The No. 1 Texas Longhorns opened the 2022 season with a convincing 7- get more than the Rice Owls on Friday at UFCU Disch-Falk Discipline driving a robust effectiveness from remaining-hander Pete Hansen and a 3-for-4 functionality from catcher Silas Ardoin, who concluded a triple quick of the cycle and experienced a few RBI.
Texas struck immediately right after a 1-2-3 inning from starter Pete Hansen. Rice proper fielder Antonio Cruz saved a opportunity triple with a diving capture in correct-center on a line generate from Texas middle fielder Douglas Hodo III, but still left fielder Eric Kennedy adopted Hodo by obtaining that gap and hitting the ball to the wall for a triple. Specified hitter Ivan Melendez came via with an RBI groundout to 3rd to score the initial run of the period for the Longhorns.
Longhorns head mentor David Pierce predicted an improved offensive time for Ardoin and the Louisiana indigenous arrived via in the 2nd inning, launching a no-doubt shot to left area for his 2nd occupation dwelling run.
Ardoin commenced a 3-run fourth inning that drove Rice starter Cooper Chandler from the game in a a lot additional innocuous vogue — on a whole-count examine swing, Chandler wasn’t in a position to appear up with a sliding capture on the popup in entrance of the plate. Then ideal fielder Austin Todd strike a ball off Chandler’s foot for a single and scored on a throwing mistake by the Rice 3rd baseman on a bunt by Texas third baseman Skyler Messinger. A wild pitch scored Todd from 3rd and a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Dylan Campbell to rating Messinger finished the huge inning for the Longhorns.
In the fifth, right after Melendez and Daly equally drew one-out walks, Ardoin dropped the barrel on an inside pitch the moment once again for a double into the still left-subject corner with the runners in motion, clearing the bases for a 7- direct.
The very first remaining-hander to get started a year opener for Texas considering the fact that Austin Wood in 2008, Hansen was in top rated variety for the duration of his 6. innings of function, regularly pounding the strike zone with multiple pitches, even though his velocity was still in the superior 80s somewhat than often touching 90 as he did as a freshman. Hansen threw 78 pitches, permitting 3 hits with eight strikeouts and a single wander to generate the gain.
In the leading of the 2nd, Hansen walked the leadoff hitter and then allowed a one, but speedily induced a 6-4-3 double participate in and retired the aspect with a strikeout seeking. Normally, he wasn’t threatened.
Proper-hander Travis Sthele entered the match for the Horns in the seventh inning, flashing a compact shipping and delivery with a potent lessen entire body and a fastball reaching into the very low 90s with good downward tilt or manipulated for some arm-side operate in on appropriate-handed hitters. With one strikeout, Sthele retired the initially 3 batters he confronted applying only fastballs.
It was not right up until the third batter of the eighth inning when Sthele last but not least utilised his changeup, getting a weak popout to shortstop for the next out. Ardoin picked up the closing out himself — with Melendez taking part in driving the runner at first, the Rice player took the bait and was thrown out at second on a best delivery from the Texas catcher.
In the ninth, Sthele’s command wavered, enabling a 2- double within the 3rd-foundation line. He fell at the rear of 3- on the following hitter, battled back to a whole depend, then walked the batter in any case, ending his outing in favor of right-hander Jared Southard.
The Leander Rouse solution made use of his sturdy slider to strike out the 1st two batters he confronted in advance of a liner to remaining area ended the Opening Working day gain for the Longhorns.
Ideal-hander Tristan Stevens (11-3, 3.31) usually takes the mound for Texas at 2:30 p.m. Central on Longhorn Network on Saturday, dealing with Rice left-hander Brandon Deskins (3-4, 3.88).
