Texas Baseball: Dylan Campbell within reach of Big 12 record

Behind another double-digit run effort on May 19, Texas baseball was able to come up with a huge series win in the final series of the regular season this weekend against the No. 6 West Virginia Mountaineers. Hot bats from Texas outfielders such as junior Dylan Campbell and redshirt junior Porter Brown have sparked this offense, leading to a 22-run outburst in the first two games combined in the series against West Virginia.

Brown hit three home runs in the series opener against West Virginia on May 18, tying for the most big flies in a single game by any player in the Big 12 this season. Campbell also delivered in a big way for the Longhorns in the first two games of this series.

In fact, Campbell has continued to show that clutch gene that we’ve seen from him when it matters in May and June again in 2023. Campbell has delivered multi-hit performances in four straight wins for the Longhorns.

With a whopping five hits in the first two games of this series against the Mountaineers, Campbell continues to push toward a Big 12 record. Campbell extended his hitting streak to 32 games with a ground-rule double in the bottom of the first inning against West Virginia on May 19.

Texas baseball standout Dylan Campbell within three games of tying Big 12 record for longest hitting streak

Campbell’s hitting streak continues to set the pace for the Texas record books. He set a new mark for the longest hitting streak in program history when he reached 26 games last weekend, surpassing infielder Michael Torres who previously held the record of 25 games set during the 2008 season.

Now that Campbell holds the school record for the longest hitting streak, he’s got his sights set on the Big 12 record. According to the Big 12 2023 baseball record book, the record for the longest hitting streak in Big 12 is 35 games, which was set by Oklahoma State’s Ty Wright in 2007.

Campbell’s 32-game hitting streak ranks as the second longest in Big 12 history. Were he to surpass Wright for the Big 12 record, Campbell would need to notch at least one hit in the series finale against West Virginia on May 20.

And then, Campbell’s streak would be on the line when Texas makes a run at the Big 12 Tournament crown next week in Arlington, TX.

What Campbell is doing right now is not only historic for a hitter in the Big 12, but it is also a driving force that is helping to build momentum for the Longhorns at a critical time heading into the postseason. After a slow start to this season with the bat, Campbell has delivered in a big way at the plate in the last couple of months.

Campbell is also getting it done in more ways than one to help build this late-season momentum for the Longhorns. He leads the team in stolen bases, with 24 on the season. Campbell also leads the team in runs scored and hits in Big 12 play, while ranking second in OPS (1.089).

Campbell’s amazing work with the glove shouldn’t be ignored either. He’s delivered multiple highlight-reel plays of late for the Longhorns in the outfield, including a nice catch out in right field late in the game on May 19 against WVU.

This is nothing new, though, for Campbell to be so effective with the glove on a consistent basis for the Longhorns. It’s worth mentioning that Campbell is the only Longhorn this season that has more than 100 putouts while boasting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

Ahead of Texas’ regular season finale on May 20 against West Virginia, Campbell is batting .340, with a dozen home runs, and 43 runs batted in on the campaign. You can watch the regular season finale between Texas and No. 6 West Virginia at the Disch in Austin on May 20 at 2:30 p.m. CT as Campbell looks to extend his hitting streak to 33 games.