Dylan Volantis pitched into the seventh inning Saturday, but Texas baseball‘s rematch with Tarleton State was all but over in three.
Their Austin Regional matchup went nothing like the Longhorns’ midweek loss to Tarleton in mid-March. That 6-1 setback raised a couple of eyebrows, but there’s a big difference between a Tuesday night stumble and an NCAA regional being played out in front of 8,276 fans at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
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Texas showed why it’s better, deeper and hungrier after the 16-2 win brought the Horns (42-13) to within three wins of returning to the College World Series for the first time since 2022.
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The Texans of Tarleton State used seven arms and walked 17 Longhorns, including seven straight in the decisive fourth inning. They were no match for the Austin Regional hosts who enter Sunday’s title game with a pitching staff that’s all kinds of fresh one year after a lack of depth played a huge role in the Longhorns taking a regional L against a brash UTSA squad.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) celebrates a third out with catcher Carson Tinney (8) during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Tarleton State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
A complete performance by Texas in rout
This win had everything. Texas’ offense took center stage against a Tarleton State pitching staff that was, at times, downright offensive. Aiden Robbins, Carson Tinney and Anthony Pack, Jr. settled matters early with consecutive home runs in a five-run second inning that gave the Horns 10 homers over an 11-inning span going back to Friday’s 19-1 spanking of Holy Cross.
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The defense sparkled behind Volantis. Casey Borba is slumping at the plate but was a vacuum cleaner on the hot corner. Dariyan Pendergrass made a spectacular diving catch in center field to rob Tarleton’s Joe Tatom of extra bases. It was as close to a complete, dominating performance as we’ve seen in some time. Tinney even took a fastball off the back of his batting helmet in the first inning, jumped up and screamed to the dugout as he took first base, never the worse for wear.
“I was happy to get the boys fired up,” Tinney said.
He cleared the green monster in center field for the fifth time this season two innings later.
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The NCAA’s overall No. 6 seed has the look of a group peaking at the right time. When the Horns are clicking on all cylinders, they’re as good as anybody.
Plus, there’s plenty of arms ready to go.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) throws a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Tarleton State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Pitchers are well rested and motivated
The UC Santa Barbara-Tarleton State winner will face a Texas pitching staff in the championship game that hasn’t even used mainline relievers Thomas Burns, Brett Crossland, Brody Walls, Haiden Leffew or Sam Cozart, the burly closer who hasn’t pitched since a pair of one-inning outings against Missouri two weeks ago. Coach Jim Schlossnagle and pitching coach Max Weiner couldn’t have scripted it any better. Volantis threw 6⅔ innings of three-hit ball with 94 pitches and would have left earlier if not for his boss.
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“I wanted Dylan to get us to through the sixth and then when he went out for the seventh, frankly I just wanted him to have a chance to tip his cap,” Schlossnagle said. “I wanted him to feel the appreciation of our fans and I’m glad we were able to do that.”
Volantis never needs a lot of run support, but he had it for days in his first regional start after serving as Texas’ closer his freshman year. He was back in a starting role after pitching two innings at the conference tourney in relief which was, if anything, a chance to get him some work before the regional.
Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) celebrates a home run by catcher Carson Tinney (8) during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Tarleton State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
“I feel like those two innings were definitely helpful,” Volantis said. “I definitely would have done the same without those two innings just being confident in myself, but it was definitely fun to go out of that pen again. It was a really cool experience.”
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This time last year, the Horns never got over the loss of starter Jared Spencer and the late-season illness of fellow starter Ruger Riojas. The shocking regional loss to UTSA wasn’t as shocking when viewed through a bigger lens. Now the Horns are sitting fat with plenty of pitching and an offense that has scored 35 runs, a school record for consecutive postseason games.
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“All those guys are super rested and ready go,” Schlossnagle said. “I challenged the pitchers after last week. You know, didn’t any of us like the taste of losing and going to the SEC Tournament and going one and out because it’s so fun to be there. But if we’re going to rest these guys, they better pitch well and they did. (Luke Harrison) did, Dylan did and I anticipate Ruger doing the same (Sunday).”
While Tarleton State is hoping to outlast the Gauchos, who used their staff ace Jackson Flora in Saturday’s elimination win over Holy Cross, the Horns are holding the best pieces on the board. But they still have to prove it when it matters most, despite outscoring the opposition by 32 runs over the first two games.
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“It’s always good to win and it’s always good to stay in the winner’s bracket and avoid those moments, but we haven’t won anything yet,” Schlossnagle said. “We won two games. I’m glad we don’t have to play two (Sunday), but the tournament is not over.”