Longhorns Notebook: No. 19 Texas Splits Midweek Series With Texas State
The midweek series between the Texas Longhorns (24-11) and Texas State Bobcats (21-13) has quickly become a budding rivalry in college baseball, especially with the last two seasons featuring a home and home between the two teams.
Last season saw the then No. 1 Longhorns split their midweek series with the Bobcats, with the road team winning each game in what was a pair of dramatic finishes in each game.
This season would be no different on the first half of that statement, with the Longhorns winning on Monday in San Marcos while the Bobcats returned the favor in Austin on Tuesday.
While the Longhorns would ultimately have preferred to take the midweek sweep, a split isn't the end of the world for a team that has been red hot. After all, playing five games in five days is a tall task for any team and eventually caught up to the Longhorns on Tuesday.
Now, as the Longhorns turn their attention to their next conference series this weekend, here are three key takeaways from their series split with Texas State.
Clutch two out hitting
Despite their struggles at the plate in the 9-3 loss on Tuesday, the Longhorns continued to excel at pushing runs across with two outs. In their last three games, the series finale against Kansas State and the midweek series against Kansas State, this ability for clutch hits was on full display.
Going back to their win over Kansas State, in their last three games 15 of their 16 runs have all come with two outs. The lone exception came on a Porter Brown solo home run in the series finale against Kansas State, which came with one out in the fifth.
Clutch hitting is important in any aspect, but especially so when those hits come with two outs. If the Longhorns can continue this trend of clutch hitting the deeper they get into conference play, the better their chances of claiming a conference title.
Pitching will be fine
It would be easy to look at the nine runs surrendered in the 9-3 loss on Tuesday and press the panic button about the pitching staff. However, doing so is not warranted after one off game from a staff that has been dominant all season so far.
First and foremost, Tuesday marked the fifth game the Longhorns had played in five days which limited the arms available to use after Ace Whitehead's night was done. To emphasize that point, aside from the two earned runs charged to Whitehead, the other seven runs were charged to a pitcher making his first appearance this season and one who had only 4 1/3 innings of work prior.
Aside from those two, the pitching was strong for Texas. Kobe Minchey tossed three innings of shutout baseball in his first career start on Monday, and the bullpen only allowed two runs in relief. The Longhorns will be fine pitching wise, and should bounce back strong moving forward.
Much needed rest
The Longhorns now have two days before their next game, as they will hit the road for their next conference series. While that may not seem like a lot, any rest is much needed in a baseball season that is long and grueling - especially with the home stretch approaching.
Currently sitting in first place all alone in the Big 12, the Longhorns will likely trade that loss on Tuesday night for another series win this weekend. Luckily for them, of course, they will enter the series well rested with fresh legs and a full pitching staff at their disposal.
What's next for Texas?
The Longhorns hit the road for their next conference series, traveling to Waco to take on the Baylor Bears with first pitch on Friday night set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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