After getting hot in nonconference play, Texas readies for the Big 12's tougher tests
Yes, the Texas baseball team has won 11 straight games.
Yes, those 11 wins by a combined score of 110-41 were recorded against Sam Houston State, Mercer, Manhattan, North Dakota State, New Orleans and Incarnate Word.
And yes, the Longhorns know the streets have been talking about this recent run.
"Word on the street is we haven't played anybody,” UT coach David Pierce said on Wednesday. “I don't care who you play. It's hard to win 11 straight against veteran lineups. We've done a good job of taking care of business”
That 11-game streak — which is tied for the third-longest over the last 15 seasons — has provided a confidence boost for a team that was 4-7 just a few weeks ago. But the critics do have a point. The six teams that Texas beat during the streak have combined for a .464 winning percentage, and none made the NCAA Tournament last year.
But this weekend's start of Big 12 play, with No. 14 Texas Tech (18-4) in town at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, will serve as a better barometer. And next week, Texas travels to No. 21 Texas A&M for a midweek game and then plays in Stillwater for three games against No. 20 Oklahoma State next weekend.
"This is what you train for in the fall and early spring," pitcher Travis Sthele said. "Then in the nonconference schedule, this is what you train for. We're excited and we're ready to go."
Texas was picked to finish behind TCU, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in the Big 12 preseason poll. The Longhorns weren't ranked this week by D1Baseball while Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and No. 24 West Virginia were.
That has led to the team developing an underdog mentality. Yes, an underdog mentality at the University of Texas.
"I think it's important that we keep that edge, find any edge that we can," outfielder Eric Kennedy said. "We're just using that chip on our shoulder that nobody's really paying attention to us and taking advantage of that and use that to fuel us."
Each Big 12 team has 24 conference games. The past five champions won either 16 or 17 times in Big 12 play. When asked to predict the conference champion’s win total, Pierce declined to hazard a guess. "I don't think anybody is going undefeated," he surmised.
"There's always just so much parity in our league," Pierce said. "Your goal is to put yourself in a position to win a series, and if you have an opportunity to sweep, great."
This weekend’s series features several interesting storylines. Texas Tech sophomore Gavin Kash, who's tied for the Big 12 lead in homers and is No. 2 in batting average and RBIs, played at Texas last season. Two of the Texas-Texas Tech games last year were decided in extra innings. And Texas Tech hasn't played a true road game yet.
Conceivably, this could also be Texas Tech’s last trip to Austin.
Texas Tech has played 85 road games in this series. But Texas is leaving for the SEC soon and next year’s games will be played in Lubbock.
Pierce disclosed that he hasn't had any discussions with Texas Tech about the future of this baseball rivalry. West Virginia has reached out about nonconference games in Austin, and Pierce believes continuing to schedule nearby Baylor would be feasible for both programs.
Pierce added that he doubted Texas would go to either Kansas or Kansas State after the 2024 season because of weather concerns, but midweek games at Disch-Falk during weeks when the Wildcats and Jayhawks also play at Baylor aren't out of the question.
This weekend's series
No. 14 Texas Tech (18-4, 0-0) at Texas (15-7, 0-0), LHN, 104.9
Friday (7 p.m.) — UT LHP Lucas Gordon (2-0, 1.37) vs. Tech RHP Brendan Girton (2-0, 4.50); Saturday (2:30 p.m.) — UT RHP Travis Sthele (2-2, 4.07) vs. Tech LHP Mason Molina (2-1, 2.81); Sunday (2:30 p.m.) — pitchers TBA
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas baseball takes 11-game streak into Big 12 opener against Tech
