Jim Schlossnagle: What to know about Texas baseball coach
Four things to know about Texas baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle
Texas baseball accumulated most of the run production it needed on Sunday to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive before Kansas State secured its third out.
Max Belyeu slugged a two-run homer and Casey Borba launched a grand slam as part of a six-run top of the first inning as the Longhorns cruised to a 15-8 victory in Sunday’s elimination game at the NCAA Austin regional at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The victory advances Texas (44-13) to the regional final. There, the Longhorns will face second-seeded UTSA, which defeated them 9-7 on Saturday night. The Roadrunners (46-13) own two victories over Texas this season, having also claimed a midweek game at Disch-Falk on March 18.
The game will begin after 6 p.m. CT. A TV designation had not yet been announced at the time of publication.
The Longhorns will have to beat the Roadrunners twice to advance to the super regional round next weekend. If they win again on Sunday night, it would set up a winner-take-all game on Monday.
On a thunderous afternoon for the Texas lineup, Borba provided the most thump. The third baseman roped four hits and drove in eight runs, becoming the third Texas player to register eight RBIs in a game this season alongside Kimble Schuessler and Will Gasparino.
Schuessler and Ethan Mendoza also picked up three-hit games in the victory.
Crucially, starting pitcher Ruger Riojas gave the Longhorns the depth they needed to rest their bullpen. Kansas State touched him up for seven runs, but he pitched into the eighth inning. The only reliever Texas was required to call upon was the seldom-used Cody Howard, who delivered 1⅔ innings of one-run relief.
Reach Texas Insider David Eckert via email at deckert@gannett.com. Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
