Texas baseball sophomore infielder Ethan Mendoza dominated in the box, going 3–4 for a pair of RBIs and his first home run of the season, aiding the No. 16 Longhorns as they claimed a 4–1 victory over Dartmouth for its third consecutive series win.
“Mendoza got some really big hits for us, and so good weekend,” Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “Certainly, a lot of things to work on and keep getting better as a team.”
With stellar defensive play by both Texas and Dartmouth in the fourth inning, something had to give to break the 1–1 deadlock. Leading off with their ninth hitter, Mendoza stepped up to the plate for the Longhorns in the fifth inning.
The overcast clouds began to roll out, leading the way for warm crystal clear blue skies to dawn over UFCU Disch-Falk Field, the almost sleepy crowd began to spring to life as Mendoza gathered himself in the box.
Taking two strikes and a pair of balls, Mendoza just needed the right pitch for his big moment on the plate. Receiving the pitch he was looking for, the young infielder rifled the ball toward right field.
Fans collectively held their breath as they gazed up into the air admiring the ball as it skimmed along the right foul line before hitting the foul pole for Mendoza’s first home run of the season giving Texas its first lead of the afternoon.
“I hit it, and I just tried to run as hard as I can,” Mendoza said. “I had no idea that’s going to go out or be foul or fair … ended up hitting the foul pole.”
Mendoza closed his day with his second RBI in the bottom of the eighth bringing home fellow sophomore, outfielder Tommy Farmer IV, home for the game’s final run.
“He’s a good little player, he’s got some thunder in that bat,” Schlossnagle said.
Four out of the five Longhorns hitters that made contact were underclassmen, the only upperclassman in the bunch was junior outfielder Max Belyeu, who leads the team in hits and runs on the season and batted an RBI for the Longhorns game-tying run in the third.
“I think it was a great team win, pitching obviously was phenomenal,” Mendoza said.
Freshman pitcher Dylan Volantis came in the fifth inning relieving sophomore starting pitcher Kade Bing. Volantis commanded the mound though his 4.2 innings pitched, Dartmouth was shutdown offensively registering a single hit and striking out four times
Facing 13 batters, Volantis ended his dominant day throwing for 31 strikes on 42 pitches earning his first win as a pitcher.
“It’s a feeling I’ll never forget,” Volantis said. “First collegiate win, it’s amazing, and I’m super fortunate and grateful to have to experience that.”
Texas returns to UFCU Disch-Falk Field this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. when they face the Incarnate Word Cardinals.
