It was hard to believe it was an exhibition game with the number of fans that turned out on a beautiful Saturday afternoon as No. 19 Texas held its annual alumni game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
With transfers and underclassmen filling out the Texas “varsity” roster, so-called inexperience did not worry the younger Longhorns as they claimed a 6–3 victory over the returning alumni.
Trotting out with the varsity, freshman pitcher Dylan Volantis displayed composure on the mound despite allowing the big leaguers to load the bases up, putting the young underclassmen in a tight spot in the top of the second.
As Cincinnati Reds’ prospect Trey Faltine’s hit lasered toward Volantis on the mound, Volantis quickly reacted by catching the hit and throwing it back to his catcher for an out at home.
Trying to make the double play, junior catcher Rylan Galvan’s throw to first was out of reach for Kimble Schuessler, a Texas A&M transfer graduate infielder, who jumped and collided with Faltine as he came down.
The major collision with Schuessler and Faltine allowed Yankees prospect Duke Ellis to jog into home for the easy score, giving the Alumni a 1–0 lead.
Stealing a base after getting a single in right field, sophomore outfielder Tommy Farmer IV was set up in prime scoring position on second for Texas. On the 3–1 count, freshman designated hitter Cole Chamberlain bit, launching the game’s first home run toward the video board for an RBI double.
“That’s an awesome feeling, and I’m really grateful for that,” Chamberlain said. “It was a 3–1 count. I got a cutter low and in and put a good swing on it.”
The underclassmen continued to dominate over their seasoned competitors. Freshman infielder Adrian Rodriguez made contact off of junior pitcher Connor McCreery’s pitch, sending the ball deep before dropping into the away team’s bullpen for his own RBI double.
“It couldn’t have gone any better than I imagined,” Rodriguez said. “I just needed to get the jitters out of the first couple of innings, and I’m just rolling.”
Farmer IV continued to add to his successful day, popping a line drive toward left field for an RBI single in the fifth inning. Sophomore outfielder Will Gasparino capped the Longhorns’ day, scoring an RBI single in the seventh bringing home sophomore infielder Jaquae Stewart.
Thirty-two former Texas alumni representing 16 different Major League clubs came back home to the Disch to participate in the festivities before reporting for spring training in a couple of weeks. Although the Texas “varsity” claimed victory, they did not face any pro pitchers.
“When your own team is pitching the whole time, you are rooting for your offense and your pitcher at the same time,” Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “You don’t want to beat them up.”
Schlossnagle had high remarks for his closer, seventh-year senior pitcher Will Mercer, who is entering his final year of eligibility after playing for Notre Dame the past six seasons.
“(It’s) really good to see Mercer throwing like that,” Schlossnagle said. “Obviously he’s got a lot of experience and moxie. (It’d) be awesome to have him pitching somewhere toward the end of games.”
Texas will begin its season in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown when they face the Louisville Cardinals at 7 p.m. on Valentine’s Day at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
