeu, and Jalin Flores all made contact but came away with nothing to show for it.
In the Top 4th, RHP Jason Flores who had come into the game in relief of Rerick in the Top 3rd and got the last out via strikeout, was back out to pitch and promptly retired the side in order.
In the Bottom 4th, Texas got a 1 out double by 1B Kimble Schuessler down the LF line and got 2 out walks from 3B Casey Borba and CF Will Gasparino, but for the second plate appearance in a row, Sophomore catcher Oliver Service came up empty to keep it a 1-1 game.
Back on the mound in the Top 5th, RHP Jason Flores hit the first batter he saw and then gave up a single. Flores was bailed out of trouble though by 1B Kimble Schuessler who came crashing in on a bunt attempt and fired a strike to Casey Borba at 3B just in time to get the lead runner and 1st out. Jason Flores had a moment to breathe and bounced back with back to back ground ball outs to keep it a 1-1 ballgame.
In the Bottom 5th, the Horns got a lead off walk from Ethan Mendoza and then a double to right CF by Max Belyeu putting runners on the corners with no outs. Jalin Flores hit the first pitch he saw on the ground to the SS, but it allowed Mendoza to score from 3B due to some savvy base running, putting the Horns ahead 2-1. Freshman DH Adrian Rodriguez then made it 3-1 Horns as he hit a double to right CF, playing Max Belyeu. The Horns had runners on 1B and 3B after a Kimble Schuessler single, but a strikeout by Tommy Farmer and ground out by Casey Borba on a full count kept the game close.
In the Top 6th inning, RHP Jason Flores gave way for RHP Hamilton Hudson, who started off by walking the first batter he saw on four pitches. After getting the next batter to pop up for the first out, Hamilton threw a breaking ball over the plate that hung up and was hit to LF for a double, putting runners on 2B and 3B with just one out. The next UTA batter then hit a single to CF, plating both runners to tie the game up at 3-3.
In the Bottom 6th, the Horns had the opportunity to respond but could not get the timely hit they needed. After Will Gaspaino grounded out on a 3-1 count to start the inning, freshman Catcher Cole Chamberlain who came into play in lie of Oliver Service hit a first pitch fastball up the middle for a single. Lead off man Ethan Mendoza then drew a walk to put a man in scoring position with Max Belyeu at the plate. Unfortunately, Max Belyeu popped up a breaking ball for the second out. Jalin Flores, who came into the game as the hottest hitter at the plate hit a chopper to the left side and what should have been an easy play ended up as an error by the 3B as he booted the ball, loading the bases with 2 outs. The Horns again were not able to take advantage though as UTA went to the bullpen and the new lefty got Adrian Rodriguez to hit the first pitch he saw on the ground to 2B, keeping the ball game at 3-3.
In the Top 7th, freshman LHP Bryce Navarre came into the game. The freshman southpaw gave up a 1 out walk and three hard hit balls, but he utilized the depth of Disch-Falk to keep UTA off the board.
In the Top 8th, freshman LHP Bryce Navarre was right back on the mound after the Horns were retired in order in the Bottom 7th. Navarre once again pitched to contact, but the Horns defense was up to the job and Navarre ended up retiring the side in order, bring the Horns offense back to the plate for what would end up being the decisive inning.
In the Bottom 8th, Will Gasparino led off by hitting a single to CF on an 0-2 count. Junior catcher Rylan Galvan, pinch hitting for freshman Cole Chamberlain, battled back to draw a walk, putting runners on 1B and 2B with no outs. After going down 0-2, Ethan Mendoza battled back and hit a liner down the RF line into the corner for a 2 run RBI triple to give the Horns a 5-3 lead.
Max Belyeu then drew a four pitch walk to put runners on 1B and 3B, still with no outs, forcing UTA to once again go to the bullpen. After Max Belyeu stole 2B, putting two runners in scoring position, Jalin Flores hit a deep fly ball to right CF, playing Ethan Mendoza from 3B to make it 6-3 Horns and moving Max Belyeu over to 3B with just 1 out. Freshman Adrian Rodriguez once again came through with a clutch hit as he hit a single up the middle to make it 7-3 Horns.
In the Top 9th, Bryce Navarre was back on the mound for the Horns and got the first batter to strike out swinging. Unfortunately, Navarre gave up a 1 out single to CF to put a runner on base. The next batter hit a tapper out in front of the plate and Navarre fielded it perfectly, firing a strike to Kimble at 1B to get the second out. Navarre, who looked like he was running out of steam then walked the next batter, putting runners on 1B and 2B with 2 outs. UTA went with a pinch hitter and he came through with a 2 out RBI single to make it 7-4 Horns, prompting a pitching change by Coach Schlossnagle.
Thomas Burns came out of the pen and despite getting down 3-1, he battled back and induced a fall ball out to CF, which Gasparino caught to secure the victory.
BIG MOMENT
This is an easy one. It's DOZA time!
In the Bottom 8th with the game tied 3-3, Ethan Mendoza came to the plate 0-3 on the night, with runners on 1B and 2B and no outs. All Mendoza needed to do was put the ball in play and move the runners over. Well, he did a heck of a lot more than that!
Mendoza watched a first pitch 89mph fastball go in for a called strike. He then watched another 89mph fastball in for a called strike. Mendoza then fouled back a 89mph fastball to the backstop to stay alive. After watching a 83mph breaking ball miss down in the dirt, Mendoza got a 89mph fastball right over the plate and hit it down the RF line and into the corner for a 2 run RBI triple to make it 5-3 Horns
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Gotta give this to Ethan Mendoza. While he went 1-3 on the night with a walk, his 2 run RBI triple was absolutely clutch and helped secure the victory for the Horns tonight.
His final line was 1-3, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, 1x 3B, 2 BB
Golden Sombrero award - Tommy Farmer
TAKEAWAYS
After defense was a big talking issue during the first 11 games of the season, the Horns have reeled off four games in a row without a single error. Coach Schlossnagle commented on his defense first thing in his post game comments, while talking up how big the defense came through tonight for the Horns, especially the outfield trio of Tommy Farmer, Will Gasparino, and Max Belyeu.
Coach Schlossnagle after the game was happy to get a win, but was also pleased with the way his team performed in a tight battle. He said it was good for the team to get that experience and come through with the win.
For those wondering why Rylan Galvan got the rest on Sunday and tonight, Schlossnagle mentioned that he was a little banged up, but is ready to go and will be right back in action this weekend against Mississippi State.
Despite the balk and giving up a couple of singles, I thought Drew Rerick looked really good and can use this performance to build on. He has an electric fastball and more in the tank. He just has to continue working on his command and trust his stuff. As mentioned earlier, Coach Schlossnagle put Jason Flores into the bullpen to see how he handled it, instead of getting the start as being a reliever is not something he is accustomed to. Flores command certainly was not as sharp as it was during his first two outings, but he continues to flash his 93-95mph sinker and mixed in his breaking ball really well.
The team had several opportunities to create some separation and failed to do that, which you don't love to see, but again, these early games are all data points on what the team can work on. Likewise, when the team gets a lead, you want to see your pitchers come back out and throw a zero up on the board, but the young guys cane walk away with a lot of positives from tonight.
At the end of the day, the Horns are 14-1, the best start to a season since the 2005 team went 21-1.
NEXT UP
Texas (14-1) heads to Starkville, Mississippi to open up SEC conference play against Mississippi State Bulldogs (12-4)
Look for the full weekend preview on Thursday afternoon
UT-Arlington - 4
Texas - 7
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Bryce Navarre (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Tyler Zahradnik (0-1)
Save: Thomas Burns (2)
RECAP
Freshman RHP Drew Rerick got the start for the Horns tonight as Coach Schlossnagle wanted to give the young man a chance and he also wanted to see what fellow freshman RHP Jason Flores looked like coming out of the bullpen, something he is unaccustomed to.
In the Top 1st, RHP Drew Rerick sat the Mavericks down in order as he flashed his 96mph fastball.
In the Bottom 1st, the Horns were facing a familiar name in LHP Caden Noah, the southpaw who spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Longhorns. Noah was very efficient and sat the Horns down 1-2-3 as well.
After another clean 1-2-3 inning for Drew Rerick in the Top 2nd, the Horns offense came to the plate against the UTA bullpen. Freshman DH Adrian Rodriguez led off by hitting a single up the middle. After 1B Kimble Schuessler and LF Tommy Farmer were sat down, 3B Casey Borba came to the plate and hit a hard single (110 exit velo) to LF. That brought CF Will Gasparino to the plate and he came through with a clutch 2 out double down the LF line plating Adrian Rodriguez to make it 1-0 Horns.
In the Top 3rd, Drew Rerick ran into some trouble as the Mavericks were able to get back to back singles off him as he left a pair of 93mph fastballs over the plate at the knees. Rerick ran into even more trouble as he made an awkward spin move to throw to 2B, which the ump correctly judged to be a balk. That put runners on 2B and 3B with no outs. To his credit, the young man bounced back to get a strike out on the 9 hole hitter, but the two runners in scoring position remained and that would come to bite him as the lead off man Cade Dodson hit a grounder to 1B, plating a run to tie it 1-1.
Uncharacteristically, the Horns failed to respond in the Bottom 3rd as Ethan Mendoza, Max Belyeu, and Jalin Flores all made contact but came away with nothing to show for it.
In the Top 4th, RHP Jason Flores who had come into the game in relief of Rerick in the Top 3rd and got the last out via strikeout, was back out to pitch and promptly retired the side in order.
In the Bottom 4th, Texas got a 1 out double by 1B Kimble Schuessler down the LF line and got 2 out walks from 3B Casey Borba and CF Will Gasparino, but for the second plate appearance in a row, Sophomore catcher Oliver Service came up empty to keep it a 1-1 game.
Back on the mound in the Top 5th, RHP Jason Flores hit the first batter he saw and then gave up a single. Flores was bailed out of trouble though by 1B Kimble Schuessler who came crashing in on a bunt attempt and fired a strike to Casey Borba at 3B just in time to get the lead runner and 1st out. Jason Flores had a moment to breathe and bounced back with back to back ground ball outs to keep it a 1-1 ballgame.
In the Bottom 5th, the Horns got a lead off walk from Ethan Mendoza and then a double to right CF by Max Belyeu putting runners on the corners with no outs. Jalin Flores hit the first pitch he saw on the ground to the SS, but it allowed Mendoza to score from 3B due to some savvy base running, putting the Horns ahead 2-1. Freshman DH Adrian Rodriguez then made it 3-1 Horns as he hit a double to right CF, playing Max Belyeu. The Horns had runners on 1B and 3B after a Kimble Schuessler single, but a strikeout by Tommy Farmer and ground out by Casey Borba on a full count kept the game close.
In the Top 6th inning, RHP Jason Flores gave way for RHP Hamilton Hudson, who started off by walking the first batter he saw on four pitches. After getting the next batter to pop up for the first out, Hamilton threw a breaking ball over the plate that hung up and was hit to LF for a double, putting runners on 2B and 3B with just one out. The next UTA batter then hit a single to CF, plating both runners to tie the game up at 3-3.
In the Bottom 6th, the Horns had the opportunity to respond but could not get the timely hit they needed. After Will Gaspaino grounded out on a 3-1 count to start the inning, freshman Catcher Cole Chamberlain who came into play in lie of Oliver Service hit a first pitch fastball up the middle for a single. Lead off man Ethan Mendoza then drew a walk to put a man in scoring position with Max Belyeu at the plate. Unfortunately, Max Belyeu popped up a breaking ball for the second out. Jalin Flores, who came into the game as the hottest hitter at the plate hit a chopper to the left side and what should have been an easy play ended up as an error by the 3B as he booted the ball, loading the bases with 2 outs. The Horns again were not able to take advantage though as UTA went to the bullpen and the new lefty got Adrian Rodriguez to hit the first pitch he saw on the ground to 2B, keeping the ball game at 3-3.
In the Top 7th, freshman LHP Bryce Navarre came into the game. The freshman southpaw gave up a 1 out walk and three hard hit balls, but he utilized the depth of Disch-Falk to keep UTA off the board.
In the Top 8th, freshman LHP Bryce Navarre was right back on the mound after the Horns were retired in order in the Bottom 7th. Navarre once again pitched to contact, but the Horns defense was up to the job and Navarre ended up retiring the side in order, bring the Horns offense back to the plate for what would end up being the decisive inning.
In the Bottom 8th, Will Gasparino led off by hitting a single to CF on an 0-2 count. Junior catcher Rylan Galvan, pinch hitting for freshman Cole Chamberlain, battled back to draw a walk, putting runners on 1B and 2B with no outs. After going down 0-2, Ethan Mendoza battled back and hit a liner down the RF line into the corner for a 2 run RBI triple to give the Horns a 5-3 lead.
Max Belyeu then drew a four pitch walk to put runners on 1B and 3B, still with no outs, forcing UTA to once again go to the bullpen. After Max Belyeu stole 2B, putting two runners in scoring position, Jalin Flores hit a deep fly ball to right CF, playing Ethan Mendoza from 3B to make it 6-3 Horns and moving Max Belyeu over to 3B with just 1 out. Freshman Adrian Rodriguez once again came through with a clutch hit as he hit a single up the middle to make it 7-3 Horns.
In the Top 9th, Bryce Navarre was back on the mound for the Horns and got the first batter to strike out swinging. Unfortunately, Navarre gave up a 1 out single to CF to put a runner on base. The next batter hit a tapper out in front of the plate and Navarre fielded it perfectly, firing a strike to Kimble at 1B to get the second out. Navarre, who looked like he was running out of steam then walked the next batter, putting runners on 1B and 2B with 2 outs. UTA went with a pinch hitter and he came through with a 2 out RBI single to make it 7-4 Horns, prompting a pitching change by Coach Schlossnagle.
Thomas Burns came out of the pen and despite getting down 3-1, he battled back and induced a fall ball out to CF, which Gasparino caught to secure the victory.
BIG MOMENT
This is an easy one. It's DOZA time!
In the Bottom 8th with the game tied 3-3, Ethan Mendoza came to the plate 0-3 on the night, with runners on 1B and 2B and no outs. All Mendoza needed to do was put the ball in play and move the runners over. Well, he did a heck of a lot more than that!
Mendoza watched a first pitch 89mph fastball go in for a called strike. He then watched another 89mph fastball in for a called strike. Mendoza then fouled back a 89mph fastball to the backstop to stay alive. After watching a 83mph breaking ball miss down in the dirt, Mendoza got a 89mph fastball right over the plate and hit it down the RF line and into the corner for a 2 run RBI triple to make it 5-3 Horns
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Gotta give this to Ethan Mendoza. While he went 1-3 on the night with a walk, his 2 run RBI triple was absolutely clutch and helped secure the victory for the Horns tonight.
His final line was 1-3, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, 1x 3B, 2 BB
Golden Sombrero award - Tommy Farmer
TAKEAWAYS
After defense was a big talking issue during the first 11 games of the season, the Horns have reeled off four games in a row without a single error. Coach Schlossnagle commented on his defense first thing in his post game comments, while talking up how big the defense came through tonight for the Horns, especially the outfield trio of Tommy Farmer, Will Gasparino, and Max Belyeu.
Coach Schlossnagle after the game was happy to get a win, but was also pleased with the way his team performed in a tight battle. He said it was good for the team to get that experience and come through with the win.
For those wondering why Rylan Galvan got the rest on Sunday and tonight, Schlossnagle mentioned that he was a little banged up, but is ready to go and will be right back in action this weekend against Mississippi State.
Despite the balk and giving up a couple of singles, I thought Drew Rerick looked really good and can use this performance to build on. He has an electric fastball and more in the tank. He just has to continue working on his command and trust his stuff. As mentioned earlier, Coach Schlossnagle put Jason Flores into the bullpen to see how he handled it, instead of getting the start as being a reliever is not something he is accustomed to. Flores command certainly was not as sharp as it was during his first two outings, but he continues to flash his 93-95mph sinker and mixed in his breaking ball really well.
The team had several opportunities to create some separation and failed to do that, which you don't love to see, but again, these early games are all data points on what the team can work on. Likewise, when the team gets a lead, you want to see your pitchers come back out and throw a zero up on the board, but the young guys cane walk away with a lot of positives from tonight.
At the end of the day, the Horns are 14-1, the best start to a season since the 2005 team went 21-1.
NEXT UP
Texas (14-1) heads to Starkville, Mississippi to open up SEC conference play against Mississippi State Bulldogs (12-4)
Look for the full weekend preview on Thursday afternoon
