A Night of Historic Power
Freshman sensation Anthony Pack Jr. etched his name into Longhorns lore on Friday night, launching three home runs in his NCAA Tournament debut and becoming the first Texas player ever to accomplish the feat in a single game.
The onslaught unfolded over the first five innings, with Pack’s trio of blasts traveling a combined 1,215 feet while his speed added a team‑leading 20 stolen bases — the most by a Texas freshman since 2004.
Coach Drew Stubbs, who had watched the youngster enter the game with just seven homers all season, pulled Pack from the field as the Longhorns surged to an 11‑0 lead, a move that underscored the strategic depth of the lineup.
Across the country, Georgia Tech’s Alex Hernandez mirrored the fireworks, also homering three times and driving in nine runs during a dominant victory over UIC, highlighting a broader surge of power hitting in the tournament.
Texas now prepares to meet the winner of Friday’s second‑round clash between Tarleton State and UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, a matchup that promises to test the Longhorns’ newly forged offensive firepower.