Pitching and defense on display in Omaha

On3 imageby:Joe Cook06/25/21

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Texas baseball has long been associated with high quality pitching and defense. The 2021 Longhorns are no different, and those characteristics have been on full display during the College World Series.

In Omaha, the Longhorns have allowed eight total runs (all earned) to three quality offenses in Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Virginia. Every one of those runs was charged to a starting pitcher, one of Ty Madden, Tristan Stevens, and Pete Hansen.

No Longhorn reliever has been charged with a run. That’s a group comprised of Hansen in the opening game, Tanner Witt in game two, and the combo of Cole Quintanilla and Aaron Nixon in Thursday’s 6-2 win over Virginia.

“They’ve been outstanding for three-quarters of the year,” Texas head coach Pierce said of his bullpen. “Once we settled roles, just outstanding. I mean, I don’t know what else to say. Pete did a nice job of just giving us an opportunity to win. And Cole gave us, I think, four outs. We went to Nix right there, got a big double play. That was big for those guys to settle in, attack the zone and trust their stuff.”

Hansen delivered two innings of shutout relief in Sunday’s game against Mississippi State. Witt stole the show versus Tennessee, stifling a potent Volunteer offense over a career-high 5.2 innings. Quintanilla and Nixon relieved Hansen versus Virginia, working mostly uneventful innings to get Texas two games away from the championship series.

All those outings were in relief of Madden, the Big 12 pitcher of the year and a first-team All-American, Stevens, a first-team All-Big 12 honoree, and Hansen, a freshman All-American for the second straight season. 

“I think any guy we run out on the mound we trust as position guys because we know they’re going to pound the strike zone and that we’re going to play great defense behind them,” first baseman Zach Zubia said. “And that’s kind of been the bread and butter, everyone trusts each other, regardless if it’s a relief arm, pinch hitter or starter. Everyone trusts each other. That’s the culture around here. That’s just our team.”

As Pierce himself might say, there’s no doubt the defense has been a huge part of getting the Longhorns to where they are now. They’ve fielded .981 over the course of the season. Only one error has been committed in Omaha.

Important, run-saving plays have occurred, too. Whether it be Silas Ardoin’s scoop on a 5-2-3 double play versus Tennessee,  any of the twin-killings rolled by Trey Faltine and Mitchell Daly up the middle, or even well-ranged plays by the Texas outfield, the Longhorns are making things difficult for opposing offenses.

Against Virginia, the only way the Cavaliers scored was by leaving the park. The pitching, backed by the defense, stymied UVA’s efforts.

And don’t discount Ardoin’s efforts behind the plate. He’s thrown out 4-of-6 trying to steal a base against him in Omaha.

The play in the field has been indicative of the team’s strengths throughout the year.

“We’re not going away,” Pierce said. “I mean, this team is just resilient. They can be ugly at times, play unbelievable defense and pitch.”

Cover photo courtesy of the NCAA

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