AUSTIN, Texas — Behind a season-high five home runs, No. 3 Texas posted a 14-2 run-rule victory over USC Upstate at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday night.
The Longhorns (13-0) mounted runs in six of the eight innings against the Spartans (7-8), punctuating the evening with Anthony Pack Jr.’s walk-off grand slam.
Pack Jr. finished with a game-best four RBI, while Temo Becera and Aiden Robbins both plated three runs apiece.
Becerra’s two-run homer marked his fourth blast in the last five contests, surpassing his three-year total at Stanford. The redshirt senior added a run-scoring single to cap off his three-hit effort.
Robbins rocketed his team-leading fifth round-tripper, delivering a towering two-run jack in the fifth. The center fielder reached safely five times and score four runs in the win.
Ethan Mendoza and Casey Borba also left the yard, smacking solo shots across the first two frames.
On the mound, Ruger Riojas (4-0) punched out a dozen batters over six innings of one-run baseball. Riojas became the first Longhorn to record 12 strikeouts since Lebarron Johnson Jr. accomplished the feat at Kansas on May 6, 2023. The right-hander retired 15 of the first 17 batters he faced, tossing 60 of his 80 pitches for strikes.
In relief of Riojas, Max Grubbs tallied three strikeouts in the seventh and Haiden Leffew punched out a pair in the eighth.
As a staff, the Longhorns registered a co-season-high 17 strikeouts and issued only one walk.
The Longhorns will look to extend their winning streak against USC Upstate on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.