Everything Jim Schlossangle said ahead of the Austin Regional

Texas baseball is less than 24 hours away from the start of the Austin Regional, which the Horns will kick off against the Houston Christian Huskies at 1 p.m. Central time.

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Though a torrential storm (at least by Texas standards) has caused significant damage to the outfield of UFCU Disch-Falk Field, everything should be ready to go by early tomorrow afternoon. Likely the last thing on head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s mind is the state of an outfield fence, as he is focused on preparing a group of over 30 players to take on the postseason in his first year at Texas.

Schlossnagle spoke to the media, alongside starting pitcher Luke Harrison and shortstop Jalin Flores, to discuss all things Longhorns ahead of tomorrow’s matchup. Here’s what they shared about Texas’s current situation:

• A starting pitcher has not yet been announced for tomorrow.
• Jonah Williams moved around pretty well today. Schlossnagle is waiting for an update from the training staff. Williams will be available this weekend, but it’s unclear whether that means in the field, at designated hitter, or as a pinch hitter. The goal is to avoid any significant risk to his health.
• Ideally, Schlossnagle would have four reliable starting pitchers heading into the postseason. However, this year’s situation has been impacted by Jared Spencer’s injury. The decision on starting pitching will depend on the matchup in each game.
• Schlossnagle sees HCU as a strong No. 4 seed, noting that the team is entering the game on a hot streak.
• Though HCU hasn’t announced its starter, Schlossnagle assumes it will be a senior. Both of their top pitchers are seniors, and he expects the starter to be experienced, composed, and capable of doing a solid job for their program.
• Schlossnagle was at dinner when he first heard about the damage to the center field wall. By the time he returned to the Disch, a crew of eight people was already addressing the issue and working on solutions.
• Some pitchers Texas faces require Schlossnagle to adjust his team’s approach at the plate. While Schlossnagle teams are known for their patience and tendency to take pitches, he emphasizes the importance of being more aggressive when facing pitchers with strong strikeout arsenals. Players like Jalin Flores, for example, may be asked to take a more proactive approach.
• More than anything, Schlossnagle wants his players to “get their pitch,” whether it’s the first pitch or the seventh. This approach often leads to higher pitch counts and more walks.
• Schlossnagle offered high praise for HCU head coach Clay VanderLaan, predicting that he will soon be coaching at a more prestigious program.
• Reflecting on his own postseason experience, Schlossnagle recalled his first time as a head coach during the 2003 season at UNLV. He later brought TCU to its third-ever regional, playing at the Disch, and won his first regional in 2009 while hosting at TCU. Although Texas defeated TCU in the Austin Super Regional that year, he took the Horned Frogs to Omaha for the first time in program history the following season.
• Schlossnagle is prepared to use players like Volantis, Burns, or Grubbs multiple times this weekend if it means winning.
• While he won’t rely heavily on earlier-season matchups against UTSA and HCU, Schlossnagle mentioned watching UTSA play Tulane this past weekend. Facing these teams earlier in the season helps him recall trends, though it has only slightly reduced the preparation workload.
• Volantis can pitch as long as needed, with Schlossnagle believing he can go four or more innings.
• Max Belyeu’s presence in the lineup is significant. Schlossnagle described him as a “true bell-cow player” who must be accounted for.

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That will be the last update from the Horns before tomorrow’s game. As it stands, no official starters have been announced, but Inside Texas will be on-site and providing live coverage throughout the weekend. Texas and Houston Christian will face off at 1 p.m. tomorrow at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, with the winner playing again Saturday night against the winner of UTSA vs. Kansas State.