After dropping its first SEC series of the season, Texas baseball resumed its conference championship chase on Friday night.
Led by Dylan Volantis’ strong start on the mound and another homer from Carson Tinney, No. 4 Texas rolled to a 10-2 win over No. 11 Alabama at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. With the eight-run win, Texas improved to 10-5 in SEC play.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) throws a pitch during the NCAA D1 Baseball Tournament Regional against UTSA at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
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The Longhorns (29-7) were coming off a two-loss weekend at Texas A&M last weekend.
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But on Friday, Texas led off its half of the first inning with an Aiden Robbins double and Tinney’s 14th homer of the season. After that, Texas never looked back. Alabama pulled within 5-2 in the sixth inning before the Longhorns scored three times in that inning’s bottom half to put the game out of reach.
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Texas finished with 16 hits, which was one hit off the season-high total that it set against Oklahoma on March 26. Freshman Anthony Pack was responsible for four of those hits, and Tinney went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and four runs scored.
That was more than enough offense to support Volantis, a sophomore left-hander who struck out a career-high 12 batters. Normally the Sunday starter in the UT rotation, Volantis was pitching on Friday this weekend after this scheduled start at Texas A&M on April 12 was cancelled by inclement weather.
Between Volantis and Sam Cozart, who earned a three-inning save, Alabama (27-12, 8-8) struck out 17 times on Friday. That was a season-high total for the Crimson Tide.
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Texas will go for the series win on Saturday when it starts Ruger Riojas (5-1, 3.40 ERA) against Alabama’s Zane Adams (4-2, 4.13 ERA). Due to the weather forecast, Saturday’s game has been moved up to noon.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) throws in the first 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 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 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 infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) throws to first in the first 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) slides home to score 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 outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) takes off to run to second in the first 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 Dylan Volantis (99) pitches 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 infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) picks up a ball in the infield 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 pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) celebrates a strikeout 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 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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Alabama huddles on the field ahead of the Texas Longhorns’ first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) throws 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 outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) takes off to run to second in the first 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 catcher Carson Tinney (8) hits a home run in the first 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 Aiden Robbins (43) warms up ahead of the Longhorns’ first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) watches his home run hit for a second before taking off to runt the bases in the first 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 infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) takes off to run to first in the first 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 infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) gets ready to bat in the first 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 infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) score a run in the first 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 infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) celebrates after scoring a run in the first 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 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 infielder Josh Livingston (15) gets ready to bat in the first 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 infielder Josh Livingston (15) bats in the first 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 head coach Jim Schlossnagle sings “The Eyes of Texas” ahead of the Longhorns’ first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Dariyan Pendergrass (42) makes it home as catcher Carson Tinney (8) celebrates 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 Dariyan Pendergrass (42) bats 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 pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) throws in the second 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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Alabama Crimson Tide pitcher Tyler Fay (8) gets ready to throw in the second 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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Alabama Crimson Tide catcher Luke Vaughn (13) gets Texas Longhorns infielder Casey Borba (31) out at first base in the second 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 Dariyan Pendergrass (42) talks to first base coach Gehrig Mosiello in the second 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 Dariyan Pendergrass (42) warms up ahead of the Longhorns’ first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) throws 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 outfielder Dariyan Pendergrass (42) makes it back to first base to avoid being caught stealing in the fourth 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 Dariyan Pendergrass (42) turns to run back to first to avoid being caught stealing in the fourth 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 Dylan Volantis (99) throws 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 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 infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) runs for a ball in the infield 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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Alabama Crimson Tide infielder Justin LeBron (1) runs from third base to score on 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 head coach Jim Schlossnagle speaks with an umpire 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 Aiden Robbins (43) bats 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 pitcher Kaleb Rogers (30) pitches 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 Dariyan Pendergrass (42) warms up ahead of the Longhorns’ first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) runs to third and then home to score 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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A Texas fan celebrates the Longhorns scoring 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 infielder Temo Becerra (1) gets ready to bat 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 added an RBI double from Anthony Pack Jr. in the eighth inning, and Ethan Mendoza later drove in UT’s 10th run with a sacrifice fly. A freshman outfielder, Pack has produced a career-high four hits tonight.
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After pinch-hitter Presley Courville singled in the seventh inning, Texas has 15 hits on the night. That is tied for the team’s third-most this season. The Longhorns’ season-high for hits this season is 17, which was recorded against Oklahoma on March 26.
In addition to Courville, seven of UT’s starters have gotten at least one hit tonight. Carson Tinney and Anthony Pack Jr. are both 3-for-4.
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Texas reliever Sam Cozart struck out two batters in his first inning of work. Alabama has now struck out a season-high 14 times in this game against UT, which has just used Cozart and Dylan Volantis on the mound.
After giving up two runs in the top of the sixth inning, Texas made up for that defensive letdown with its offense. Aiden Robbins and Carson Tinney both brought home a run with a double, and Anthony Pack Jr. later contributed an RBI single.
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Alabama went to its bullpen in the sixth inning. Starter Tyler Fay allowed 12 hits and seven runs over 5 ⅓ innings.
Texas is also set to make a pitching change between the sixth and seventh innings. Dylan Volantis will be replaced by Sam Cozart after a 91-pitch start in which he allowed four hits and registered a career-high 12 strikeouts.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) throws in the first 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 pitcher Dylan Volantis now has a career-high 12 strikeouts, but some erratic plays in the sixth inning led to Alabama’s first two runs. The Crimson Tide scored their first run when UT first baseman Casey Borba hit Justin Lebron in the back on a rundown attempt, and that allowed Alabama leadoff hitter Bryce Fowler to score from third base. Lebron later scored on a wild pitch.
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So far, Texas has committed a season-high four errors.
Texas added another run in the fifth inning when Anthony Pack Jr. dropped a double into the outfielder and later scored on a sacrifice fly. That sacrifice fly gave Temo Becerra his 26th RBI of the season.
Through five innings, Texas sophomore pitcher Dylan Volantis has struck out 10 batters and allowed just one hit. Volantis’ career-high strikeout total is 11.
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Texas led off the third inning with three straight singles and then scored on a double-play grounder. The Longhorns have seven hits so far.
The seventh strikeout of Dylan Volantis’ evening stranded Alabama’s best scoring opportunity thus far at third base. Alabama is still looking for its first hit, but the Crimson Tide did get a runner to third base after Volantis issued a two-out walk and then committed a two-base throwing error on a pickoff attempt.
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Alabama Crimson Tide infielder Brennan Holt (4) gets Texas Longhorns outfielder Dariyan Pendergrass (42) out at second before throwing to first base for a double play in the second 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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Both Texas and Alabama were held without a hit during a scoreless second inning. Texas pitcher Dylan Volantis has struck out five of the seven batters that he has faced so far.
Due to the inclement weather in the forecast, Texas just announced that Saturday’s game against Alabama will start at noon. The game was originally supposed to begin at 2 p.m.
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As Texas grabbed an early lead, Carson Tinney hit his seventh home run in as many games. That homer to right field scored Aiden Robbins, who led off the game with a double. This was the first appearance in the leadoff spot for Robbins, who had been penciled into the No. 3 slot in the UT batting order for each of the Longhorns’ first 35 games.
Texas also got an RBI single from Ethan Mendoza in the first inning. The opening frame also featured a single from Texas shortstop Adrian Rodriguez, who hadn’t played since March 28 because of a hand injury.
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In the first inning of his first Friday start, Texas left-hander Dylan Volantis struck out two Alabama batters. Volantis did allow a one-out single, but that runner was eventually stranded at second base by a long flyout to center field.
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Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
TV/radio: SEC Network+, 1300 AM
CF Aiden Robbins
C Carson Tinney
SS Adrian Rodriguez
LF Anthony Pack Jr.
2B Ethan Mendoza
3B Temo Becerra
DH Josh Livingston
1B Casey Borba
RF Dariyan Pendergrass
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CF Bryce Fowler
SS Justin Lebron
C Brady Neal
LF Eric Hines
1B Luke Vaughn
3B Jason Torres
DH Caleb Barnett
2B Brennan Holt
RF Chase Kroberger
LHP Dylan Volantis (4-0, 2.01 ERA)
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RHP Tyler Fay (6-2, 3.79 ERA)