BACK IN THE SADDLE
For Texas baseball, pitching and defense have long been central to the program’s identity. That formula has helped the Longhorns become one of the most successful teams in college baseball.
The program that produced Roger Clemens, Huston Street, Greg Swindell and, more recently, Corey Knebel and Ty Madden, prides itself for its run-prevention.
That philosophy remains as true today under head coach David Pierce as it did when Augie Garrido and Cliff Gustafson were at the helm.
“I think at times (the Longhorns) get upset because they think that’s all I care about,” Pierce said. “I know we can hit. But if we pitch and defend, we can win a lot of ballgames.”
If that’s the formula, Texas figures to win a lot of games in 2022. Its combination of pitching and defense looks to be the best in the country.
The Longhorns have a deep, talented staff led by a premium rotation of lefthander Pete Hansen and righthanders Tristan Stevens and Tanner Witt. Closer Aaron Nixon returns. Their defense will be anchored by catcher Silas Ardoin, shortstop Trey Faltine and second baseman Mitchell Daly, who all stand out for their gloves.
The Longhorns piled up wins last year, going 50-17 to win the Big 12 Conference title and reach the semifinals of the College World Series. No team won more games in 2021 than Texas, and it was knocked out of the CWS by a pair of one-run losses to Mississippi State, the eventual national champion.
Now, with much of that team back and premium pitching and defense leading the way, expectations this season are high for the Longhorns. They enter the season ranked No. 1 in the Preseason Top 25, chasing their first national championship since 2005.
For a program of the Longhorns’ stature, lofty expectations come with the territory. No team has made the CWS more times than Texas. No team has been the top-ranked team in
