The “Across the (By)line” series gives Kentucky baseball fans an inside look at its opponent for the upcoming series-from the mind the mind of the opposing team’s baseball beat reporter.
This week: The Daily Texan, Nicholas Kingman, Texas
How do you think Texas has made such a huge jump into SEC play and started competing against the best teams in the country?
“For me, seeing this team all the way from the start until now I have to say it’s the coaching change. The addition of Jim Schlossnagle and Max Weiner, the pitching coach, has completely changed this program into an upward momentum.
The pitching has gotten 1,000 times better compared to last season where there was pretty much no pitching. The depth from the hitting rotation, I think is unparallel, every guy in every slot can hit a clutch single, hit a clutch double.
I think their track record proves themselves. You know LSU they won series 2 -1, swept Georgia. I really think it’s the pitching has been very good as well as the hitting.”
For those who may not know much about Texas, what can people expect to see?
“Concrete lineup and all the positions and Friday starter [Jared] Spencer, Indiana State transfer, has been very good and he has a really good slider on him. Luke Harrison’s another very solid pitcher, one of our longer-term guys and then on Sunday we usually play Ruger Riojas, he’s at UTSA transfer and he’s done very very well. I think you should keep an eye lookout for a freshman pitcher in Dylan Volantis has come in many like sticky situations and he’s performed tremendously I think he has the most saves in the SEC with seven.
With hitting, Will Gasparino has been very very hot recently. He currently leaves leads the team in RBIs I think around 36, he’s drove in about 12 home runs. Rylan Galvan our catcher, he’s coming back from a little injury, got hit with a ball during the Missouri series, he’s been hot as well, he walked off Georgia on Sunday. Ethan Mendoza had a big game on Tuesday, Jalin Flores is a double machine. Just expect a lot of hitting, these guys can really drive the ball deep and if not, they can hit singles and doubles right where they need to be to really torch up the fielding.”
Close games have been a big talking point for Kentucky this season, how has Texas handled those situations so far?
“You know those post-game media conferences they always give us the same answers where they keep relatively calm, I would say I think during the actually the Sunday Georgia game that was really close game. It was like it was tied up and then Georgia went on top, and they eventually came back to win that game, so I think they keep very levelheaded.
I think coach Schlossnagle has instilled a very good culture and keeping with them grounded in these situations. They’ve lost it in close games so they’ve been on the other side of that conversation, and they’ve also been on top of it so I think they will fit very well in If a game gets close against Kentucky.”
If you had to make a prediction, how do you think the series goes?
“Well, I think Friday I think you know night game SEC I think Texas will take that one let’s say give me a score of 9-3.
Saturday, you know what I think it’s been coming, I think it needs to happen for Texas and a little come down to earth here for a moment because this team was not supposed to perform this well into Jim Schlossnagle’s tenure, so I think Kentucky takes it Saturday. I think I think the Wildcats will sneak up, Luke Harrison even though he’s been very he’s performed well this past season he’s had some moments where he had been pulled early. I think Kentucky will take that one in another close game. I think 7-6.
On Sunday, because of you know split series, I think Texas will take win Sunday in another close one, give me about 5-4.
