On Friday night, the Texas baseball team had no answers for Tennessee starting pitcher Tegan Kuhns in a series-opening loss in Knoxville, Tenn.
Kuhns struck out a career-high 15 batters, and Texas trailed throughout much of a 5-1 loss to the Volunteers. With five games left in the regular season, Texas (36-11, 15-9) slipped further behind first-place Georgia (39-11, 19-6) in the SEC standings with Friday’s loss.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) celebrates scoring in the eighth inning as the Texas Longhorns take on the UTSA Roadrunners at Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Texas won the game 11-8.
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Tennessee (33-17, 12-13) scored three times over the first two innings against Texas starting pitcher Dylan Volantis – who had allowed a total of three runs over the 18 innings he had worked since being promoted into UT’s Friday slot on April 17 – and the Volunteers never looked back. Kuhns struck out 15 of the 26 batters he faced, and his final strikeout stranded two runners on base in the seventh inning.
After Kuhns departed following a 113-pitch masterpiece, Texas struck out an additional four times against Dripping Springs native Brandon Arvidson.
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In total, Texas was limited to seven hits on Friday. The Longhorns’ lone run was scored in the eighth inning when Aiden Robbins hit his 19th homer of the season.
Texas, which had starting second baseman Ethan Mendoza depart Friday’s game with a first-inning injury, will attempt to even this series on Saturday evening. The Longhorns are set to start Ruger Riojas (5-2, 3.71 ERA) against Tennessee’s Evan Blanco (5-3, 4.36 ERA).
Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) celebrates scoring in the eighth inning as the Texas Longhorns take on the UTSA Roadrunners at Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Texas won the game 11-8.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) walks off the mound in the rain during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) slides home for a score during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Jayden Duplantier (0) bats in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Jayden Duplantier (0) slides back to first base as the Texas Longhorns and Texas State Bobcats face off in San Marcos Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) pitches in the first inning as the Texas Longhorns play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the second of a three game series at Disch-Falk Field in Austin, May 2, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws in the second inning of the second game in a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 18, 2026.
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The Texas Longhornscelebrate a home run by infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) during the game against Ole Miss at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, March 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Samuel Cozart (35) throws in the seventh inning as the Texas Longhorns play their first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws in the first inning of the second game in a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 18, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns baseball alumni line up on the field ahead of the annual Texas Longhorns Alumni Baseball Game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) misses tagging Alabama Crimson Tide infielder Justin LeBron (1) as he scores off a wild pitch in the sixth inning as the Texas Longhorns play their first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) celebrates a double to second base in the fifth inning as the Texas Longhorns play their first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Jason Flores (4) throws a pitch during the annual Texas Longhorns Alumni Baseball Game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns play the UTRGV Vaqueros at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 24, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Temo Becerra (1) misses a ground ball during the annual Texas Longhorns Alumni Baseball Game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns line-up is listed on a fans score book in the third inning of the second game in a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, April 18, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Thomas Burns (45) throws in the eighth inning as the Texas Longhorns play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first of a three game series, May 1, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) slides home as UTRGV Vaqueros pitcher Ruben Gonzalez (33) rushes to tag him out in the sixth inning as the Longhorns play the UTRGV Vaqueros at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Feb. 24, 2026. Texas won 14-0 by run-rule after the seventh inning.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) catches a ball during the annual Texas Longhorns Alumni Baseball Game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) is struck by a pitch in the third inning as the Texas Longhorns play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the second of a three game series at Disch-Falk Field in Austin, May 2, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
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 infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) catches a pass at second in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first of a three game series, May 1, 2026.
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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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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) celebrates a home run by infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) during the game against Ole Miss at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, March 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) throws the ball to first during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle walks to the dugout during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) gets ready to bat in the eighth inning as the Texas Longhorns take on the UTSA Roadrunners at Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Texas won the game 11-8.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) celebrates after stealing second during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Friday, April 10, 2026 in College Station, Texas.
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Texas Longhorn infielder Temo Becerra (1) throws the ball to first during the game against Ole Miss at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, March 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) catches a hit in the outfield during the first inning as the Texas Longhorns and Texas State Bobcats face off in San Marcos Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Temo Becerra (1) reacts to tagging out Texas State Bobcats outfielder Jackson Cotton (44) during the first inning as the Texas Longhorns and Texas State Bobcats face off in San Marcos Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) dives for the ball in the sixth inning as the Texas Longhorns play their first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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The Alabama bull pen watch the sixth inning of the second game in a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, April 18, 2026.
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Texas is down to its last three outs in Knoxville. Trailing by four runs, UT is set to send Adrian Rodriguez, Temo Becerra and Ashton Larson – the No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 batters in its lineup – to the plate. Texas has been limited to six hits by Tennessee pitchers Tegan Kuhns and Brandon Arvidson, the latter of which will remain on the mound in the ninth inning.
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Texas cut slightly into the Tennessee lead in the eighth inning as Aiden Robbins hit a solo shot. That was his 19th homer of the season. The next time that he goes deep, Robbins will become the fifth Longhorn to hit 20 homers in a single season.
Now down to its last six out, Texas is now down by five runs. Tennessee made Texas pay for its decision to keep little-used reliever Cody Howard on the mound with runners aboard, and Blake Grimmer’s two-run single added to the Volunteers’ lead.
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Brandon Arvidson will replace Tennessee starter Tegan Kuhns in the eighth inning. A Dripping Springs native, Arvidson struck out nine Texas batters while allowing four hits over 5 ⅓ innings at the 2025 SEC Tournament.
Texas got two runners aboard with two outs in the seventh inning. But after Casey Borba crushed a long foul ball to left field, Tegan Kuhns got out of the jam with his 15th strikeout of the evening.
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That pitch that got Borba swinging was likely Kuhns’ last. He has thrown 113 pitches tonight.
Texas went to its bullpen in the sixth inning as Cody Howard replaced Dylan Volantis and retired the side on a fly ball and two strikeouts. This is the fourth outing of Howard’s senior year and second appearance in SEC play.
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Over his five-inning start, Volantis allowed six hits and three runs. He struck out just two Volunteers and issued two walks.
After a rough start, Texas pitcher Dylan Volantis has shut out Tennessee in each of the past three innings. Volantis, however, is at 98 pitches on the evening.
The Texas offense continues to have trouble with Tennessee starting pitcher Tegan Kuhns. In addition to mustering just two hits so far against the sophomore right-hander, Texas has struck out 11 times. Kuhns, entered this game averaging 1.2 strikeout per inning, struck out the side in the fifth frame.
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During the fourth inning, Texas reconfigured its infield. Josh Livingston pinch-hit for Callum Early, who had earlier entered the game as a defensive replacement for injured second baseman Ethan Mendoza, in the top of the fourth frame. In the bottom half of the fourth inning, Livingston went to first base, which shifted Casey Borba to third base and Temo Becerra to second base.
Texas got its first hit of the evening in the third inning, but Aiden Robbins’ two-out double was wasted by Carson Tinney’s checked-swing strikeout against Tegan Kuhns. Tennessee’s starting pitcher has struck out six Longhorns so far.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) throws in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first of a three game series, May 1, 2026.
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Texas is off to a rough start in Knoxville. In addition to losing its starting second baseman to an injury, Texas has fallen into a three-run hole as Tennessee has already tagged Dylan Volantis for five hits tonight. In the second inning, Tennessee tallied its second run on Manny Marin’s RBI double. Marin later scored on a wild pitch.
This marks just the third time in 12 starts this season that Volantis has given up three earned runs. He was responsible for three earned runs over 4 ⅔ innings against USC Upstate on March 8 and four earned runs over 5 ⅔ innings against Oklahoma on March 28. Volantis entered today with a 1.87 ERA.
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The Volunteers struck first on designated hitter Trent Grindlinger’s two-out double in the first inning. This is the first time that Texas has trailed with Dylan Volantis on the mound since the sophomore left-hander took over as the Longhorns’ Friday starter against Alabama on April 17.
Tennessee’s Blake Grimmer reached base in the bottom of the first inning with a one-out single, but that was of little concern for the Longhorns. Texas second baseman Ethan Mendoza injured himself while diving to stop Wright’s ground ball. After visiting with the team trainer and tossing around a baseball a few times, Mendoza was replaced by Callum Early.
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After striking out in the top of the first inning, Mendoza is hitting .276 with eight home runs, 40 RBIs and 44 runs scored. An all-SEC defensive pick last season, Mendoza boasts a .982 fielding percentage.
Mendoza is the only Longhorn who has started at second base this season. Early has recorded four at-bats, and the groundout that he fielded to end the first inning was the Liberty transfer’s first defensive opportunity at Texas.
When: 5:30 p.m. CT Friday
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Where: Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.
TV/radio: SEC Network+, 1300 AM
Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) catches a pass at second to catch Mississippi State Bulldogs outfielder Aidan Teel (5) stealing in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first of a three game series, May 1, 2026.
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RF Aiden Robbins
C Carson Tinney
LF Anthony Pack Jr.
2B Ethan Mendoza
SS Adrian Rodriguez
3B Temo Becerra
DH Ashton Larson
1B Casey Borba
CF Maddox Monsour
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CF Garrett Wright
2B Blake Grimmer
3B Henry Ford
DH Trent Grindlinger
RF Reese Chapman
1B Levi Clark
SS Manny Marin
LF Blaine Brown
C Stone Lawless
LHP Dylan Volantis (7-0, 1.87 ERA)
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RHP Tegan Kuhns (3-4, 3.46 ERA)