Notebook: Texas Longhorns Blown Out by UTRGV

The Longhorns were embarrassed in ugly fashion at home against the Vaqueros.

Mikala Compton/American-Statesman / USA

Spirits were extremely high in Austin as the Texas Longhorns (22-16) entered a midweek contest against the UTRGV Vaqueros (18-15). Fresh off a thrilling conference series win over the Houston Cougars, including a monstrous eight-run ninth inning in the finale, Texas found itself on a mini two-game winning streak

A streak that came down in horrendous fashion against the Vaqueros on Tuesday night. Despite a late burst of runs in the sixth inning, this game was decided when UTRGV plated six runs in the fourth inning to take a commanding 10-1 lead thanks to a plethora of free passes. It did not get any better from there for the Longhorns in what would be a disastrous 17-9 blowout loss.

Now, here are three key takeaways from the Longhorns' ugly loss to the Vaqueros.

Texas infielder Jared Thomas (9) runs to third base as the Longhorns play San Diego at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. / Mikala Compton/American-Statesman / USA

Horrendous pitching

Bad outings are bound to happen to any pitching staff, no matter how good they are. Describing what the Longhorns did on the mound against the Vaqueros as a bad outing, however, would be a massive understatement. No, what transpired in this midweek clash is one of the worst performances you'll see from Texas this season -- if not the worst.

Every pitcher that toed the rubber issued a walk, with Texas as a team allowing 20 free passes, 11 via the walk and nine hit batters. Pair that with 11 hits and you have the Vaqueros plate a staggering 17 runs. That is comfortably the most Texas has given up so far this season and nothing short of an ugly, ugly showing.

Bats no-show (again)

Don't let the outburst for six runs in the sixth inning fool you. Or the pair of runs in the ninth. This was far from a good performance for the Longhorns at the plate, a concerning theme that has plagued them throughout the season to date. Against a pitching staff that had been inconsistent entering the game, nothing went Texas' way.

And that, folks, perfectly encapsulates what has happened at the plate for the Longhorns. When the bats are hot, they're hot. Longballs, hits into the gap and racking up runs by the handful. However, it is far too feast or famine as was shown by their one run through five innings.

Ultimately, should Texas make the postseason, the bats can get hot out of nowhere. If they don't, though, games like this one happen.

Don't spiral

A loss like this has the potential to make or break Texas as it enters the final stretch of the season, both in and out of conference play. One thing working in favor of Texas, it could be argued, is the fact that this is not the first time the Longhorns will find themselves needing to bonuce back from a disappointing loss.

They bounced back from the the BYU Cougars' series loss with a series win over Houston most recently. There is no denying how much a loss of this magnitude to a team on paper you should beat will sting. Rough losses are part of sports, especially college baseball. Texas now has only one option and that is look ahead to a must-win conference series against TCU.

What's next for Texas?

The Longhorns need to quickly erase this sour taste from their mouth as they welcome the TCU Horned Frogs to town on Friday to kick off a conference series at 6:30 p.m. CT.