Three Stars: Freshman shine in Texas' first weekend of baseball at the Disch

Texas baseball is now 5-1 after a successful weekend against Dartmouth, taking down the Big Green in three fairly close contests in gross weather throughout.

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Texas’ bats combined for just 11 total runs, but the Longhorn pitching staff held the Big Green to five earned runs and struck out 24 while multiple bullpen arms showed out.

The Longhorns have had a lot of stars shining in their first six games of the year, but the most recent weekend had three that truly stood out.

First Star: 2B Ethan Mendoza

Weekend Stats: .500 AVG, 2 BB, 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR

Mendoza was a fairly under the radar pickup this season, transferring after a successful freshman year at Arizona State to play for Jim Schlossnagle. The second baseman wasn’t expected to be a superstar at Texas, debuting as the team’s No. 9 hitter in most games.

Mendoza started just two games over the weekend, but he made the most of his appearances. On Friday, Mendoza got on base twice with two walks, adding a steal and a fifth inning run as well as a deep flyout to left that would’ve been gone in much regular, warmer weather conditions.

But the ASU transfer made his impact on Sunday with an absurd breakout game. Mendoza started his night with a bunt-base-hit in the third inning before launching a solo homer in the fifth to give Texas the lead. He ended the day with two runs and two RBI on three hits while playing superb defense.

Mendoza has fully earned his right to be the full-time starter at second and will make a push to be the team’s leadoff hitter if he can keep up his 55% OBP from the weekend.

Second Star: LHP Dylan Volantis

Weekend Stats: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 4 K

It was a weekend headlined by newcomers in Austin.

Texas started the Sunday game with former Juco star Kade Bing on the bump, and he gave the Longhorns a solid 4.1 innings of one-run baseball, pitching north of 60 pitches. Unfortunately for the southpaw, a different lefty stole the show in Austin.

Volantis entered in the fifth inning and worked quickly. It felt like a blur each time he stepped on the mound, as the giant freshman mowed through Big Green batters like an 8 a.m. front lawn. Volantis didn’t allow a baserunner until the eighth inning, striking out four in the process before Dartmouth catcher Zackarie Casebonne singled up the middle. Volantis wasn’t phased, and two pitches later the freshman rolled a grounder up the middle, earning a 6-4-3 double play as he walked off the mound with some swagger.

Schlossnagle granted the reliever one last inning, and what felt like just two minutes later Volantis had finished the game, forcing two one-pitch outs before inciting a two-strike ground ball to Mendoza. Game over, and Texas felt like they had just unlocked a stud.

Third Star: 3B Adrian Rodriguez

Weekend Stats: .400 AVG, 2 2B, 2 BB, 1 R

This last star could’ve gone to a number of different players. Kimble Schuessler and Tommy Farmer IV were the entire offense on Friday and each played well in the field, Max Belyeu was his usual elite self and Thomas Burns shut the door for his first career save.

But none felt like they had truly broken out more than freshman phenom first baseman Adrian Rodriguez. Rodriguez didn’t light up the RBI column, but he was one of the only batters to consistently play well throughout all three games.

On Friday Rodriguez was quiet, barely missing extra bases on multiple swings, but he did add a walk to nearly extend Texas’ fifth-inning rally. He really impressed on Saturday and Sunday, getting on base in five of his eight plate appearances with a pair of doubles to coincide with his on-base efforts.

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He scored the game-tying run on Saturday, and his all-around playstyle looked to be fully honed in as the weekend progressed. Some defensive errors were made, but he made up for them at times, especially on a second-inning diving catch in the second game of the series. Rodriguez looks like a true star already in Austin.

What’s next?

The Longhorns take on the Incarnate Word Cardinals tonight at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. SEC Network+ will stream the game, while the Longhorn Radio Network will broadcast it on radio. Audio can also be streamed on TexasLonghorns.com

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP: Incarnate Word RHP EJ Garcia (2-0, 4.35 ERA) vs. Texas RHP Jason Flores(0-0, 0.00 ERA)