Charlie Hurley gets the call to start Saturday for No. 19 Texas against Baylor
When Texas announced its plans for this weekend's trip to Waco, Lucas Gordon was set to pitch Friday.
That's not breaking news. Texas had already played eight Friday games this season, and Gordon was on the mound each time. He entered the Baylor series with a 3-0 record and a 2.17 ERA.
But the Longhorns haven't found that same consistency on Saturdays. Zane Morehouse opened as UT's Saturday starter, but he switched to a bullpen role after the fourth weekend. Texas has gone 2-2 over the past four Saturdays as Travis Sthele compiled a 4.42 ERA.
This time, junior Charlie Hurley will start against Baylor. Texas plans to use Sthele in a swing role this weekend, meaning he could pitch in relief during the first two games or start Sunday.
"A week ago, we felt like we probably needed to move Charlie to just a starting role and one time a week right now. He eats up innings, and I think he prepares better that way," UT coach David Pierce said. "And Travis, just quite frankly, we haven't been as good as far as wins and losses when he started. So it's worth taking a look at."
Hurley, a 6-foot-8 transfer from USC, has been used in a variety of ways this spring. His first eight appearances came out of the bullpen. He picked up a four-inning save at Cal State Fullerton on March 4 and pitched the final three innings of a 7-5 win over Sam Houston State a few days later.
Texas tested him out as a starter late last month against Incarnate Word and Texas Tech, and he was effective in both four-inning appearances. He then threw 90 pitches and worked five innings of four-hit ball in an 8-2 win over Kansas State last Sunday.
For the season, Hurley is 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA that ranks second among the Longhorns. He has 33 strikeouts and 15 walks in his 37 innings.
After his save against Sam Houston State on April 7, Hurley said his mindset as a reliever is the same as his mindset as a starter. He gave a similar answer this week after UT revealed its rotation for the Baylor series, but he did admit that he'd prepare differently for his new role.
"I'd say mentally it's the same anytime I go out there. I try to keep the same mentality," Hurley said. "Try and stay sharp as I can, no matter if it's one inning, one pitch, or if they want me to go out and try and get six, seven, eight or nine. I'd say the preparing throughout the week is different depending on the role."
Last season at USC, Hurley started 13 game. But after his transfer, he didn't immediately grab a spot in a rotation that returned just one sure-fire bet in Gordon.
Pierce said that earlier in the spring, Texas wanted Hurley to focus on throwing his slider and sinker.
"He just wasn't good," Pierce recalled. During a conversation between pitcher and coach, Hurley admitted to feeling more comfortable with his curveball than a sinker. So UT let him go back to that pitch, and Pierce also gave Hurley the green light to shake off pitch calls over his next few outings.
"Towards the beginning of this season, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to be this person. I had to be a weekend guy right out of the gate is how I was thinking," Hurley said. "It didn't have to be that way. I can't control where they put me, so the only thing I can control is when I get the ball and do my best."
Making Hurley a Saturday starter might force Texas to alter its lineup. Freshman Rylan Galvan has been catching on Saturdays, but more than 75% of Hurley's innings have been caught by Garret Guillemette — his roommate and former USC teammate — so Guillemette might be asked to catch on Fridays and Saturdays moving forward.
Hurley and whoever his catcher is on Saturday will attempt to shut down a Baylor offense that ranks last in the Big 12 in both batting average (.260) and scoring (5.5 runs per game).
Texas technically entered the weekend as the Big 12's leader since nobody could best its winning percentage in conference play. The No. 19 Longhorns were 6-3 against Big 12 teams heading into Friday's series opener. No. 18 Oklahoma State and No. 25 TCU were 7-5.
This weekend's series
No. 19 Texas (24-11, 6-3) at Baylor (12-21, 4-8), through Sunday, Big 12 TV, 104.9
Saturday (2 p.m.) — Texas RHP Charlie Hurley (3-0, 2.17) vs. Baylor RHP Mason Marriott (1-5. 7.97); Sunday (1 p.m.) — Texas TBA vs. Baylor RHP Will Rigney (3-1, 3.31)
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas changes its pitching rotation ahead of Baylor baseball series
