EDINBURG — UTRGV head coach Derek Matlock had one overarching goal when he was tabbed to lead the program five years ago: put college baseball in the Rio Grande Valley back on the map.
Since then, the Vaqueros have won their first Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular season championship in 2019 and advanced to the WAC tournament championship series for the first time in program history in 2021.
Now, the Vaqueros (23-16) are set to welcome the No. 6-ranked Texas Longhorns back to the RGV for the first time since the 1971 season for a nonconference affair.
Gametime is slated for 6:30 tonight at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg. The game has been sold out since March 6.
“You’re not going to do anything good if you don’t play the best. … When we play at Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, it makes us better,” Matlock said. “If you play teams that aren’t very good, you don’t get exposed. If you’re going to turn around a program and put it on the map, you’ve got to beat the best. If you don’t play them, you can’t beat them.”
Edinburg Vela alum Isaac Lopez, a redshirt freshman starter at shortstop for the Vaqueros, was a frequent visitor to the ballpark growing up to watch legacy institution Texas-Pan American and the Edinburg Roadrunners play ball. Now, he’ll be suiting up for the Vaqueros in the biggest game to date at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
“It’s unreal. We appreciate this community for supporting us and if it wasn’t for them, this game, this whole season wouldn’t have the same feel,” he said. “Being that little kid, watching little kids that do that now, where I used to be, it’s just unreal.”
The Vaqueros clashed against the Longhorns once already this season — a 13-5 loss on April 5 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin. UTRGV went down 6-0 during the first inning. The Vaqueros responded with five runs over the next four innings, showing off some hitting in the process.
UTRGV sophomore first baseman Jacob Sanchez, a PSJA High alum, drove in two, scored one run and walked once while going 2-for-3 against Texas during the first meeting. Lopez had one RBI for the Vaqueros, while Brett Cain finished with three RBIs and a two-run shot against the Longhorns.
“The buzz is great. We’re coming off a huge series win (against Abilene Christian). Having that momentum coming into this game against UT is going to be huge, as is having all these fans coming in,” Sanchez said.
The game is available to watch on ESPN’s streaming service, ESPN+. For more information, visit GoUTRGV.com/Texas.
NIXON’S RETURN
McAllen High alum Aaron Nixon, a right-handed pitcher with the Longhorns, is set to make his return to the RGV.
During his four-year career with McHi from 2017-20, Nixon starred at shortstop, third base, and as both a starting pitcher and closer. He was a two-time all-state player leading the Bulldogs to six playoff series wins in three years.
Now a sophomore at Texas, Nixon leads the Longhorns this season with four saves while holding a 3.09 ERA. He’s struck out 31 batters, ranked fourth on the team, across 23.1 innings pitched in 18 appearances.
As a freshman last year, Nixon finished with a 4-3 record, a team-high nine saves, 35 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched and a 2.12 ERA, which ranked third on the team.
“I love it. I love the pressure moment,” Nixon said of his closer role in an interview with The Monitor during the 2021 College World Series. “I love the ups and downs. I just love being in the grease. Since I was young, my coaches would put me in that position and I’ve always loved that, just giving my team a chance to win, and helping this team win just means a lot to me.”
PIMENTEL STAYS HOT
UTRGV junior left fielder Brandon Pimentel was named to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Midseason Watch List last week. The award is based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity, according to a UTRGV news release.
Pimentel, a Mississippi State transfer, is batting .395 with 10 home runs, 13 doubles, 35 RBIs and 40 runs scored in 39 games this season.
When he takes the field against Texas, it’ll be the sixth time Pimentel has faced off against the Longhorns during the last two seasons. Mississippi State played Texas in a nonconferece game to start the 2021 season, then met again for three games during the College World Series, which the Bulldogs eventually won.
“They have a lot of good guys and they’re a great team. We’re a great team, too. So we just have to go out there and compete.When we’re good, we can beat anybody,” he said.
LOOK AHEAD
The Vaqueros will look to win their sixth WAC series of the season against the Tarleton Texans this weekend.
Also making a return to their hometown this week is Edinburg Vela alum and Tarleton freshman catcher Jaime “Mito” Perez Jr. The former SaberCats standout is hitting .317 this season with 11 RBIs and nine runs scored in 20 games played.
Game 1 between the Vaqueros and Texans (13-26, 6-12) is set for 7 p.m. Friday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium. Game 2, scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, features a “Bark in the Park” promotion in which dogs will be allowed into the stadium with up-to-date proof of vaccinations. Game 3 is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
