It was the year.
With proven starting pitching, a bullpen full of power arms, and a stacked lineup, the Texas Longhorns entered the 2022 season with lofty expectations after falling just short of the College World Series finals in 2021 — it was the year for head coach David Pierce’s team to win the storied program’s first national championship since 2005.
But even with a better-than-expected offense led by first baseman Ivan Melendez in an historic season, the bullpen faltered throughout much of the year and the starting rotation took a huge hit when right-hander Tanner Witt needed Tommy John surgery.