No. 2 Texas takes series against Kentucky

The Longhorns dropped a 15-inning marathon to the Wildcats on Saturday, but won the Friday and Sunday contests.

The No. 2 Texas Longhorns are a top-two team in the country for the first time in three years and should should move up to the top spot after securing a road series win over the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington by winning 6-3 on Friday and 5-4 on Sunday after dropping a 15-inning Saturday contest, 5-4.

The first road trip for the Longhorns to Lexington marked the seventh weekend series win of 2025 for first-year head coach Jim Schlossnagle and his team, including five series wins in SEC play. With No. 1 Arkansas losing a road series to No. 7 Georgia in Athens, Texas is now in first place in the conference standings at 13-2.

---

Texas 6, Kentucky 3

On Friday, the Horns took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI single by junior shortstop Jalin Flores before falling behind 2-1 as the Wildcats scored a run in the fifth and another in the sixth on a solo home run.

A two-run double by sophomore second baseman Ethan Mendoza that was misplayed by the right fielder followed by an RBI single by junior catcher Rylan Galvan gave Texas the lead.

In the seventh, the Longhorns created some separation when Mendoza came up with another clutch hit, a two-run single with the bases loaded.

Sophomore center fielder Will Gasparino had his own opportunity with bags full of Texas players, but struck out swinging on three pitches.

Senior left-hander Jared Spencer wasn’t able to get much depth in his start, departing in the fifth inning after throwing 97 pitches when Kentucky scored their first run. Spencer struck out seven Wildcats, but fell victim to batters leaning out over the plate, hitting three while working around two walks and four hits.

Schlossnagle turned to junior right-hander Max Grubbs to provide the bridge to freshman left-hander Dylan Volantis and Grubbs came through, stranding two runners by striking out the first batter he faced and getting through the eighth inning on 66 pitches, recording six strikeouts and allowing two runs on two hits and two walks. The performance earned Grubbs his fifth win of the season.

Volantis secured his eighth save by pitching a flawless ninth inning, retiring the side in order.

---

Kentucky 5, Texas 4 (15 innings)

The 221 pitches that the Horns had to throw among six pitchers both put Texas in a difficult position for Sunday’s decisive game and allowed some critical conference opportunities after Schlossnagle leaned heavily on his top arms, especially in using only five pitchers during the sweep of Georgia last week.

Junior right-hander Aiden Moffett made his first SEC appearance in burnt orange and white, turning in his longest outing of the season after his positive performance against Houston Christian on Tuesday, striking out two of the five batters he faced.

Freshman right-hander Jason Flores wasn’t sharp, however, hitting both batters he faced when he struggled to control his cut fastball, forcing Volantis into the game with runners on first and second and no outs in the eighth inning with Texas leading 4-3. Trying to bunt the runners over, Kentucky kept the bunt attempt on with two strikes, only for the batter to miss a sharp curveball from Volantis and strike out. By inducing a fielder’s choice groundout to third and striking out the next batter, Volantis was able to escape the jam with the Horns still ahead.

The California product couldn’t secure his ninth save, however, giving up a solo home run in the ninth that tied the game, the first run allowed by Volantis since early March against Santa Clara.

The Texas bats went silent in extra innings with the best opportunity coming in the 15th when Mendoza and Galvan came up with one-out singles. A flyout to center field by Gasparino allowed Mendoza to move up to third base, but sophomore third baseman Casey Borba struck out looking to end the threat.

Kentucky quickly took advantage with a leadoff single and an error by Galvan on a bunt single when he throw got away from senior first baseman Kimble Schuessler, allowing the walkoff run to score from first base.

The game-winning run game at the end of an extended outing by sophomore right-hander Thomas Burns, who was effective over four-plus innings and 62 pitches until the small-ball approach earned the Wildcats the win.

Less effective was the Texas lineup that went 8-for-51 (.157) and only managed one hit in eight at bats with runners in scoring position (.125).

---

Texas 5, Kentucky 4

With the bullpen extended, Texas needed a strong start from junior right-hander Ruger Riojas and got it. Pitching to contact more often than he has in recent outings, Riojas lasted 6.2 innings for his seventh win, striking out three and working around nine hits, two walks, and a hit batter.

Two of the three runs allowed by Riojas came in the seventh inning as his pitch count elevated over 100, giving up consecutive one-out singles before allowing a two-out double on a 2-2 pitch.

Junior right-hander Grayson Saunier, another pitcher Schlossnagle wants to give more weekend opportunities, got out of the inning after hitting the first batter he faced and earning his first career save in college by working around some trouble in the ninth inning. Kentucky drew a full-count walk to lead off the inning, then singled to right field. Saunier traded a run for an out on a sacrifice fly before inducing a game-ending double play turned nicely by Flores, who showed off his athleticism to avoid the runner sliding into second and make an accurate throw to first.

Texas had opened the scoring with three-run third inning keyed by an RBI single from Flores and a two-run double by Gasparino, who scored on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and on a double by Schuessler in the eighth.

Gasparino finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored.

Texas returns to UFCU Disch-Falk Field for a midweek matchup against UTRGV followed by a weekend series against No. 11 Auburn.