No. 5 Texas baseball just eclipsed its halfway point of their inaugural season in the stiff Southeastern Conference. The Longhorns have certainly made a formidable impression within the conference and on the national circuit, consistency rising in the polls.
Even with their 8–1 conference record, head coach Jim Schlossnagle, who’s been coaching in the conference for three years, has constantly reminded the media that this is a very tough league regardless of the opponent. The Longhorns are set to face its second of three daunting opponents on the season, welcoming the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs for another thrilling top-five matchup this weekend at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The Daily Texan sat down with Owen McDaniel, the Bulldogs’ beat writer for the Red & Black, to get a glimpse of what the Bulldogs will bring to Austin this weekend.
Through 31 games in the season, Georgia boasts the second-best hitting in the conference just behind LSU. During the year, the Bulldogs have shelled opposing teams, capturing a league best in hits with 339 and have scored the most runs with 327.
One of the most productive members of the dominant hitting arsenal of Georgia belongs to graduate utility player Ryland Zaborowski. Transferring from Miami University in Ohio, Zaborowski has certainly made an impression in his first season as a Bulldog, leading the entire conference in hitting.
“The offense has been pretty electric this season for Georgia,” McDaniel said. “I think a lot of people kind of expected to see a big drop off in offensive production from last season to this season because of the loss of Charlie Condon and Corey Collins, our two best hitters at Georgia (last season).”
Despite its strength in the batting order and rightfully earning its spot in the national polls, no team is impossible to beat — every team has its Achilles’ heel to overcome. McDaniel noted one of the Bulldogs’ blaring problems this season has been their starting pitching.
“As far as pitching it’s been, there’s been a lot of ups and downs this season, especially among the starting pitchers,” McDaniel said. “I think if you want to beat Georgia, you’re gonna have to jump out on the starting pitchers. That seems to be the weakness.”
Although the Bulldogs’ hitting prowess has bailed them out to a 29–2, 8–1 season, on the mound, they are one of the worst groups in the conference. This season, opposing teams have been able to capitalize on the less-than-desirable mound presence, capturing 222 hits and scoring 150 runs over Georgia.
“Georgia’s only lost two games this season, but in those two games, I believe both of them, our starting pitchers got shelled and then just got behind too far and couldn’t come back,” McDaniel said.
Texas has been tested early this season, facing a handful of ranked opponents already, but this will be Georgia’s first ranked opponent of the season.
“I think Texas is probably going to be the biggest challenge so far, especially because I feel like Texas has more depth than the teams that George has faced so far,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel remains positive but still acknowledges the Longhorns may take advantage of the Bulldogs’ starting pitching. Ultimately, McDaniel believes Georgia will hand Texas its first series loss of the season.
“I think starting pitching will be an issue for Georgia again this weekend, even though recently they’ve (fixed) up that problem,” McDaniel said. “I think at least one of the games Texas will be able to take advantage of that. … I think Texas wins one game, 13-9, and then I think the other two, I’ll go Georgia. Georgia 11, Texas five. And I’ll throw in a nail-biter. I’ll go Georgia nine, Texas eight.”
