Texas baseball catcher Carson Tinney made like a mime behind the microphone, dropping his left arm down to waist-level to simulate the delivery of Longhorns southpaw Ethan Walker. Then, Tinney brought it up as high as his frame would permit, mimicking the over-the-top release point of 6-foot-6 superstar Dylan Volantis.
It was not a performance that indicated Tinney might have a future as a play-actor. But it conveyed the point: The Longhorns have outstanding arms that can attack you from any angle.
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“It’s crazy fun to catch,” Tinney said Sunday.
Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) puts his “horns up” around the bases after a home run in the eighth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) celebrates his home run in the eighth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Jayden Duplantier (0) runs home to score, putting the Longhorns in the lead in the seventh inning of the their 3-1 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle sings “The Eyes of Texas” after the Longhorns 3-1 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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The Texas Longhorns put their “Horns Up” after their 3-1 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Jayden Duplantier (0) runs home to score, putting the Longhorns in the lead in the seventh inning of the their 3-1 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Michigan State Spartans pitcher Carter Monke (7) pitches in the seventh inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) makes it to third base in the seventh inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Jonah Williams (9) gets ready to bat in the eighth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Jayden Duplantier (0) runs home to score, putting the Longhorns in the lead in the seventh inning of the their 3-1 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Jayden Duplantier (0) slides back to second base in the seventh inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Temo Becerra (1) throws to first base in the eighth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) avoids a collision with Michigan State Spartans infielder CJ Deckinga (13) as he runs from second to third base in the seventh inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Max Grubbs (38) pitches in the eighth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielders Temo Becerra (1) and Ethan Mendoza (5) jog in to the dugout after keeping Michigan State scoreless to maintain a one point lead in the eighth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) catches a ball in the outfield in the eighth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Thomas Burns (45) pitches in the ninth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Thomas Burns (45) pitches in the ninth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Thomas Burns (45) celebrates after pitching in the ninth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Teammates embrace Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) after the Longhorns 3-1 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026. Robbins hit a home run in the eighth inning to extend the Longhorns’ lead to two points.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Thomas Burns (45) and catcher Carson Tinney (8) embrace after the Longhorns 3-1 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) smiles after the Longhorns 3-1 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026. Robbins hit a home run in the eighth inning to extend the Longhorns’ lead to two points.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle welcomes outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) back to the dugout after his home run in the eighth inning as the Longhorns take on the Michigan State Spartans in the second game of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 21, 2026.
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It is not, evidently, crazy fun to play against. The Longhorns’ pitching staff has allowed just 10 earned runs in seven games — all wins. Only Clemson, with nine, has surrendered fewer earned runs so far this year.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) steps up to pitch during the NCAA D1 Baseball Tournament Regional against UTSA at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 1, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez / American Statesman
Volantis, whose seven shutout innings were achieved with remarkable ease, is the latest Texas arm to render the opposition helpless.
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The lefthander from California struck out nine Michigan State Spartans in a 4-0 Longhorns victory Sunday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, befuddling his overmatched victims with an electric breaking ball. He used a sharp cutter and his trademark sinker to help him generate eight ground-ball outs. And he effectively mixed in the newest edition to his arsenal, a changeup, to induce a handful of swings and misses, too.
“I just kind of went out there, took every pitch like it was my last, had a lot of fun,” Volantis said. “That’s the biggest thing for me, is going out, treating it like a game that kids play. Just have fun with it. Don’t let age determine how much fun you have.”
Volantis pitched to a sub-2 ERA last season as a reliever. Through two starts, it’s clear that his dominance is not limited to the short-burst situations where he was deployed last season. He has not yet surrendered an earned run in 14 innings of work. He has 17 strikeouts and two walks.
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This is the man the Longhorns can turn to on Sundays, when most teams have spent all of their quality arms. Michigan State starting pitcher Logan Pikur, by comparison, finished his outing with an ERA above 11.
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Tabbing Volantis as Texas’ third-best starter might not pass the sniff test for some. Does Texas really consider Volantis to be below Luke Harrison and Ruger Riojas in the pecking order, or are the Longhorns just trying to protect a young player who is transitioning into a new role after a difficult offseason spent recovering from a long-term illness?
That it’s even a question worth asking offers insight into the strength of the Texas pitching staff. Riojas has allowed two earned runs in 11 innings of work, striking out 19 batters. For his part, Harrison has surrendered two earned runs in 9⅔ innings.
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And that doesn’t take into account the Texas bullpen, which houses a bevy of flamethrowing young arms as well as more proven commodities like Max Grubbs and Thomas Burns, who struck out five of the seven Michigan State batters he faced this weekend.
Collectively, the Texas bullpen has pitched 22⅔ frames and given up three earned runs.
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This team’s goal is to compete well in the loaded SEC and push for a national championship thereafter. Nobody from Texas’ opening trio of opponents — UC Davis, Michigan State and Lamar — seems particularly likely to be a postseason factor.
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But more substantial tests are coming. Coastal Carolina, one of the last two teams standing last season, awaits Texas at the Bruce Bolt College Classic in Houston next weekend. Two weeks later, Ole Miss comes to town to start SEC play.
“We knew the pitching staff was going to be the strong suit of our club,” Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle said Sunday. “Coming into the season, veterans and the new guys throw a lot of strikes, throw multiple pitches for strikes. We’re certainly going to face better teams in our league. Michigan State’s got a good team. I thought Lamar had a good club. I think UC Davis will be competitive in their conference. But we all know what’s ahead of us.”