- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 448,032
- Reaction score
- 44
With Jared Spencer out for the season with a shoulder injury, the Texas baseball team needed a new Friday starter and junior Ruger Riojas got the assignment.
When asked this week why Riojas was picked, Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle said that Saturday starter Luke Harrison was certainly a qualified candidate. But Schlossnagle assessed that Riojas "really has the moxie and the spirit to be able to handle everything that comes with Friday night in the SEC."
So that raises the question: Why does Ruger Riojas have moxie?
GOLDEN: Jim Schlossnagle, Texas baseball put pressure on Aggies in emotional Game 1 win
Does he have moxie because of the mustache teammate Dylan Volantis has judged to be the best in a program that recently relaxed its rules on facial hair? Does he have moxie because he uses Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" as his warmup song? Does he have moxie because he'll show up to talk about how he pitched against LSU while wearing a Mötley Crüe T-shirt or he'll go barefoot to a media availability after a game against Texas A&M?
"Ruger just has this way about him where he's just ultra confident," Texas outfielder Tommy Farmer IV said. "He's so bought into Texas, what (pitching coach Max) Weiner's telling him and dominating the zone. He's just so bought in. It's contagious, kind of for everybody."
As for Riojas, he told reporters after Friday's 2-1 win over Texas A&M that his moxie and spirit are rooted in "being myself and not trying to let the moment take over. Just having as much fun as I can when I'm on the mound."
In addition to moxie and spirit, Riojas also has good stuff. In leading Texas to a series-opening triumph against the Aggies, Riojas pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout baseball. He allowed five hits, and displayed his athleticism several times while recording several outs at first base and even starting a double play.
Two of Riojas' three strikeouts on Friday were registered against Texas A&M slugger Jace LaViolette. He even threw a 54 mph eephus pitch in one of those battles with the Aggies' all-time leader in home runs.
"I try to have as many (pitches) as I can in my arsenal. That one was probably my favorite," Riojas said.
A Wimberley native, Riojas pitched in 46 games over the past two seasons at UTSA. Just two of those appearances were starts, but one of his relief outings came against a Texas A&M team that was coached by Schlossnagle at the time.
While Texas was recruiting Riojas this summer, the Longhorns viewed him as a reliever but Schlossnagle felt he was an "awesome strike thrower." Riojas indeed opened this season as an oft-used relief option, but he hasn't spent much time in the Texas bullpen since he started against LSU last month.
Following Friday's game, Riojas is now 8-1 with a 2.98 ERA. He has made 14 appearances with six SEC starts and pitched a team-high 54⅓ innings.
"I think when everybody gets recruited, especially at a school like this, the end goal is to be the best pitcher out on the field. Did I see me in this role? Maybe. I just wanted to do what was best for the team so I don't really care if it was relieving, starting, mid-week games, Friday night. I just wanted to help this team as much as I can."
Texas built a 2-0 lead on Friday night behind Jayden Duplantier's RBI double in the third inning and the first home run of Farmer's college career, which was hit in the seventh inning. Texas A&M scored on a Texas error in the eighth inning and got two runners aboard in the ninth inning, but Volantis' third strikeout of the final frame ended the game.
Following its win over Texas A&M (24-17, 8-11), No. 1 Texas is now 35-5 on the season and 17-2 in SEC play. Due to Arkansas' loss to Florida on Friday, UT increased its first-place lead to four games in the SEC standings.
Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access to all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas baseball beats Texas A&M in opener of SEC series
Continue reading...
When asked this week why Riojas was picked, Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle said that Saturday starter Luke Harrison was certainly a qualified candidate. But Schlossnagle assessed that Riojas "really has the moxie and the spirit to be able to handle everything that comes with Friday night in the SEC."
So that raises the question: Why does Ruger Riojas have moxie?
GOLDEN: Jim Schlossnagle, Texas baseball put pressure on Aggies in emotional Game 1 win
Does he have moxie because of the mustache teammate Dylan Volantis has judged to be the best in a program that recently relaxed its rules on facial hair? Does he have moxie because he uses Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" as his warmup song? Does he have moxie because he'll show up to talk about how he pitched against LSU while wearing a Mötley Crüe T-shirt or he'll go barefoot to a media availability after a game against Texas A&M?
"Ruger just has this way about him where he's just ultra confident," Texas outfielder Tommy Farmer IV said. "He's so bought into Texas, what (pitching coach Max) Weiner's telling him and dominating the zone. He's just so bought in. It's contagious, kind of for everybody."
You must be registered for see images attach
As for Riojas, he told reporters after Friday's 2-1 win over Texas A&M that his moxie and spirit are rooted in "being myself and not trying to let the moment take over. Just having as much fun as I can when I'm on the mound."
In addition to moxie and spirit, Riojas also has good stuff. In leading Texas to a series-opening triumph against the Aggies, Riojas pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout baseball. He allowed five hits, and displayed his athleticism several times while recording several outs at first base and even starting a double play.
Two of Riojas' three strikeouts on Friday were registered against Texas A&M slugger Jace LaViolette. He even threw a 54 mph eephus pitch in one of those battles with the Aggies' all-time leader in home runs.
"I try to have as many (pitches) as I can in my arsenal. That one was probably my favorite," Riojas said.
You must be registered for see images attach
A Wimberley native, Riojas pitched in 46 games over the past two seasons at UTSA. Just two of those appearances were starts, but one of his relief outings came against a Texas A&M team that was coached by Schlossnagle at the time.
While Texas was recruiting Riojas this summer, the Longhorns viewed him as a reliever but Schlossnagle felt he was an "awesome strike thrower." Riojas indeed opened this season as an oft-used relief option, but he hasn't spent much time in the Texas bullpen since he started against LSU last month.
Following Friday's game, Riojas is now 8-1 with a 2.98 ERA. He has made 14 appearances with six SEC starts and pitched a team-high 54⅓ innings.
"I think when everybody gets recruited, especially at a school like this, the end goal is to be the best pitcher out on the field. Did I see me in this role? Maybe. I just wanted to do what was best for the team so I don't really care if it was relieving, starting, mid-week games, Friday night. I just wanted to help this team as much as I can."
Texas built a 2-0 lead on Friday night behind Jayden Duplantier's RBI double in the third inning and the first home run of Farmer's college career, which was hit in the seventh inning. Texas A&M scored on a Texas error in the eighth inning and got two runners aboard in the ninth inning, but Volantis' third strikeout of the final frame ended the game.
Following its win over Texas A&M (24-17, 8-11), No. 1 Texas is now 35-5 on the season and 17-2 in SEC play. Due to Arkansas' loss to Florida on Friday, UT increased its first-place lead to four games in the SEC standings.
Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access to all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas baseball beats Texas A&M in opener of SEC series
Continue reading...
