Preview: No. 19 Texas Baseball opens season at Shriner’s College Showdown

Jim Schlossnagle will make his head coaching debut for the Longhorns on Friday night as No. 19 Texas opens its season against the Louisville Cardinals at Globe Life Field in Arlington at 7:00 pm. The Longhorns will start left-handed pitcher and Indiana State transfer Jared Spencer (6-0, 4.08) against LHP Louisville’s Patrick Forbes (0-1, 3.72). Texas last played Louisville in 2014, defeating the Cardinals 4-1 in the College World Series behind stellar pitching from Parker French and Travis Duke.

Saturday’s 7:00 pm matchup pits an early SEC matchup against the Ole Miss Rebels, with the Longhorns throwing lefty Luke Harrison (1-0, 9.28) against RHP Riley Maddox (3-7, 5.48). Texas and Ole Miss met last in the 2021 State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field, with the Longhorns losing 8-1. Cam Williams’ solo home run to right field represented the Longhorns’ only score of the game.

Texas caps the Showdown on Sunday at 6:30 pm against former Big 12 rival Oklahoma State. The Cowboys will throw RHP Hunter Watkins, while the Longhorns have yet to decide on the day-three starter.

The season brings a host of new faces to light, with 11 transfers and 12 freshmen seeing their names on the roster. The Longhorns also bring back 18 players from last season, including five starters (OF Max Belyeu, C Rylan Galvan, OF Will Gasparino, INF Jalin Flores, and C/1B Kimble Schuessler).