No. 2 Texas hosts No. 8 Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry
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Only two days after the No. 2 Texas Longhorns blew a seven-run lead in an embarrassing 9-7 highway loss to the Houston Cougars, head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s crew is again at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Thursday to host the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Rivalry.
It’s the first journey to the Forty Acres for head coach Skip Johnson and the Sooners since 2023 in the first top-10 assembly between the two colleges since 2009. Texas holds a 160-70-2 benefit in the all-time collection.
Oklahoma enters the convention collection after beating LSU in Baton Rouge final weekend for the first time since 1972 with a 19-5 general file and 4-2 mark in the SEC by outscoring opponents 192-93 and receiving the anticipated robust pitching from a Skip Johnson-led crew with a workers ERA of three.54 with 248 strikeouts to 96 walks.
On Friday, UNLV switch right-hander LJ Mercurius has been elite to begin his profession in crimson and cream, posting a 1.87 ERA with 48 strikeouts, rating in the high 20 nationally in each classes. Mercurius has mixed along with his fellow weekend starters, left-hander Cameron Johnson (3-1, 3.60 ERA) and left-hander Cord Rager (2-1, 4.97 ERA) for 116 strikeouts to 39 walks and 31 earned runs on the yr.
In the bullpen, the Sooners have loads of weapons. Miami switch right-hander Jackson Cleveland has stepped into the nearer function with 4 saves and 14 strikeouts in 10 appearances. Another switch right-hander, former McClennan College standout Kadyn Leon, has struck out 12 in 10 appearances, permitting two runs in 13.1 innings pitched to go along with 12 strikeouts. Holdover Jason Boldin, additionally a right-hander, earned two wins in the collection towards Texas A&M and has 20 strikeouts in 14.2 innings.
The Oklahoma offense is averaging eight runs per sport, batting .292 with 80 extra-base hits. Left fielder Trey Gambill paces OU with a .361 batting common, one in all 4 Sooners who’ve began a minimum of 10 video games and are batting over .300. The lineup has some energy with house runs in 14 of 24 video games and sufficient pace to rank third in the SEC with eight triples thus far this season.
Despite the quick week, Texas is sticking with its typical weekend rotation of senior right-hander Ruger Riojas (4-0, 1.93 ERA), redshirt senior left-hander Luke Harrison (3-0, 2.37 ERA), and sophomore left-hander Dylan Volantis (3-0, 1.35 ERA).
The issues have come on the again finish with three blown late-inning leads in the final eight video games in addition to a foul house loss to Tarleton State with graduating left-hander Cal Higgins and junior right-hander Thomas Burns struggling as soon as once more in Houston on Tuesday.
Freshman right-hander Michael Winter stays out on account of sickness — the power-armed Kansas product hasn’t pitched since March 8 — dealing a blow to that Longhorns bullpen.
“We’re really missing Winter, to be honest with you,” Schlossnagle stated on Wednesday.
Moving freshman right-hander Sam Cozart from his midweek starter function to the weekend bullpen has helped, and fellow freshman right-hander Brett Crossland has additionally been efficient.
(*2*) Schlossnagle stated. “So we’ll continue to look at where we use them. Do they need a little bit of rest? Do we need to use them in a different role to maybe get them some confidence and get them back? Or do we need to use some different guys?”
It’s the first main problem for pitching coach Max Weiner in Austin after Texas was capable of win his shut video games final yr with the assist of Volantis saving 12 video games, together with 11 in SEC play. Weiner has loads of arms, however, as Schlossnagle stated, they’ve to seek out the proper roles and get the confidence again for Higgins and Burns.
Opposing hitters have not helped these two relievers in current video games by chasing pitches outdoors the zone and when Higgins and Burns have come into the strike zone, they’ve given up some large hits.
But the grind of SEC play would not decelerate with the Sooners overachieving after they have been picked 14th in the 16-team convention in the preseason ballot to maneuver into the high 10 nationally.
The first pitches on Thursday and Friday are at 7 pm Central with the collection finale beginning at 4 pm Central on Saturday. All three video games air on SEC Network.
