Texas baseball takes on Michigan State again Saturday, looking to score a series win and a sixth consecutive victory to open the 2026 campaign.
The Longhorns (5-0) hammered the Spartans 8-1 Friday night behind home runs from Casey Borba and Ethan Mendoza as well as an outstanding outing from starting pitcher Ruger Riojas.
Texas Longhorns outfielder Jonah Williams (9) celebrates a home run by Anthony Pack Jr. (6) during the game against Michigan State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Saturday, Texas will hand the ball to lefthander Luke Harrison, who allowed two earned runs in 5⅓ innings of work against UC Davis in his first start of the season. Michigan State (2-2) will turn to righty Carter Monke as it looks to even the series up. Monke gave up two runs in four innings of work in a Spartans win over a ranked Louisville team last time out.
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Aiden Robbins continued his phenomenal day with a solo home run off the foul pole in right field. That made him 4-for-4 on the day with a homer and a triple, as well as an outstanding diving catch in center field.
The Longhorns pulled ahead in the seventh on a passed ball by Michigan State catcher Adam Broski, which scored Jayden Duplantier from third. Texas, though, got great defense from its catcher. Carson Tinney threw out a runner attempting to steal second base for the second time in as many innings.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) throws a pitch during the NCAA D1 Baseball Tournament Regional against UTSA at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/American Statesman)
Max Grubbs came on to relieve Haiden Leffew after a leadoff walk and worked a scoreless sixth inning with the help of a caught stealing. The Longhorns got a single from Aiden Robbins — his third hit of the day — in their half of the frame, but couldn’t make it count.
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Wake Forest transfer Haiden Leffew came on with two on and one out to relieve Harrison and generated a ground-ball double play to escape trouble. The only offense Texas managed in the bottom of the inning was an Anthony Pack Jr. walk that was promptly erased on a caught stealing.
The Longhorns continued to struggle against Michigan State righthander Carter Monke, who has generated nine ground-ball outs through four innings.
Despite an outrageous catch in center field by Aiden Robbins, Michigan State knotted the game 1-1 thanks to an RBI single by Ryan McKay. Robbins tripled in the bottom half of the inning, but Carson Tinney popped up to end the frame.
Harrison needed just 10 pitches to get through a clean second, thanks in part to a stellar play at third base by Temo Becerra. Becerra singled in the bottom half of the frame, but that was all the offense Texas mustered.
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After Luke Harrison worked around a two-out double in the top of the frame, Aiden Robbins drove in Ethan Mendoza with a ground-ball single to give the Longhorns the early lead.
When:Â 2 p.m. Saturday
Where:Â UFCU Disch-Falk Field
TV/Radio: SEC Network+, 1300 AM
LHP Luke Harrison (1-0, 3.38 ERA)
RHP Carter Monke (0-0, 4.50 ERA)