The numbers alone tell most of the story. Across three games against No. 11 Alabama at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, No. 4 Texas pitchers racked up 49 strikeouts, held the Crimson Tide to a .138 batting average over the final two games, and secured a series win that further cemented this Longhorn squad as one of the best in the country. Sunday’s 2-1 loss to close the weekend was a tough pill, but it did little to overshadow what was a dominant showing on the mound from start to finish.
Friday: Volantis Makes History in 10-2 Rout
Dylan Volantis wasted no time making his mark. The 6-foot-6 sophomore lefty set the tone in the opening inning with a pair of strikeouts and never let up, finishing with 12 punchouts across six innings, the first time any Longhorn has struck out a dozen in a single SEC game. Volantis (5-0) retired 15 of the first 18 batters he faced, scattering four hits and two runs while throwing 62 of 91 pitches for strikes.
Texas gave him plenty to work with. Carson Tinney put the Longhorns up 2-0 in the first inning with a two-run shot to right, his 14th homer of the year and seventh in as many games, and the offense never looked back. Ethan Mendoza drove in a run later in the frame to make it 3-0, and the Longhorns kept piling on, eventually posting 10 runs on 16 hits.
Anthony Pack Jr. had the breakout game of his young career, going 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI, including a run-scoring double in the eighth. He was one of five Longhorns to record multiple hits, joining Aiden Robbins, Tinney, Adrian Rodriguez, and Dariyan Pendergrass. Sam Cozart mopped up the final three innings with five strikeouts and a hitless performance to close out the 10-2 victory.
Saturday: 19 Punchouts Tie Program Record in 3-1 Win
If Friday was a statement, Saturday was a history lesson. Texas pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts in a 3-1 win, tying the program record for a nine-inning game, a mark that had stood since 1988.
Ruger Riojas started and delivered his best outing of the season, striking out 11 and allowing just three hits across five innings. After a shaky start that saw Alabama’s first three hitters reach base, the senior righthander found his groove and retired 14 of the final 15 batters he faced, including a four-strikeout fourth inning. Haiden Leffew, Ethan Walker, Thomas Burns, and Sam Cozart combined for the final eight punchouts, with Cozart striking out the side in the ninth to cap the historic effort. Texas didn’t allow a hit after the third inning.
Alabama starter Zane Adams was equally sharp through six, but once the Crimson Tide went to their bullpen in the seventh, Texas made them pay. Jayden Duplantier tied the game with an RBI single, Robbins loaded the bases, and Tinney delivered the go-ahead hit up the middle to plate Casey Borba. Rodriguez added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly, and that proved to be more than enough.
Sunday: Harrison Deals, but Longhorns Fall 2-1
Luke Harrison gave Texas every chance to sweep. The graduate lefthander struck out 10 over seven innings, a career best, and made the Crimson Tide work for everything they got. The problem was Alabama’s Myles Upchurch was just as good, limiting Texas to one hit through 5⅓ shutout innings before handing it off to closer Ashton Crowther, who retired the final 11 outs.
Alabama scored in the second on a Jason Torres RBI single and added another run in the seventh. Texas managed just one run, a ninth-inning single by Mendoza that briefly made things interesting, but Crowther shut the door to hand the Longhorns a 2-1 defeat and deny the sweep.
Harrison’s performance meant all three Texas starters — Volantis, Riojas, and Harrison — finished with double-digit strikeouts in the same series, a remarkable feat that underscores just how deep this pitching staff is.
Texas moves to 30-8 overall and 11-6 in SEC play. The Longhorns return to action Tuesday when they host Air Force at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.
