RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The UTRGV baseball team is set to take the field for a real game for the first time since May on Friday when the Vaqueros host Houston Christian at 6:30 p.m., and it can't come soon enough.
 
"Man, it seems like we haven't played for so long," UTRGV head coach Derek Matlock said. "You know, when you go from the conference tournament all the way to the start of the next season, it's a long haul. Our group is a very excited for the first game."
 
The Vaqueros have had a competitive few months, even in the absence of games against other teams, playing each other in intrasquads with varying rosters throughout the fall and more set teams in the spring as UTRGV started trying to figure out the best lineup and pitching combinations.
 
On the mound, the Vaqueros return most of their starting pitchers, except for ace Kevin Stevens, who is currently getting ready to report to spring training with the New York Yankees organization. Even without Stevens, though, the Vaqueros have impressive depth on the mound.
 
"Pitching and defense is what leads to championships," Matlock said. "The defense can be really good for us and I think, on the mound, we have more depth than we've ever had. We probably have 12 to 15 guys throwing the ball over 90 miles an hour. We have some experience with the frontline guys that you feel really comfortable with. We'll throw Jesus Aldaz on Friday, Randy Garza on Saturday, and Colten Davis on Sunday."
 
Aldaz has worked hard over the last few years to earn the opening night nod, bouncing back from an injury that wiped out his 2021 season to force his way into the starting rotation after two strong relief appearances last year, earning a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Pitcher of the Week award along the way. Aldaz struck out 74 in 67.1 innings.
 
"He has, you know, a 90 to 93 fastball from the arm side, a really good changeup and really, the most exciting thing about him is his breaking ball," Matlock said. "He had it last year on and off. He's come back this fall and spring and he's had it the whole time. So he's put himself in line to really go out there and pitch with the three pitch mix and compete and fill the strike zone up and give us a chance to win."
 
Garza's journey has been equally impressive, going from making one appearance for Houston in 2020 to redshirting in 2021 to finally making his UTRGV debut in mid-March 2022. After three strong relief appearances, Garza started making Tuesday starts before moving into the WAC rotation down the stretch.
 
"He's an 88 to 93 guy with a good changeup and a good breaking ball," Matlock said. "His fastball doesn't get hit much. He's got a really good arm, good presence on the mound, and he loves to compete. I mean, him starting the Texas Game in that environment and doing what he did was impressive. His walks were too heavy last year. That was kind of what he's been battling. And this fall, I think he struck out 10 and walked three in 10 innings. So that was exciting for us to see him starting to get more confidence to throw the ball in the strike zone."
 
Another advantage of starting Garza on Saturday is it gives the Vaqueros a left-handed starter between right-handers, which will force some teams to make lineup changes in the middle of a three-game series.
 
Early last season, Davis was arguably the Vaqueros' best starter. Although he'll now start on Sundays, that could give the Vaqueros a major matchup advantage in starting someone capable of being a top starter against the opposition's number three starter.
 
"He's got a better breaking ball now," Matlock said. "His fastball is still the same – a little bit more of a two-seemer with some arm side. He's probably the best he's ever been right now."
 
Another returning starting pitcher, J.C. Ariza, is slated to pitch on Tuesdays, giving the Vaqueros a great chance to beat teams like, Rice, TCU, Texas State, and Texas A&M. After the Western Athletic Conference sent two teams to the NCAA Tournament last year, there is an added emphasis on having a strong overall resume in addition to winning conference games to allow for a second path to the NCAA Tournament beyond winning the WAC Tournament. Additionally, four starters can help the Vaqueros reach the regionals on the primary path – winning the WAC Tournament.
 
"When you're trying to win 40 games, you've got try to do something different," Matlock said. "You've got to have four starters. We've always kind of played around on the Tuesday game with different guys. And when you get into the conference tournament, if you don't have four solid guys that have been in routine and are true starters, it puts your bullpen in a bind because then you're throwing your bullpen really early in the game."
 
The bullpen has plenty of depth as well, starting with Kris Massey, Nico Rodriguez and Angelo Cabral, all of whom were in contention for starting spots until the very end and will be dangerous coming out of the pen. At least one of them could start in the five-game series against Central Michigan as well. Additionally, the Vaqueros have pitchers such as Jack Lopez, who comes from a submarine arm slot with lots of sink and spin on his pitches, Robert Loya who has been throwing fastballs in the mid 90s with a plus slider, and Sebastian Mejia, a transfer from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi who was their closer. Mejia throws in the low 90s with a lot of sink, a good break, and a really good changeup.
 
Positionally, the Vaqueros have incredible depth, starting in the outfield, with four potential starters for three positions in Brandon Pimentel, New Mexico State-transfer Zerek Saenz, Montclair Cain, who went by Brett last season, and Grand Canyon-transfer Adrian Torres. Pimentel is also capable of playing first base, where Jacob Sanchez returns after a strong season and Angel de la Cruz comes back as well. To that end, Sanchez has been working out at third base as a way of keeping his bat in the lineup if Pimentel or De la Cruz starts, but the Vaqueros also welcome Incarnate Word-transfer Roberto Gonzalez, who earned All-Southland Conference Second Team honors by hitting .327/.372/.495 with five home runs and 37 RBI as the starting third baseman for UIW last season. Needless to say, the Vaqueros are happy to have an extra spot in the batting order thanks to the designated hitter.
 
"We're really strong all over," Matlock said. "We really like to see all three of those right-handed hitters in the lineup since all those outfitters are left-handed hitters. You're getting two big power guys that can play the corners, and one of them can be the DH. Then we can get three of those big monsters in the lineup."
 
Pimentel earned Preseason All-WAC honors and was in the conversation for All-American honors last year. A 2022 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-Central Region Second Team and All-WAC Second Team selection, Pimentel hit .377/.427/.619 with 12 home runs, tied for the fifth-highest single-season total in program history, 17 doubles, tied for the eighth-highest single-season total in program history, two triples, 146 total bases, the second-highest single-season total in program history, 47 RBI and 54 runs scored. He ranked second in program history with 146 total bases, third with 89 hits, four with 236 at-bats, tied for fifth with 12 home runs, and tied for eighth with 17 doubles. Pimentel recorded 27 multi-hit games, including four of three hits, three of four hits, and one of five hits, and nine multi-RBI games, including four of at least three RBI.
 
"That kid can hit," Matlock said. "He is just a special offensive player and he's really turned his defense on too. He has power to all fields and can really stay inside the ball. There really is no way to pitch to him."
 
Cain hit .370/.450/.614 with eight home runs, 16 doubles, three triples, 41 RBI and 40 runs scored last season while playing impressive defense in the outfield. It was a breakout year for Cain who, after two seasons at Howard College, playing sparingly for Houston in 2020 and UTRGV in 2021.
 
"He got really serious about his process, his diet, and his strength and conditioning," Matlock said. "When you look at the analytics, Cane had a better year than Pimentel. So that's always surprising because Pimentel was so good. But now he's a perfect example of a guy that's come in and bought in and was tired of watching games from the dugout. He put together a special year last year, and he's put together a great spring."
 
In-between Pimentel and Cain is expected to be Saenz, who led the WAC in hitting at .373 for New Mexico State in 2021. He also hit .344 in 2020.
 
Up the middle will be special as well, with 2022 WAC All-Defensive Teamer Isaac Lopez sliding over to second base while a similar defensive whiz, Kade York, takes over at shortstop.
 
"You take one of the best defenders in the conference in Isaac and you move him to second because York is probably just as talented, giving you two shortstops to play in the middle," Matlock said. "I think the reason we make the decision right now is because Isaac has played second before and can really turn a double play, whereas Kade has never played it. When Isaac first got here, we worked really hard with him at second from a developmental standpoint, and he got really good at turning two."
 
Behind the plate, the Vaqueros have multiple strong options, including returners RJ Ochoa and Steve Lancia. Ochoa had a big year in 2021, hitting .287 with five home runs and 28 RBI before enduring an injury-marred year in 2022. Lancia, now a sophomore, saw action in 12 games last year, but has shown a strong defensive ability and has impressive exit velocity off his bat.
 
"Well, it's gonna be those two guys," Matlock said. "They're both fighting for it. They both catch and throw really well. I think Ochoa has a little bit of an edge on the catching end of it, receiving the ball. Lancia's probably get a little bit more of the edge of the offensive side and a little bit of a throwing edge. My dream would be for them to play two games a week each so we can keep them rested. They both deserve to play. They're both outstanding players. We got Milo Behrens too, a walk-on kid that's been really impressive. He's a real physical kid that works hard and can block and really throw. We feel good about who we have back there."
 
The Vaqueros have three practices left before the first series – three games against Houston Christian. The Vaqueros follow that up with five games against Central Michigan and three against Houston as part of their season-opening 11-game home stand.
 
"It's gonna be tough," Matlock said. "You know Lance Berkman at Houston Christian is gonna be offensive minded with the guys he's got in there now. And now he's got his team in there being that it's his second year. They beat Sacramento State three out of four last year on the road. And they had a good year in the Southland. And then you have Central Michigan that won 43 games. They have an outstanding program. Then you get the University Houston, which is a premier program headed to the Big 12. It's gonna be a fight to the finish to get off to a good start."

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