Texas Baseball: Pete Hansen expected to start in CWS vs. Virginia

In a game that will either put No. 2 ranked Texas baseball one step closer to the College World Series or send them back to Austin on June 24, head coach David Pierce is looking to keep the momentum rolling in Omaha. Texas is set to face the No. 6 ranked Virginia Cavaliers in Omaha on the night of June 24 to determine who will go on for a rematch with the No. 7 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs this coming weekend.

Both Texas and Virginia have beat the No. 3 ranked Tennessee Volunteers (which sent them back to Knoxville after June 22) and lost to Mississippi. It is pretty crazy how similar the runs were for Texas and Virginia up to this point. Texas beat Tennessee by four runs, and Virginia by six.

Meanwhile, Texas and Virginia both lost to Mississippi State by just a one-run margin.

It was a solid effort with the bats and on the base paths for the Longhorns that got them the 8-4 win over the Vols back on June 22 to keep them alive in the College World Series. Texas also lost to Mississippi State back on June 20 by the final score of 2-1 which put them one slip up away from heading back to Austin.

RHP Pete Hansen has the mound for Texas baseball vs. UVA in Omaha

Yet, the Longhorns will be in a position to be just two games away from a National Championship if they can take care of business against the Cavaliers on this night. Texas will give the start to the redshirt freshman right-hander and California native Pete Hansen against the Hoos on June 24.

Hansen comes into this game with a record of 9-1, and a sparkling 1.79 earned run average. He will be the third different starting pitcher for the Longhorns in Omaha, coming right after Ty Madden and Tristan Stevens.

The last start for Hansen resulted in Texas’ 12-2 win in the Austin Regional over the Fairfield Stags. And his last outing saw him come out of the bullpen in the Longhorns 2-1 loss to Mississippi State in their first game in Omaha. Hansen didn’t allow any earned runs in two innings of work against the Bulldogs back on June 20.

But Texas will need more than just the starting pitcher to show up against Virginia. The way that Texas came through with a well-rounded effort to help Stevens in an off-night in a start for him is what this team needs to show on this night.

Texas comes into this game with a record of 48-16 following their four-run win over the Vols earlier in the week. Meanwhile, Virginia comes into this game with a record of 36-26 after their loss to Mississippi State. First pitch between Texas and Virginia is set for 6 p.m. CT on June 24.