Here's the game notes from the UT site...
http://www.texassports.com/news/2014/3/3...41129.aspx
...It's Duplantier vs. JUCO Transfer RHP Schiraldi, who has allowed one run or fewer in five of his last six starts (vs. Tx St x 2, UT-Pan Am, TAMU-CC, Valparaiso, Dallas Baptist)...
6 starts, 4-1, 33.0 IP, 2.45 ERA, .180 BAA, 20 hits (only 2 for xtrabases), 16 BBs, 2 HBP, 15 Ks
...appears to be a ground ball pitcher (and UT is amongst the national leaders in doubleplays turned), who issues more walks than strikeouts, though he's only averaging one free pass per IP. Definitely not a strikeout pitcher.
The Longhorns come into Reckling winnings of seven of their last 8 games, having just beaten Tech on the road for their first Big 12 series win in two year. Overall, they're 22 - 7 (5-3 on road, 11-5 vs. Top 50, 20-7 vs. Top 100, #2 ISR, #5 RPI, #9 SoS). Here's there schedule/results to date...
http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2014/schedule/Texas
Typical of an Augie-coached UT team, their resurgence on the national scene is on the backs of elite pitching (amongst the national leaders in across-the-board stats), defense (.980 fielding percentage, 38% caught stealing, only 3 passed balls) and the skilled deployment of small ball (national leading 45 sac bunts, 26-33 SBs).
Offensively they're hitting .267/.356/.353 as a team, with 7 HRs, 48 doubles/triples and averaging just 4.7 runs per game (though they've upped it to 6.7 runs/game over last eight games). Sr Mark Payton is the one guy you cannot let beat you (.402/.516/.569, 1 HR, 9 doubles/triples, 20 RBIs, 5-5 SBs). They do strikeout a lot, but that's largely because, as with any Augie team, they really work the count.
On the mound, the staff stats are outstanding: .198 ERA, .218 BAA, but only 1.68 K:BB ratio.
Here's their individual and team state over their first 29 games...
http://www.texassports.com/cumestats.asp...&year=2014
If we try to constantly pull Schiraldi's off-speed stuff, we're just going to play into his game of hitting ground ball after ground ball. Need to go the opposite field against this guy if we are to be successful.
And with need Jon D. to step up big time on the big stage and pound the strikezone. Let's put the debacle in Musfreesboro in the rear view mirror, and regain the confidence and swagger with a big mid-week win over our hated rival. Go Owls!
