The No. 4 Texas Longhorns dropped their second straight game in Knoxville on Saturday, falling 14-9 to the Tennessee Volunteers and losing the series for only the second time this season. It was a tough day for Texas pitching, a recurring theme that has fans and analysts alike searching for answers.
Starting pitcher Luke Harrison, a redshirt senior left-hander, got the nod in place of senior right-hander Ruger Riojas, who was sidelined with soreness. Head coach Jim Schlossnagle confirmed after the game that Riojas is expected to start on Sunday and that there's nothing structurally wrong, but the timing couldn't be worse. Harrison struggled early for the third time in his last five starts, surrendering runs in every inning he pitched. The powerful Tennessee lineup tagged him for four home runs, including a two-run shot in the fourth inning that ended his day. Harrison finished with six runs allowed (four earned) on six hits and two walks.
The bullpen didn't fare much better. Redshirt junior left-hander Ethan Walker was the only reliever to escape unscathed, and he faced just one batter. Freshman right-hander Brett Crossland allowed three runs (two earned) in an inning, while fellow freshman right-hander Brody Walls gave up two runs on a home run in his lone inning. Freshman right-hander Michael Winter continued his recent struggles, surrendering three runs on another Volunteer homer over two innings.
On the bright side, the Texas offense showed some life after a quiet Friday. Redshirt senior third baseman Temo Becerra was the star, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs and his first home run since March. Freshman left fielder Anthony Pack Jr. added three hits as the duo combined for seven of the Longhorns' 10 hits. But it wasn't enough to overcome the defensive miscues and pitching woes that have plagued the team.
Texas will look to avoid a series sweep on Sunday at 11 a.m. Central on ESPN2, with Riojas expected to take the mound. For Longhorn fans, it's a chance to see if the pitching staff can turn things around before the postseason picture becomes clearer.