Off to a perfect start this season, Texas baseball remained undefeated with an 8-1 victory over Michigan State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday.
In its seven-run victory, the Longhorns were paced by Ruger Riojas’ strong start on the mound and home runs from Ethan Mendoza, Casey Borba and Anthony Pack Jr. Ranked No. 3 in the D1Baseball poll, Texas is now 5-0 this season.
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In his second start of the season, Riojas allowed three hits and one run. The senior right-hander registered 10 strikeouts to match the career-high total that he set last year at Missouri.Â
Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) reacts to a third out during the game against Michigan State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
After the game, members of the Texas baseball team had plenty of ways to describe Riojas’ colorful personality, which the pitcher said feeds into “just the relentless competitor I am, and the will I have to win. That is in any shape or form possible.”
“He’s still his kind of hippie self,” head coach Jim Schlossnagle said.
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“He’s the freakiest of all freaks,” Borba observed.
“He’s a demon, man. He’s crazy,” Mendoza offered.
The UC Davis and Michigan State offenses may just describe Riojas as dominant. Through two appearances as UT’s Friday starter, Riojas has sported a 1.64 ERA, 19 strikeouts and just two walks.
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More: Now healthy and lighter, Adrian Rodriguez stabilizes himself as Texas’ new shortstop
Texas trailed at least momentarily in three of its first four games this season, but that was not the case on Friday. The Longhorns scored twice in the second inning and never looked back against Michigan State (2-2). The Longhorns added two more runs in the fourth inning on Mendoza’s third home run of the season, and Borba hit a two-run blast in the fifth frame. In the sixth session, Pack’s solo shot accounted for the first homer of the freshman outfielder’s collegiate career.
Through five games this season, Texas has hit eight homers.
Texas and Michigan State had never faced each other before Friday. This weekend’s SEC-Big Ten series features two teams that posted impressive results during the first week of the college baseball season. Texas outscored UC Davis by a 27-7 margin over the course of its three-game sweep. Meanwhile, Michigan State earned a series win over then-No. 8 Louisville.
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Texas and Michigan State will return to UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday at 2 p.m. Left-handed Longhorn Luke Harrison (1-0, 3.38 ERA) is set to be opposed by Michigan State’s Carter Monke (0-0, 4.50 ERA).
Texas Longhorns outfielder Ashton Larson (44) runs home for a score during the game against Michigan State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas vs. Michigan State: Live updates, highlights
End 8: Texas 8, Michigan State 1
After Texas was held scoreless for the second consecutive inning, Texas will make its third call to the bullpen. After Michael Winter allowed two hits in the seventh inning, Brett Crossland retired the Spartans in order during the eighth session. Like Crossland, freshman Brody Walls will make his collegiate debut in the ninth inning.Â
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End 6: Texas 8, Michigan State 1
Last week, Anthony Pack Jr. told reporters that “home runs are not really my game.” But that doesn’t mean that the freshman outfielder doesn’t have power. With one out in the sixth inning, Pack hit the first homer of his collegiate career into the Texas bullpen.
In addition to Pack’s solo homer, Texas also scored on Aiden Robbins’ RBI groundout. That will give the Texas bullpen more room to work with as Michael Winter enters the game. Ruger Riojas’ night is done after striking out 10 batters over his six-inning start.
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Mid 6: Texas 6, Michigan State 1
Texas starter Ruger Riojas has gotten through six innings while allowing just three hits and one run. After striking out the side in the sixth session, Riojas has 10 strikeouts on the evening. That matches the season-high total that Riojas set last year at Missouri.
Riojas, who struck out nine UC Davis batters last week, has thrown 83 pitches so far tonight.
End 5: Texas 6, Michigan State 1
The Longhorns drew some applause on both offense and defense in the fifth frame. To end the inning’s top half, Adrian Rodriguez made a highlight-reel play at the shortstop position. In the inning’s bottom half, Casey Borba then cushioned the Texas lead with a two-run homer to left field.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) celebrates a home run during the game against Michigan State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
End 4: Texas 4, Michigan State 1
With two outs, Ethan Mendoza smoked a fastball from Michigan State’s Aidan Donovan over the fence in right field. That two-run shot was the third homer of Mendoza’s young season.
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Mendoza has three RBIs tonight.
End 3: Texas 2, Michigan State 1
For the third time tonight, Texas has stranded a runner in scoring position. A strikeout of Casey Borba by Michigan State’s Aidan Donovan left a Longhorn on second base.
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Mid 3: Texas 2, Michigan State 1
Using Ryan McKay’s RBI single, Michigan State cut into the Longhorns’ lead with two outs in the third inning. Through three innings, UT starter Ruger Riojas has struck out four batters while allowing two hits. But the fourth-year right-hander has also hit a Spartan with a pitch, and that wayward offering led to Michigan State’s first run.
Texas Longhorns fana hold up the sign of the horns during the game against Michigan State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
End 2: Texas 2, Michigan State 0
Texas scored on an error and a sacrifice fly in the second inning for the first two runs of the night. Twelve of the 43 runs scored by Texas this season have been unearned.
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More: Will departures set safety Jonah Williams up for more playing time?
To lead off the second inning, sophomore Jonah Williams drew a walk in his debut for the 2026 season. A two-sport athlete who is also a safety on a Texas football team that ended its season on Dec. 31, Williams missed UT’s first four games this spring as he shook off his baseball-related rust. Williams is the Longhorns’ designated hitter tonight.
End 1: Michigan State 0, Texas 0
Thanks to a double and balk, Texas got Adrian Rodriguez to third base with one out in the first inning’s bottom half. But Rodriguez was stranded there by an Aiden Robbins strikeout and Carson Tinney’s flyout to left field.
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Mid 1: Michigan State 0, Texas 0
Michigan State produced a two-out single in the first inning’s top half, but Ruger Riojas closed out the frame with his first strikeout of the evening. Riojas also got some help from his defense in the first inning as Ashton Larson made a sliding catch in left field for the second out.Â
Texas baseball vs Michigan State time, TV info
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Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
TV/radio: SEC Network+, 1300 AM
Texas Longhorns lineup
 SS Adrian Rodriguez
 CF Aiden Robbins
 C Carson Tinney
 DH Jonah Williams
 1B Casey Borba
 LF Ashton Larson
 3B Temo Becerra
 RF Anthony Pack Jr.
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Michigan State lineup
 LF Nick Williams
 2B Ryan McKay
 1B Randy Seymour
 RF Parker Picot
 C Noah Bright
 SS Jasen Oliver
 3B Dayton Murphy
 DH Cole Van Ameyde
 CF Khamaree Thomas
Texas Longhorns starting pitcher
RHP Ruger Riojas (1-0, 1.80 ERA)
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Michigan State starting pitcher
RHP Aidan Donovan (0-0, 1.80 ERA)