Texas baseball will try to end the Austin Regional on Sunday while UC Santa Barbara tries to extend it.
Texas and UC Santa Barbara have both reached the Austin Regional final. Texas is attempting to reach its first NCAA super regional since 2023 while UCSB last made it out of the regional round in 2016.
For Texas, the math is simple. Since the sixth-seeded Longhorns (42-13) are 2-0 in this regional, they would advance in the NCAA Tournament with a win. If UC Santa Barbara (40-19) is instead victorious, the teams will return to UFCU Disch-Falk Field a winner-takes-all game Monday.
UC Santa Barbara stayed alive at the Austin Regional with Sunday afternoon’s 9-5 win over Tarleton State. The last pitch of that game was thrown at 3:34 p.m.
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Texas finally got to UC Santa Barbara starter Kellan Montgomery in the sixth inning. The Longhorns loaded the bases and then took a lead on Adrian Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly and Ethan Mendoza’s RBI single.
That offensive production was enough to chase Montgomery from the game. Texas will also make a pitching change between the sixth inning’s top and bottom halves as Haiden Leffew replaces Ruger Riojas.
While retiring the Gauchos in order for the second straight inning, Ruger Riojas recorded the 300th strikeout of a four-year college career that has been split between UTSA and Texas. According to Texas, Riojas is one of four active pitchers to reach the 300-strikeout milestone.
Over the first two games of the Austin Regional, Texas failed to score in just three innings. But so far this afternoon, the Longhorns have been unable to get anything going against the Gauchos. UC Santa Barbara starter Kellan Montgomery has allowed three hits, but no UT player has advanced past second base.
The Gauchos got two runners aboard in the third inning, but a flyout to center field ended the threat. Through three innings, Texas pitcher Ruger Riohas has allowed three hits while issuing one walk. Riojas also has three strikeouts.
Both teams wasted a base runner in the second inning. Through two innings, Texas and UCSB each have two hits.
As Texas fell behind for the first time this week, UC Santa Barbara got on the scoreboard by homering off the scoreboard in right field in the first inning. Rowan Kelly, who went deep against Tarleton State earlier this afternoon, provided the Gauchos with that solo shot.
In the first inning, Texas pitcher Ruger Riojas threw 15 pitches and topped out at 97 miles-per-hour. Riojas had thrown just five pitches since May 10 as he dealt with shoulder tendonitis.
Like it was on Friday, Texas is the designated visitor in this game. The Longhorns got a two-out single from Anthony Pack Jr. in the top of the first inning, but that was the Longhorns’ lone highlight.
RHP Ruger Riojas (5-2, 4.02 ERA)
RHP Kellan Montgomery (8-4, 4.06 ERA)
Fans at the ballpark will get to hear “Poker Face” played twice this afternoon. Both Riojas and Montgomery use Lady Gaga’s hit song as their warm-up music.