AUSTIN, Texas — Behind a career outing from sophomore Dylan Volantis, No. 3 Texas blanked Michigan State, 4-0, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Longhorns (7-0) limited the Spartans (2-3) to five hits, allowing just one baserunner after the third inning.
Volantis (2-0) recorded a career-best nine strikeouts over seven scoreless frames. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound left-hander yielded four infield hits.
Volantis retired 15 of the last 16 batters he faced, with the lone blemish coming on a one-out walk in his final inning. He tossed 63 of his career-high 91 pitches for strikes.
Freshman Brett Crossland retired the side in order on five pitches in the eighth, while junior Thomas Burns struck out pair in a 1-2-3 ninth.
Texas scored all four of its runs across the first four frames, highlighted by a multi-RBI effort from Jonah Williams. Williams reached safely three times, drawing a bases-loaded free pass in the first before registering a run-scoring single in the third and a two-out double in the seventh.
Michigan State starter Logan Pikur (0-2) picked up the defeat. Pikur surrendered four runs in 3 1/3 innings.
With the shutout, the Longhorns surrendered only one earned run over the weekend series. In 27 innings, Texas held the visitors to 15 hits. As a staff, the Longhorns totaled 32 strikeouts and four walks.
Up next, Texas caps off its season-opening eight-game homestand on Tuesday, as the Longhorns host in-state foe UTRGV. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.