No. 23 Texas opens home weekend series against Purdue

At long last, the No. 23 Texas Longhorns return home after a six-day road trip to begin the season for their home opener this weekend. Awaiting the Horns in Austin are the Purdue Boilermakers, a team Texas fans may seem familiar with due to recent basketball play, but a school Texas baseball has faced in just one previous weekend series.

Texas and Purdue are coming into this four-game weekend series on different sides of the momentum curve. Texas began the year at Louisiana, taking two of three games, before making a quick pit stop in Houston to defeat Rice on their way back home to earn a 3-1 record to start the year.

Meanwhile, Purdue enters the series with an 0-3 mark. The Boilermakers began their season at Southern Miss, losing all three games by a combined score of 15-27. These losses should be taken with a grain salt, though, as Southern Miss is ranked in some outlets this season, and went 44-18 last year, including an appearance in the NCAA Regional round in Arkansas.

Starting on the mound for the burnt orange and white will be sophomore Bryce Elder. Elder was nothing short of masterful last week in the season opener against Louisiana, where he threw 8.0 innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run to go along with one walk and nine strikeouts. His performance earned him Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors.

For Purdue, they will be calling upon junior Dalton Parker to start the game. Last week in a 6-7 loss at Southern Miss, the righty threw four innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs, while also walking two and striking out three. He did not factor into the decision.

Texas leads the all time series 3-0. Truly a can’t miss rivalry on the diamond.

You can catch the action in person at UFCU Disch-Falk Field tonight, with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m. Central. The game will be televised on Longhorn Network, and broadcast on radio with Craig Way calling the action on 104.9 The Horn.

Fans will also be able to enjoy the new LED videoboard in left field, as well as fan first concession prices and a pregame happy hour with discounted alcoholic beverages. In addition, fans can purchase an exclusive burnt orange Yeti Rambler for $40 at the Home Plate Bar until supplies run out.