It may be win or go home, but UT players unfazed
OMAHA, Neb. — No one shagging balls or taking practice on the shaggy field behind Bellevue East High School appeared demoralized. Determined, absolutely, but also loose and level. Any Longhorns players overcome by stress were doing a terrific job of suppressing it.
Anyway, it didn’t seem to matter to the handful of families awaiting autographs from Kody Clemens that Texas lost its College World Series opener to Arkansas 11-5 less than 24 hours earlier. And, of course, the AllAmerica second baseman was happy to oblige despite his 1-for-5 outing against the Razorbacks.
The Longhorns feel like they have been in this position before even though they really haven’t. Not exactly.
Texas won two consecutive super-regional elimination games against Tennessee Tech on June 10 and 11 to book a trip to Omaha, but that was a far different stage than the one at TD Ameritrade Park. And as good as Tennessee Tech was, the Golden Eagles are not the topseeded Florida Gators (47-20), who lost to Texas Tech 6-3 on Saturday night to set up Tues-
day’s 2 p.m. elimination game against the Longhorns (42-20).
“We’ve been in this situation before,” said sophomore righthander Blair Henley (6-6, 3.32), who will start against Florida. “We’ve been knocked down. We started the year 9-9 and after (two regular-season losses to) Arkansas, actually, we picked it up. So we’re going to do the same thing.
“The mentality is the same. Nobody is down, nobody is upset about a loss. We know that we have to have better stuff to carry it all the way through.”
That sort of blanket confidence is necessary.
Defending champion Florida, despite a .500 record over its last six games, features a roster that includes three 2018 first-round draft picks and eight draftees overall. Tuesday’s starter Jackson Kowar (9-5, 3.24) was selected 33rd overall by Kansas City and boasts a fastball that has touched 98 mph.
“Big arm. Big body,” Texas coach David Pierce said of the 6-6 junior. “He has a plus changeup, and it has split action to it.
“It looks like he likes to pitch to glove-side so righthanders are going to have to stay on the ball and lefthanders are going to have to turn on the ball, if that’s what he ends up doing.”
The Gators are reeling from a disappointing CWS opener of their own after the Red Raiders worked starter Brady Singer, another Royals draft selection, like few other teams have this season. The Florida had an off night as well. Aside from Jonathan India’s triple and Nelson Maldonado’s two-run homer, the Gators struggled to make solid contact.
Not that one game should lull the Longhorns into a false sense of security.
India, J.J. Schwartz, and Wil Dalton — Florida’s three through five hitters — have combined to hit 51 home runs this season. And the team’s .474 slugging percentage ranks 14th nationally.
“The thing is, they’re hitting with more power this year than they have in the past,” Pierce said. “They’re not as action-oriented, but they have the ability to do it. But usually when you feel like you can hit you’re not as action-oriented, or you feel like you have guys that can drive the ball in the gap.
“I think what we’re going to have to do is stay out of patterns, find their holes and attack those.”
Every Texas pitcher will be available out of the bullpen except for Nolan Kingham, who threw 82 pitches Sunday.
“I think I’m ready,” Henlsey said. “Chase (Shugart) is going to be in the back part of the pen, and we’re excited for that. Then it’s kind of all hands on deck with everyone else, but I hope not to get in that situation.”
Said outfielder Tate Shaw: “I’m sure everyone will get over (the loss). It’s baseball; you gotta forget.”