Baylor Baseball Travels to Austin for a Big Series against No. 10 Texas

AUSTIN, Texas – Baylor baseball (20-17, 4-8) takes on conference opponent Texas (27-13, 6-6) for a huge three-game set this weekend at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Games are slated for 6:00 P.M. Friday, 1:00 P.M. Saturday, and 1:00 P.M. Sunday (LHN).

BAYLOR BEARS - (#53 RPI Ranking & #6 Strength of Schedule)

2022 Record: 20-17

2022 Big 12 Record: 4-8

Head Coach: Steve Rodriguez 

• Career Record: 592-436 (19th season) 
• Record at Baylor: 191-136 (7th season) 

2022 STAT LEADERS 

Baylor Athletics

Nevin celebrates a home run

AVG: Tre Richardson (.306)

H: Jack Pineda (45)

2B: Jack Pineda (11)

HR: Kyle Nevin (7)

RBI: Kyle Nevin (37)

R: Tre Richardson (43)

OB%: Tre Richardson & Harrison Caley (.406)

BB: Tre Richardson (22)

SB: Jack Pineda (8)

No. 10 Texas Longhorns - (#16 RPI Ranking & #22 Strength of Schedule)

2022 Record: 27-13

2022 Big 12 Record: 6-6

Head Coach: David Pierce

• Career Record: 386-216 (11th season)
• Record at Texas: 199-107 (6th season)

2022 STAT LEADERS 

SicEm365

Ivan Melendez “The Hispanic Titanic” for UT

AVG: Murphy Stehly (.420)

H: Murphy Stehly (68)

2B: Murphy Stehly (15)

HR: Ivan Melendez (17)

RBI: Ivan Melendez (51)

R: Ivan Melendez (43)

OB%: Ivan Melendez (.511)

BB: Ivan Melendez (34)

SB: Eric Kennedy (8)

Probable Starting Fielders: Baylor

C: So. Harrison Caley (.308, 14 R, 28 H, 3 2B, 10 RBI, 13 BB, .416 OB%)

1B: R-Jr. Chase Wehsener (.265, 20 R, 36 H, 6 2B, HR, 29 RBI, 20 BB, .370 OB%) 

2B: So. Tre Richardson (.306, 43 R, 45 H, 8 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 22 BB, 5 SB, .406 OB%)

3B: Sr. Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo (.244, 21 R, 30 H, 8 2B, 18 RBI, 12 BB, .352 OB%)

SS: Jr. Jack Pineda (.297, 34 R, 47 H, 11 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 25 RBI, 19 BB, 8 SB, .393 OB%)

LF: So. Cam Caley (.500, 2 R, 5 H, 2 2B, 2 RBI, .545 OB%)

CF: So. Jared McKenzie (.292, 22 R, 42 H, 9 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 17 BB, 2 SB, .388 OB%)

RF: So. Kyle Nevin (.282, 28 R, 28 H, 10 2B, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 16 BB, 4 SB, .345 OB%)

DH: Fr. Casen Neumann (.326, 11 R, 15 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 10 BB, .458 OB%)

Probable Starting Pitchers

Baylor Athletics

Will Rigney will get his second Friday start this year

BU SP1: RHP Will Rigney (2-1, 4.42 ERA)

UT SP1: LHP Pete Hansen (6-1, 2.78 ERA)

BU SP2: LHP Kobe Andrade (3-1, 3.20 ERA)

UT SP2: RHP Tristan Stevens (4-4, 4.37 ERA)

BU SP3: LHP Tyler Thomas (4-3, 1.97 ERA)

UT SP3: LHP Lucas Gordon (3-1, 2.74 ERA)

What I Am Looking For This Weekend

• We were all rejoicing that this team won a series last weekend. But that was against Kansas, it should be expected. How will this team perform against a much better Texas squad?
• The starters really need to go perform this weekend. The Bears are going to need superhuman performances from Thomas, Andrade, and Rigney if they want any chance at winning the series. 
• How will the Bears hit against better pitching? The offense was great Friday and Saturday against Kansas, but Texas’ has a much better weekend rotation.
• Texas is not some otherworldly being that cannot be beaten. Kansas State just won a series against them last weekend. And Air Force just put up a combined 24 runs in two games against UT earlier this week.
• The decision has finally been made to explore other options in LF. Cam Caley was given four starts over the last week. C. Caley has a third of the hits that Alex Gonzales has in seventy fewer at-bats.

Quick Side Notes

• RPI and SOS rankings were last updated last at 8:00 A.M. 4/21
• Yes, the games are on Longhorn Network. Everyone feel free to give a big proverbial eye roll, no judgment here.