No. 3 Texas baseball faces Michigan State at Disch-Falk Field after outscoring opponents 41-11 in a dominant 4-0 start.
The Texas Longhorns baseball team has started 2026 with an absolute bang.
The No. 3 Longhorns roll into this weekend’s series against Michigan State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field sitting at 4-0, having outscored opponents 41-11 with two run-rule wins already in the books.
After dismantling Lamar 14-4 on Tuesday, Texas now turns its attention to a Spartans program it has never faced. Historically, the Longhorns have handled Big Ten competition just fine, owning a 152-67 all-time mark against current and former members of the league.
On the mound, Friday’s opener features right-hander Ruger Riojas (1-0, 1.80 ERA) against Michigan State’s Aidan Donovan (1.80 ERA).
Saturday brings lefty Luke Harrison (1-0, 3.38 ERA), while Sunday could be electric with Dylan Volantis (1-0, 0.00 ERA) toeing the rubber.
Volantis, already on the Golden Spikes Award watch list, has looked every bit like a frontline ace.
Through four games, Texas pitchers have logged a 2.53 ERA across 32 innings, surrendering just nine earned runs. That dominance mirrors last season’s staff, which finished with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP - both among the nation’s elite.
At the plate, the Longhorns are slashing .341 as a team with a 1.058 OPS. Ethan Mendoza, who hit .333 a year ago, remains a steady presence, while Adrian Rodriguez (.313 in 2025) anchors the lineup.
Transfer catcher Carson Tinney, another Golden Spikes candidate, adds power and defensive polish behind the dish.
Texas also boasts the nation’s top-ranked freshman class, highlighted by Michael Winter and Brett Crossland, injecting even more firepower into a roster that already won 44 games last season.
Michigan State walks into Austin undefeated. But Disch-Falk isn’t a welcoming place for visiting arms - especially when Texas is swinging like this.