Tailgate Express Diamond Preview: UT must rely on stellar pitching vs. Tech

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Baseball season is here, and Tim Tadlock's Red Raiders will host four more weekend homestands against Big 12 foes Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State, and Kansas.

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It's no secret that Texas' success on the diamond has largely revolved around the studs that have occupied the mound over the years, as pitching was the name of the game with Augie Garrido's teams.

Now, with former Tulane coach David Pierce at the helm in his first year at the head of the Longhorn baseball program, things have largely looked the same so far in 2017.

Texas has been fantastic on the mound, holding a team ERA of 2.54 that's second best in the Big 12 heading into conference play with sophomore righty Nolan Kingham off to arguably the best start to the season of any pitcher in the league. The Horns have impressively limited opponents to just a .205 batting average and given up just six home runs on the year. It's another loaded pitching staff from top to bottom.

But the issue that continues to plague this Longhorns team - despite moving the outfield wall in 15 feet - has been its power at the plate. There just flat out hasn't been much of it so far.

Texas has the worst team batting average in the league at .254, the second worst OBP (.357), slugging percentage (.383), and number of strikeouts (147), and the pitching they're going to see is only going to get better here as they get deeper into the season.

In fact, Texas has already played six games where they've scored two runs or fewer. The Horns just are not popping the bat the way that the top tier teams in this league have so far this year.

It's been all about defense and manufacturing runs so far.

So. RHP Nolan Kingham - Kingham has been on an absolute tear to start out the year for the Horns, as he's given up just one earned run in 21 innings of work so far this season. However, he has given up five and eight hits, to Stanford and UCLA respectively while striking out only nine in his last two starts, so it's worth pondering at the least if he can keep up the pace against power five opponents with better lineups.

Jr. RHP Morgan Cooper - While I think Kingham has gotten out to the better statistic start on paper, I actually think Cooper may be the best starter out of the weekend trio. He gave up three combined runs to Stanford and UCLA in his two starts, striking out 15 and giving up just one extra base hit combined to those Pac 12 foes. If there's someone I think could have a stellar weekend against the Red Raiders, I'd circle Cooper.

Fr. RHP Blair Henley - The newcomer and youngster of the weekend rotation, Henley is still feeling his way through things so far. Don't get me wrong, he hasn't been bad by any means, as he's gave up just four combined earned runs to UCLA and Stanford while striking out seven batters in 13.2 innings of work. I'll be curious to see how he handles a more talented, powerful lineup this weekend for the first time.

Sr. 1B Kacy Clemens - The veteran at the plate that's leading the way for Texas, Clemens has been the one true power bat for the Horns so far this season with four home runs, six doubles, and 14 RBIs to show for it. He's the one player in the lineup that will regularly give Tech pitchers fits this weekend, though he will strikeout.

Jr. OF/INF Travis Jones - Jones may be the second best hitter in the lineup, though he is only batting .270 right now but boasts 11 RBIs, 1 HR, a triple, and a double. He's struck out 16 times and walked only 10 times so far this season, however.

Jr. 2B Brett Boswell - Boswell has been a doubles producer so far this year, knocking in five so far with 9 RBIs to show. Add in 2 HRs to that as well, and he makes up the third piece of the Longhorns top batting trio. He's dead even with 11 walks and strikeouts.

So. RHP Beau Ridgway - The sophomore reliever has been solid out of the pen so far this season, being called on 10 times in a total of 13.2 innings. He'll give up a hit per outing just about, but he hasn't given up a double or triple, just one home run, and has only walked three. I'd say that's solid bullpen work backing up a really good group of starters.

This is going to be a pitching struggle all weekend long I think, specifically when factoring how the Red Raiders have had a hard time at the plate over the last three games. They've been making contact, just haven't been able to get any through the gaps or into the outfield against pitching that hasn't been as good as what they're going to see in Austin this weekend.

That being said, I do think this is the best lineup that the Longhorns have seen all year, and I do think their pitching stats may be a hair inflated compared to teams like TCU and Tech who have played a much harder schedule up to this point.

If Tech can get the usual performances from starters Martin, Gingery, and Shetter, at least find a better rhythm at the plate as a team, and avoid a bullpen meltdown, I think they'll handle business in Austin.

Tech wins the series 2-1.