The Texas Longhorns are set to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils on Friday night in Game 1 of the NCAA Baseball Super Regionals.
Texas had to do things the hard way to get where they are. Despite having one of the easier roads to the Super Regionals, the Longhorns needed five games to escape the Regionals, after losing to Kent State in the second game last weekend.
The Longhorns, though, responded with three straight wins to book their third consecutive Super Regional appearance.
The Sun Devils, meanwhile, needed just three games in their regional, defeating Arkansas in the final game.
Baseball America has a bit of scouting information on Arizona State.
They're very capable to be very offensive in a three-game series. But I think that ballpark in Texas is not good for them. I don't think it's good for anybody, really, other than pitching and defense. They do run pretty well, they stretch singles into doubles, they'll go first to third and first to home. They put pressure on you. They don't strike out, they will walk. The way to beat them is to pound the zone. You've got to crowd their lefthanded hitters, and you've got to keep Ruettiger off base. They're not the same offensive team they've been in the past, but they still have the ingredients of being a tough three-game series offense.
Luckily for Texas, the series is held in Austin. Still, the Sun Devils should pose more of a challenge than any of the Longhorns' opponents last weekend.
Texas ace Taylor Jungmann will start tonight for the Longhorns.
Televised coverage can be found on ESPN, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT.