Kimble Schuessler hits run-rule walkoff home run in 14-2 win by No. 1 Texas over No. 8 Auburn

The red-hot Longhorns first baseman drove in eight runs on Sunday to secure another SEC sweep.

The No. 1 Texas Longhorns defended their top position in the national rankings over the weekend by sweeping the No. 8 Auburn Tigers with a resounding 14-2 run-rule win in seven innings on Sunday at UFCH Disch-Falk Field ended in dramatic fashion by senior first baseman Kimble Schuessler’s three-run home run, his second of the game.

Schuessler finished the game 3-for-5 with a double, two home runs, and a career-high eight RBI. The red-hot first baseman now has hits in 12 of his last 17 at bats and has recorded multiple hits in the last five games, raising his batting average from .281 after an 0-for-6 performance last Saturday against Kentucky to .327 on Sunday.

Sophomore third baseman Casey Borba and freshman second baseman Adrian Rodriguez both hit home runs for the Longhorns as well, part of a 15-hit attack from Texas that included a 3-for-3 performance with two runs from freshman left fielder Jonah Williams in his second career start after becoming the school’s first player to record three RBI in his first start since 2018.

The Horns got off to a fast start against the Tigers and never looked back, scoring five runs in the first inning when an error by the Auburn third baseman on a ground ball by sophomore center fielder Will Gasparino scored junior catcher Rylan Galvan, Schuessler hit his first three-run home run, and Rodriguez followed with his solo shot.

Texas added two more runs in the second when Schuessler doubled down the left-field line, two more runs in the fifth on a single by Galvan, and the five runs in the seventh to end the game on the home runs by Borba and Schuessler.

A good Auburn offense never threatened the three pitchers used by Texas in the abbreviated outing as junior right-hander Ruger Riojas only needed to pitch three innings, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts. Out of the bullpen, freshman Jason Flores went 3.2 innings and struck out three batters, both career highs, picking up his fourth win by giving up one run on two hits with a walk. Junior right-hander Aiden Moffett came out of the bullpen to record one out, although it wasn’t quite a clean appearance — the LSU transfer walked the first batter he faced and threw a wild pitch that allowed an inherited runner to score.

But those are the most minor complaints possible in a dominant performance that pushes Texas to 16-2 in SEC play with a road trip to San Marcos to face Texas State looming on Tuesday before Texas A&M comes to Austin next weekend for a grudge match against former head coach Jim Schlossnagle.