Texas baseball struck out 19 and beat Alabama 3-1 in Austin, matching a program record for punchouts in a nine-inning game and taking the series.
Texas baseball delivered one of its nastiest pitching performances of the season Saturday, overpowering Alabama in a 3-1 win at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The No. 4 Longhorns piled up 19 strikeouts, tying a school record for a nine-inning game and improving to 30-7 overall, 11-5 in SEC play.
In a matchup that felt tight from the first inning on, Texas leaned on elite mound work, late execution, and just enough offense to put away the No. 11 Crimson Tide.
The story started with Ruger Riojas, who gave Texas exactly the kind of outing it needed in a low-scoring battle.
The right-hander punched out 11 batters in five innings, allowed only three hits and one run, and shut the door after a shaky opening sequence. Once he settled in, Alabama had no answers.
Riojas attacked the zone, missed barrels, and stacked swings and misses in bunches, including a four-strikeout inning that energized the crowd.
Texas kept the pressure on with its bullpen. Haiden Leffew added three strikeouts over two scoreless innings, while Ethan Walker and Thomas Burns each chipped in another.
Then Sam Cozart slammed it shut in style, striking out the side in the ninth to finish off the record-tying day. After Alabama’s leadoff hit in the third, Texas didn’t allow another hit the rest of the game.
Offensively, the Longhorns had to stay patient because Alabama starter Zane Adams was sharp through six innings. But once the Tide went to the bullpen, Texas broke through.
Jayden Duplantier tied the game with an RBI single in the seventh, Aiden Robbins kept the rally moving with his third hit, and Carson Tinney lined the go-ahead knock up the middle. Adrian Rodriguez later added a sacrifice fly for breathing room.
Now, Texas heads into Sunday chasing another SEC sweep and carrying plenty of momentum.
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