Longhorns Prepare for Final Non-Conference Series Against San Jose State
The end of the college baseball season is rapidly approaching, with just six games left before the start of the Big 12 tournament. For the Texas Longhorns, three of those games are a non-conference series this weekend against the San Jose State Spartans.
However, Mother Nature has once again not been kind to the Longhorns as they are forced to alter the schedule of yet another series. This time instead of the usual Friday-Sunday three-game series there will be a doubleheader on Friday with the series finale now on Saturday in an attempt to avoid inclement weather.
Regardless of when these three games are played, if they are played, that is, this is a series that the Longhorns simply cannot afford to leave with anything less than a sweep.
While a sweep won't majorly impact their RPI or help them slide up the conference standings, it would give them a six-game winning streak heading into their final conference series against West Virginia.
That being said they cannot overlook the Spartans and glance ahead to their final regular season series. If they do so it could be an interesting album at the Disch for the Longhorns.
How to watch/listen:
Game 1: Friday at 2 p.m. CT (Longhorn Network/TexasSports.com/Audio)
Game 2: Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT OR 45 minutes after Game 1 (Longhorn Network/TexasSports.com/Audio)
Game 3: Saturday at TBA (Longhorn Network/TexasSports.com/Audio)
A look at San Jose State's season so far
The Spartans have put together a quietly solid season so far in 2023, albeit a one that has been rather inconsistent. Nothing encases this more than their last eight games, which started off with a five-game losing streak followed by their current three-game winning streak entering the series against Texas.
San Jose State by the numbers
Record: 23-22
Runs scored: 283
Runs allowed: 274
Team Avg.: .280
Team ERA: 5.44
San Jose State wins this series if...
It can get to Lucas Gordon and the rest of the Longhorns' starting pitchers to get into the bullpen. Against Kansas the Longhorns rode dominant outings on the mound from Lebarron Johnson Jr. and then a relief outing from Travis Sthele to a series win, however if the Spartans can rattle them early and knock them out of the game they can pull off the massive upset.
Texas wins this series if...
Gordon bounces back and the trio of Johnson, Sthele and Tanner Witt do their job in games two and three. Bad games happen and it is hard to believe Gordon won't bounce back to form against the Spartans. The bats have been hot in the current three-game win streak, so if the pitching can do its job then the Longhorns have to like their chances of picking up a much needed sweep.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Longhorns? Click Here to Subscribe to the Longhorns Country Newsletter
Want even more Texas Longhorns? Check out the SI.com team page here
Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook.
Make sure to subscribe to the Longhorns Country Podcast today! Click here To Listen.