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The Horns won in slightly more comfortable fashion on Sunday after two close wins to open the series.
On a beautiful day at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, the No. 16 Texas Longhorns completed the series sweep over the Dartmouth Big Green with a 4-1 victory keyed by an impressive performance from freshman left-hander Dylan Volantis out of the bullpen and just enough offense.
Volantis, who is expected to join the starting rotation later in the season, earned his first career victory after pitching the final 4.1 innings, retiring 13 of the 14 batters he faced in allowing one hit over his scoreless outing, striking out four and inducing seven groundouts.
the kid is growing up before our eyes #HookEm | @DylanVolantis pic.twitter.com/Q3ytyPiWXX
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) February 23, 2025
Texas earns their first sweep of the season over Dartmouth thanks to a solid outing from Freshman pitcher @DylanVolantis
Volantis earned his first career win and @CoachSchloss said the freshman looked a little more at ease on the mound this weekend:#Texas | #Hookem pic.twitter.com/Ysw4BKZwad
— anne-parker coleman (@anneparkercole1) February 23, 2025
Texas only used two pitchers on Sunday as Volantis was effective in relief of sophomore left-hander Kade Bing, who bounced back from his start against Oklahoma State last weekend that didn’t even last an inning. The McLennan CC transfer went 4.1 innings and wasn’t always in full command, hitting two batters, walking another, and throwing a wild pitch, but only gave up one run on two hits with two strikeouts.
That run came in the top of the first inning as Dartmouth once again took an early lead before Texas tied the came in the third. Sophomore second baseman Ethan Mendoza led off the inning with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman, scoring on a one-out single by junior right fielder Max Belyeu.
The Longhorns took the lead in the fifth on a solo home run by Mendoza, his first for Texas, fulfilling a childhood dream.
Dreams do come true
ASU transfer Ethan Mendoza grew up a @TexasBaseball fan and today knocked out the first homerun of the season at the Disch#Texas | #Hookem pic.twitter.com/9hmyl0vRqe
— anne-parker coleman (@anneparkercole1) February 23, 2025
It was also the first home run this season at the Disch after cold weather and wind blowing in from left field over the first two games made it difficult to leave the park.
Texas added another run in the sixth inning when sophomore center fielder Will Gasparino led off with a triple and scored on a single by sophomore left fielder Tommy Farmer. But the Longhorns couldn’t break through for a big inning despite having runners on second and third with no outs after Farmer stole second behind freshman catcher Cole Chamberlain, who had walked after Gasparino’s at bat. Sophomore designated hitter Easton Winfield struck out and Mendoza and senior first baseman Kimble Schuessler both flied out to right field to strand the baserunners and end the threat.
In the seventh inning, the Horns left two more runners on base. Beyleu led off the inning with a walk, but was thrown out trying to steal second, and junior shortstop Jalin Flores and Gasparino were stranded after Flores was hit by a pitch and Gasparino reached on an error thanks to two more pop flies.
Mendoza recorded the game’s final RBI in the eighth inning on a single that drove home Farmer, who had walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
️ Sunday funday indeed #HookEm pic.twitter.com/HjwYdGIPjX
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) February 23, 2025
With a midweek game looming against Incarnate Word prior to a trip to Las Vegas to face Washington, Texas Tech, and Illinois, getting the bats going will be a priority for head coach Jim Schlossnagle after Texas had eight hits on Sunday, but stranded 10 runners, including four by Gasparino, in batting 3-of-11 with runners in scoring position.