Historic victory in Austin

Vaqueros beat Longhorns for first time in over 50 years

_{Former UTRGV first baseman Jacob Sanchez extends to get former Longhorn outfielder Austin Todd out during the April 2022 game against the University of Texas at Austin at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus. THE RIDER FILE PHOTO}

The Vaqueros (18-15, 7-8 WAC) accomplished something that was long thought to be impossible by beating the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns (22-16, 9-8 Big 12) Tuesday with a final score of 17-9 at the UFCU Disch-Faulk Field in Austin. 

This marks the first time that UTRGV, or its legacy baseball program, have beaten the Longhorns in nearly 53 years. The last win over UT was a 5-4 Pan American victory in Austin during the 1971 NCAA Regional Championships.

The last time they beat UT, the school was known as Pan American University, gas in Texas cost 36 cents a gallon, and “Bridge over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel was the song of the year at the Grammys.

The Longhorns pitching staff struggled against the Vaqueros. They allowed 17 earned runs on 11 hits, walked 11 batters, hit nine batters and threw three wild pitches across nine innings of play.

UTRGV Baseball head coach Derek Matlock said taking advantage of bad pitching by UT was a big part of the victory, which he described as “exciting for the [Rio Grande] Valley, and exciting for us.” 

“Anytime you can do something that hasn’t been done in 53 years I don’t think you’re gonna be, you know, not excited,” Matlock said. “But, they did a bad job on the mound and we hit the ball on the screws and got hit by pitches, took pitches and didn’t swing at balls.”

Redshirt junior first baseman Martin Vazquez (2-5, two home runs and one walk) set the tone for the Vaqueros offense by clubbing two home runs in his first two plate appearances.

Vazquez said he was “really happy” with the team’s result and his performance in Austin.

“I think it was really fun playing in Texas and beating them,” Vazquez said. “We had support from some of our fans who drove up to Austin, so I think it was amazing to make history and contribute the way I did yesterday.”

Redshirt junior starting pitcher Francisco “Paco” Hernandez (3-3) started the game for the Vaqueros. He earned the win after pitching 5.0 innings, allowing three earned runs, striking out seven Longhorns and earning praise from Matlock, who said he had a “great” start.

Hernandez was commanding his fastball effectively and mixed in his slider and change-up, which he said was “the best [change-up] I’ve had so far.”

“It was a good start,” he said. “I felt good and the team gave me a good start coming into the game, and it felt great.”

Hernandez also said the team was “hyped” after their victory, and “everybody has a smile on their face.”

After their historic win, the Vaqueros will look to use the momentum gained and carry it into the crucial stretch of upcoming conference matchups.