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AUSTIN, Texas – UC Davis baseball opens the 2026 season on the road with a three-game series at Texas, marking the first-ever meeting between the Aggies and the Longhorns.

HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW

UC Davis at Texas | UFCU Disch-Falk Field | Austin, Texas

Fri., Feb. 13 | 4:30 PM | at Texas | SEC Network+ | Live Stats

Sat., Feb. 14 | 12:00 PM | at Texas | SEC Network+ | Live Stats

Sun., Feb. 15 | 10:00 AM | at Texas | SEC Network+ | Live Stats

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, Feb. 13 – 4:30 PM
RHP Noel Valdez (7-3, 3.72) vs. RHP Ruger Riojas (9-3, 5.61)
Saturday, Feb. 14 – 12:00 PM
LHP Jack Pezzolo (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Luke Harrison (5-1, 3.06)
Sunday, Feb. 15 – 10:00 AM
RHP Carter Speights (0-1, 7.71) vs. LHP Dylan Volantis (4-1, 1.94)

THE RUNDOWN


UC Davis opens the 2026 season in Austin following a 27-28 campaign in 2025, a year that saw the program maintain its home-field advantage with a 15-13 record at Phil Swimley Field.
The Aggies established an elite national standard defensively last season, finishing 17th in the country and 2nd in the Big West with a .979 fielding percentage.
Strong efforts on the mound was a hallmark of the 2025 staff, which posted the third-best team ERA in the Big West (4.56), ranking 34th nationally.
The staff’s discipline was evident in their 3.50 Walks Allowed Per Nine Innings (26th in the NCAA) and a 2.30 Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio (48th nationally).
Friday’s season opener in Austin marks the first of eight straight road games to begin the 2026 schedule and the first-ever meeting between UC Davis and the Texas Longhorns.
UC Davis will send last season’s win leader Noel Valdez to the mound on Friday, followed by freshman Jack Pezzolo of Cardinal Newman making his collegiate debut on Saturday. Sunday’s starter will be returner Carter Speights, who worked primarily out of the bullpen during the 2025 season.
This season marks the program’s final year in the Big West before a scheduled transition to the Mountain West Conference in 2026-27.

SENTIMENTAL RETURN TO AUSTIN
The 2026 season opener represents the first-ever meeting between UC Davis and the Texas Longhorns, but for head coach Tommy Nicholson, the trip to Austin is a profound homecoming. Nicholson was a two-time team MVP for Texas and a key architect of their run to the 2000 College World Series. He later launched his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as an assistant and recruiting coordinator. Now entering his fifth season leading the Aggies, Nicholson has overseen a steady climb from a six-win team in 2022 to a program that has averaged nearly 30 wins over the last two seasons.

ELITE ON THE HILL

The Aggies return a significant portion of a pitching staff that held opponents to a .275 batting average and recorded four shutouts last season. Noel Valdez anchors the rotation after winning a team-best 7 games in 2025 with a 3.72 ERA. Known for his “bulldog” mentality, Valdez led the Big West in victories for much of the season and showcased elite command with a 3.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In the bullpen, the Aggies feature Mason Lerma, a Second Team All-Big West selection who led the conference with 28 appearances and posted a microscopic 1.01 ERA.

DEFENSIVE CHOPS

Defense remains the non-negotiable standard for Aggie baseball, a unit that ranked 2nd in the Big West and 17th nationally in fielding percentage last season. This defense helped the pitching staff tremendously, as the team turned 43 double plays and posted a national ranking of 67th in double plays per game. Returners like Tyler Howard (1.000 fielding pct), Joey Wright, and Ryan Lee (24 double plays turned) are the core of this identity as the team introduces new talent into the infield for the 2026 campaign.

OFFENSIVE STAPLES

The Aggie lineup will lean heavily on the veteran presence of Braydon Wooldridge and Tyler Howard to fill the void left by departures like Nick Leehey, who led the 2025 team in average, home runs, and RBIs. Wooldridge returns as one of the most disciplined hitters in the NCAA, ranking 25th nationally last season as one of the toughest players to strike out, fanning just once every 12.5 at-bats. He led the team in hits (54) and doubles (11) in 2025. Meanwhile, Tyler Howard provides the speed and momentum at the top of the order, carrying a 12-game hitting streak into the new season after leading the club in runs (28), triples (3), and stolen bases (8) last year.

THE BULLDOG: NOEL VALDEZ

Senior right-hander Noel Valdez returns as the anchor of the staff after leading the Aggies and ranking 4th in the Big West with 7 victories last season. Valdez’s “bulldog” mentality and efficient four-pitch mix allowed him to post a 3.72 ERA and a 3.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio, ensuring the Aggies were competitive in every one of his 14 starts.

BRAYDON DOES IT ALL

Senior Braydon Wooldridge enters 2026 as one of the most disciplined and dangerous players in the nation. An Honorable Mention All-Big West utility player, Wooldridge ranked 25th in the NCAA last season in the “Toughest to Strike Out” category, fanning just once every 12.5 at-bats. He led the Aggies in several offensive categories, including hits (54) and doubles (11), and secured a spot in the record books by tying the program’s single-game record with 8 RBIs in a performance against Utah Valley. Wooldridge is equally effective on the mound, where he held opposing batters to a team-best .133 average and posted a 0.87 WHIP last spring.

HOWARD’S POWER/SPEED BLEND

Outfielder Tyler Howard is the spark plug for the Aggie offense. He finished the 2025 season with a 12-game hitting streak and looks to carry that into the 2026 season at the top of the lineup. Last year, Howard led the team in runs scored (28), triples (3), walks (27), and stolen bases (8), finishing with a team-high .403 on-base percentage. Coach Nicholson describes Howard as having the best power-speed blend on the roster, and his defensive contributions are equally elite. Howard finished the 2025 season with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, handling 109 chances without a single error. Howard should slide to center field for most innings this year, after spending the prior two seasons in right field.

THE LERMANATOR

Following one of the most dominant relief seasons in program history, Mason Lerma is projected again be a focal point. Lerma, a Second Team All-Big West selection, led the Aggies with 28 appearances and posted a microscopic 1.01 ERA last year. He was nearly unhittable in conference play, allowing just one earned run in 21 innings while holding Big West opponents to a .197 average. Lerma has a fastball sits in the high 80s, but it comes down to Lerma’s high baseball IQ, pitchability, and refined command that earned him a national ranking as the No. 49 reliever in the country last spring. Ahead of the 2026 season, Lerma was also recognized on the NCBWA Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List.

VETERAN VERSATILITY: RYAN LEE

Ryan Lee returns as the team’s ultimate “lead-by-example” veteran, having played numerous positions throughout his career in Davis. Lee hit .277 with 41 hits and 19 RBIs last season while providing a steady glove at multiple infield spots. He is expected to anchor the third base position this spring, bringing a veteran presence to an infield that saw significant turnover. Lee’s clutch hitting was on full display in 2025, as he tied for the team lead with five multi-RBI games, including a five-RBI performance against Utah Valley. Lee notably is also a known photographer within the UC Davis Athletics Department, often seen on the sidelines at all Aggie sports capturing content.

BARNES TIMES TWO

Sophomore right-hander Matthew Barnes II is poised for a breakout season after showing flashes of elite stuff as a freshman. Barnes has hit 96 mph on the radar gun this fall and is coming off a debut season where he held opposing batters to a .234 average. He recorded 42 strikeouts in just 37 innings of work last year, showcasing a high-ceiling arm that Coach Nicholson expects to be a key component. He is joined by another Barnes on the Aggie staff (no relation), Rowen Barnes, who remains a vital piece of the late-inning action after recording two saves and a 3.18 ERA last season, seemingly cleaning up each and every high-leverage situation the Aggies were in during the 2025 season.

WATCH OUT FOR THEM AGGIES

The Aggies proved they could compete with the elite last season by shocking then-No. 13 UC Irvine with a massive six-run rally in the eighth inning. This victory secured a third consecutive season where Nicholson’s program has defeated a nationally ranked opponent. The prior wins included an 8-run comeback in the ninth against UC Irvine again who was ranked No. 19 and in 2023, the Aggies took down No. 19 ranked UCLA, 6-3.

FILLING THE VOID

The 2026 Aggies must navigate the departure of several program staples who defined the team’s identity over the last several years. The loss of ace Bryan Green is significant, as he led the Big West and ranked 15th nationally with a 2.55 ERA while pacing the team in starts and strikeouts. Offensively, the team loses triple-crown leader Nick Leehey, who paced the squad in average (.290), home runs (5), and RBIs (27). Also departing are middle-infield staple Alex Gouveia, who led the team with 95 assists, and center fielder Mark Wolbert, who appeared in 51 games and was notably a freshman All-American during the 2022 season. Behind the plate, the team replaces workhorse Riley Acosta, who started 35 games and recorded 258 putouts.

NEW AGGIES

Despite a high level of offseason attrition, Coach Nicholson believes the 2026 squad boasts more depth than his recent teams. The roster features 10 newcomers, highlighted by high-profile recruits like freshman infielder Elijah McNeal, a 20th-round pick by the San Francisco Giants who is expected to start at shortstop immediately. He is joined by fellow Area Code Games participant Kyle Pettersen, an athletic catcher/outfielder with gap-to-gap power, and wildly athletic freshman Kai Mault.

FROM DAVIS TO THE WORLD SERIES

The success of the UC Davis baseball program was on full display this past year as former Aggie star David Popkins served as the hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series. Popkins, a two-time All-Big West selection who once recorded a program-record six hits in a single game, led a dramatic turnaround for the Toronto offense in his first season. Under his guidance, the Blue Jays ranked among the top five in MLB in runs scored and OPS, a rapid rise that serves as a point of pride for the current Aggie roster.

CORI ROCKET DOG

The Aggies have their very own “bat dog” in Cori, an adorable Labrador retriever who has become the most popular Aggie on the team. Now in her fourth year with Baseball, Cori is responsible for retrieving bats during games and also serves as the tee-retriever for the UC Davis football team. She was adopted by veterinarian and professor Lisa Ann Tell, who proposed the idea to Coach Nicholson to help raise team morale. Pitcher Noel Valdez noted that having a support animal in the dugout makes the players feel like kids again, and UC Davis is believed to be the only college team in the country with a dedicated bat-retrieving dog.

HOME SWEET HOME

UC Davis enters its second season of night baseball at Phil Swimley Field at Dobbins Stadium following a $2.1 million lighting upgrade completed in 2024. The LED system debuted in 2025, ending 38 years of daytime-only play and bringing the facility up to NCAA competition standards while limiting light spill. The addition has improved scheduling flexibility for student-athletes and driven increased attendance, including a record Friday crowd for the Gonzaga opener. Head coach Tommy Nicholson credited Athletic Director Rocko DeLuca for pushing the project forward, while players point to the lights as a symbol of the program’s momentum. Along with a new videoboard and field upgrades, the enhancements position UC Davis for its move to the Mountain West.

 

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS
UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.