The NCAA Tournament is nothing new for Texas baseball, which made its first-ever NCAA appearance in 1947 and opened its 65th NCAA postseason run Friday. The NCAA Tournament, however, is a new experience for some players on the UT roster.
Not that Anthony Pack Jr. or Aiden Robbins acted like it in Friday’s 19-1 win over Holy Cross to open the Austin Regional at UFCU Disch-Falk
Field.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) hits a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Park, a freshman, became the first Texas player ever to hit three home runs in a single postseason game and Robbins, a transfer in his first UT season, went deep twice himself as they made their NCAA Tournament debuts. Texas (41-13) racked up 21 hits, tied a school record with six homers and matched its most lopsided postseason victory ever.
“You can make an argument that they’re the best team in the country,” Holy Cross coach Ed Kahovec said. “We’ve had a lot of really good teams in my 10 years here at Holy Cross, including North Carolina last year when they were No. 1, (but) this was one of the best offensive teams and best offensive performances that I have seen.”
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The Longhorns advanced to face either UC Santa Barbara or Tarleton State at 6 p.m. Saturday in the winner’s bracket of the Austin Regional.
Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) celebrates a home run during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Anthony Pack Jr. overpowers Holy Cross’ pitching staff
Pack, who was the SEC freshman of the year, quickly got to work in his first NCAA Tournament game. With two outs in the first inning, he deposited the second pitch he saw from Holy Cross right-hander Jaden Wywoda over the fence in right field. He tagged Wywoda again in the third inning and later homered off reliever Andrew Nesson in the fifth frame.
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MORE: SEC honors Anthony Pack and Aiden Robbins, but was Dylan Volantis snubbed?
With that fifth-inning shot, Pack became the ninth Longhorn to hit three homers in a single game. None of Texas’ previous three-homer games took place in the postseason, however.
Texas’ nine three-homer performances:
• April 4, 1969: David Chalk vs. Rice
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• May 1, 1976: Wendell Hibbett at Texas Tech
• April 8, 1984: David Denny at TCU
• April 22, 1997: Brett Loeffler at Kansas
• April 30, 2002: J.D. Reininger vs. TCU
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• March 20, 2022: Murphy Stehly vs. Incarnate Word
• May 18, 2023: Porter Brown vs. West Virginia
• March 24, 2024: Max Belyeu vs. Baylor
• May 29, 2026: Anthony Pack Jr. vs. Holy Cross
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) tips a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Pack has insisted before that hitting home runs is “not really my game.” He even told reporters after going deep against Missouri on May 15 that “all my home runs (are hit) on accident.”
Pack entered Friday with seven homers over 190 at-bats. So what led to the power surge? Pack credited his work with Texas assistant coach Troy Tulowitzki and his decision to mimic Robbins.
“I made a couple different changes to my swing,” he said. “I actually made a change to copy Aiden Robbins’ swing. My bat wiggle, my leg kick is because of Aiden. So, just learning from those older guys.”
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On a 90-degree afternoon, Pack exited the game after the fifth inning with cramps. He was replaced by Jayden Duplantier, who hit a grand slam in the following inning. Texas went 4-for-5 with four homers, nine RBIs, five runs and one walk out of the No. 3 spot in its lineup.
Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) celebrates a home run during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Temo Becerra (1) grabs a ground ball during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) throws a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns line up for the National Anthem ahead of the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) throws a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) steps up to bat during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Josh Livingstone (15) hits a team mate with a towel during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Joah Livingstone (15) and pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) fight over a towel during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle greets his players ahead of the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Cody Howard (41) walks the field during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) swings at a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle walks the dugout ahead of the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) celebrates a strikeout during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) runs to first during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Casey Borba (31) swings at a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Temo Becerra (1) catches the ball at second during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) swings at a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) celebrates a strikeout during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) hits a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) throws a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) hits a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) celebrates a home run by outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Holy Cross pitcher Jaden Mywoda (25) walks back to the mound after giving up a home run during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Texas at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) celebrates a strikeout during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ashton Larson (44) is tagged at second base by Holy Cross infielder Owen Stelzer (16) during the NCAA Baseball Regional game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Ashton Larson (44) runs back to the dugout after a third out during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Cody Howard (41) throws a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) runs home after a home run during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns celebrtate a home run by outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) celebrtates a home run by outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) celebrates a home run by outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) throws a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) swings at a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielders Temo Becerra (1) and Adrian Rodriguez (24) hold up the sign of the horns ahead of the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Casey Borba (31) throws the ball to first during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) runs home fro a score after a home run during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) and pitcher Cody Howard (41) celebrate a third out during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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Aiden Robbins also makes the most out of his NCAA Tournament debut
Pack wasn’t the only newcomer who looked like a postseason veteran Friday. Robbins went 2-for-5 with two homers, and he also made a highlight-reel catch in right field.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) celebrates a home run while rounding the bases during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against Holy Cross at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Austin.
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A Seton Hall transfer, Robbins played in 87 games over his two seasons with the Pirates. None of those took place in the NCAA Tournament.
“Coming to a place like this, you don’t miss the tournament,” Robbins said. “Being able to play with the name on the front of my chest, it means the world. I’m living out that dream of playing in a tournament game. I’ve never done that, so today was pretty special.”
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Robbins has now gone deep 21 times this season. In addition to overtaking Carson Tinney for the team lead in homers, he now has sole possession of fourth place on UT’s single-season home runs list. He was named the SECs newcomer of the year this season.