AUSTIN — Much of the state was still in tatters when Texas baseball layered up and boarded its team bus Feb. 19.
Arlington wasn’t in much better shape than any other city connected to ERCOT’s failing grid, but roofed Globe Life Field had enough energy to host a murderers’ row of top 10 teams that weekend in the State Farm College Baseball Showdown. Mentally taxed and physically off-kilter because of the winter storm and its catastrophic ramifications, No. 9 Texas lost to No. 7 Mississippi State, No. 8 Arkansas and No. 6 Ole Miss by a combined score of 20-4.
Almost four full months later, those four programs comprise one-quarter of the NCAA baseball tournament super regional field. And No. 2 national seed Texas (45-15) believes it can be — will be — the final team standing once the dust settles in Omaha.
“The only number I’m really focused on and the guys are focused on is No. 1,” Texas redshirt freshman pitcher Pete Hansen said last Sunday after a sweep of the Austin Regional. “Obviously, that’s kind of our goal, and that’s where we want to get to. I think at the end of the year, we’re going to show the nation who we really are. And that’s the No. 1 team in the nation.”
The Texas team that cautiously trekked to Arlington, bone-tired and over-burdened, has displayed remarkable resilience this year. The Longhorns went 40-9 over the remainder of the regular season, clinching a share of the 2021 Big 12 title on the final day of the campaign.
Coach David Pierce’s group achieved all that with exceptional balance.
The pitching rotation hummed along just fine with Arlington in the rearview, and the midseason promotion of formidable lefty Hansen to weekend starter helped Texas post the best in-conference team ERA (3.26) in the Big 12. The defense ranked first in assists (263), second in double plays (20) and third in fielding percentage (.977). And among Big 12 offenses, Texas ranked second in total bases (417), second in RBIs (155) and third in batting average (.282).
“In the beginning of the year, we talked about five championships, that our goal is to win five championships,” transfer center field Mike Antico said last week. “One is regular season. Two is the (Big 12) tournament. Then regional, super regional, Omaha. “So yes, this is definitely what we expected.”
Hiccup at the Big 12 tournament in Oklahoma City aside, Texas has so far lived up to its lofty self-regard by storming through the NCAA Tournament’s opening weekend.
Those three days at Disch-Falk Field — packed to the brim, a kettle of explosive energy — featured the Longhorns at their peak. They never trailed, frayed the confidence of every opposing pitcher seen and battered balls like it was batting practice, all while outscoring Southern, Arizona State and Fairfield 35-5.
The heroes of that sweep were the same ones who lifted Texas during the regular season. The starters, Ty Madden, Tristan Stevens and Hansen. The cool-headed veterans, first baseman Zach Zubia, third baseman Cam Williams and Antico. The precocious underclassmen, shortstop Trey Faltine, catcher Silas Ardoin, outfielder Douglas Hodo III and second baseman Mitchell Daly. The bullpen arms, Tanner Witt, Cole Quintanilla, Aaron Nixon, Lucas Gordon, Palmer Wenzel and Jared Southard.
That list doesn’t even include designated hitter and team home runs leader Ivan Melendez, who rebounded from a bumpy conference tournament showing to hit 3-for-10 with one home run, four runs and five walks.
Come Saturday night at sold-out Disch-Falk Field, Texas, with its array of talent, will enter Game 1 of the best-of-three Austin Super Regional as a titanic favorite against Gainesville Regional winner South Florida (31-28). The Longhorns didn’t expect to see the Bulls emerge from No. 15 national seed Florida’s bracket — few did — but they’re not treating South Florida as some easy-to-clear hurdle despite the visitor’s long odds.
“I mean, this is 16 teams left in the country, and every team that’s playing right now is confident, and potentially very hot,” Pierce said Friday during a Zoom call with reporters. “If you’re overlooking any team in the tournament right now, you’re just not paying attention. I think we got a chance to go out there and play at a level that puts pressure on them, but I feel like they’re gonna play at a high level as well because this is a super regional to Omaha.”
Texas treats those miserable three days in Arlington as if they never happened. That trip feels like more a bad dream than anything, especially now that just two wins stand between Texas and a trip to the College World Series.
As for South Florida, Texas respects its foe. But there’s not a drop of fear within the Longhorns’ clubhouse.
“We’re never concerned about anybody,” Williams said Friday. “If they wanna bring it on, let’s bring it on.”
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