Only one day off from a year ago, Texas baseball faced UT Rio Grande Valley, succumbing to a pitching catastrophe 9–17.
Now returning to UFCU Disch-Falk Field as the No. 1 team, the Longhorns defeated the Vaqueros 11–4.
While a revenge game for most, it was a matchup full of emotions for junior catcher Rylan Galvan.
In the second inning, crouching in his catcher position, the seventh batter for the Vaqueros came to the plate ready to hit. This time, though, Galvan knew exactly who it was. It was his twin brother, Rene Galvan, a left fielder who transferred from Tyler Junior College to play for UTRGV.
“Anywhere from 80 to 100 (people came),” Rylan said. “I sent out like 45 tickets myself. All the guys helped me get a bunch of tickets together, and we got to sit down for my family and friends to come. It was a pretty awesome moment and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Rylan hit a double down the left field line to Rene, allowing graduate first baseman Kimble Schuessler to score. It was one of the catcher’s three RBIs, combined with two runs and one hit. For Rylan, though, the opportunity to play with his brother meant more.
“There wasn’t much chatter, just a few words,” Rylan said. “In a situation like that, you’re just trying to enjoy the moment. Who knows if I’ll ever be on the field with him again? Last time we were together on the field, we won a state title on this field. To be back on this field together against each other for the first time was something I was just trying to soak in. In those moments, not many words are said, just enjoying the moment.”
On the other side of home plate from Rylan, sophomore pitcher Kade Bing started on the mound. Bing threw 73 total pitches across five innings, for 52 strikes and four strikeouts. Bing was awarded his second win, bringing his pitching record to 2–0.
“I thought Kade did a really nice job, threw a lot of strikes,” head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “(His) stuff was a little more crisp and got his breaking ball in there. UTRGV is a really good team. That’s a team that’s probably going to win this conference championship and going to be a really tough seed in the NCAA Tournament. It was good not just to see Bing do well, but do well against a good team with good hitters, left-hand and right-hand.”
Outside of Galvan and Bing’s performance, the Longhorns took control of the game in the second inning, backed by center fielder Will Gasparino. The sophomore launched the ball for a single up the middle for an RBI double, allowing Schuessler and sophomore left fielder Easton Winfield to score.
Texas will return to Disch-Falk Field to take on No. 8 Auburn on Thursday for its sixth Southeastern Conference series. Thursday’s first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
