The UFCU Disch-Falk Field season-opening homestand continues this weekend as the No. 16 Texas Longhorns face the Cal Poly Mustangs.
The team is off to a 4-1 start after victories over the San Diego Toreros in a series and the Houston Christian Huskies in a blowout.
Despite the programs’ lack of prior experience, they are connected by the illustrious head coach Augie Garrido.
Garrido, a native of California, played college baseball at Fresno State, then spent a few seasons in the minor leagues before earning a graduate degree at Cal Poly.
After graduating, he coached for three years at Cal Poly before embarking on his wildly successful careers as a coach at Cal State Fullerton and later at Texas, where he oversaw the program’s national titles in 2002 and 2005.
This weekend, there might be a slight change in the Texas starting lineup.
After being hit in the foot by a pitch during Tuesday’s victory, third baseman Peyton Powell may miss some time, according to head coach David Pierce’s announcement on Thursday.
In that scenario, anticipate seeing Casey Borba start at third base following his career-opening, game-winning home run against the Huskies.
In the last two games, the Longhorns have already switched up their starting lineup, starting Dee Kennedy at second base, Jack O’Dowd at first base, and Jared Thomas in center field.
Kennedy’s speed gives him an advantage over O’Dowd in the infield and adds a new aspect to the squad.
With Thomas batting, both Powell and Thomas are off to fast beginnings.
Powell hit for 563, including three doubles and eight runs scored.471 with two home runs, a triple, ten RBI, and a double.
Following a physical setback, right-hander Tanner Witt’s objective on the mound last Sunday was a modest six to nine outs.
Rather, Witt was unable to record an out in the second inning and was replaced by right-hander Cody Howard, who will start this week’s series finale.
Thankfully, the bullpen has performed admirably thus far, recording 32 strikeouts in 26.2 innings thrown and a 2.36 ERA.
After a series defeat to Missouri the previous weekend and a walk-off victory against North Dakota State on Tuesday, Cal Poly comes to Austin at 2-2.
Cal Poly was picked to place seventh in the 11-team Big West under longstanding head coach Larry Lee, who is in his 22nd season with the Mustangs.
Catcher Ryan Stafford received the team’s lone preseason All-Conference selection.
Despite struggling to hit.125, Stafford—a top-150 college prospect—has thrown out three of the last seven attempted base stealers.
With six total extra-base hits, Cal Poly is slugging.282 while batting.226 as a team and searching for the squad’s first home run of the season.
