\u201cThe fans here are great, they cheer for their team,\u201d head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. \u201cThey have an opinion on Texas and me, and that\u2019s okay, it’s going to be that way for as long as I\u2019m head coach. That doesn\u2019t affect me, I don\u2019t think about it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Texas Bullpen Stuggles Return![\"Ruger](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775917030_403_01khza964yspzxcg1yg7.jpg\" "\\"Ruger")
<\/p>\n
Texas Athletics<\/p>\n
It was a brutal night for the Texas bullpen, returning to the familiar woes it experienced at the start of conference play. The relievers struggled to find the strike zone once starter Ruger Riojas was pulled in the bottom of the sixth inning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Longhorns<\/a> called for the services of Haiden Leffew after Riojas gave up a lead-off walk. Riojas ended his night with four strikeouts, five hits, and five earned runs against one of the best-hitting teams in the nation, maintaining the Longhorns’ 6-4 lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n But as they were all night, the 12th Man showed up and never wavered for a moment, and the environment got to Leffew, who struggled to find the strike zone. Leffew walked three consecutive batters and tossed a pitch in the dirt for a passed ball, allowing the Aggies to tattoo a run on the board.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe gave them a lot of opportunities to get free bases,\u201d catcher Carson Tinney said. \u201cThey took advantage of it.”<\/p>\n Freshman Brett Crossland did not provide much relief with bases still loaded up for him after he replaced Leffew. The young pitcher walked his first batter for another run for the Aggies, tying the game up at six, with just one out on the board.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas A&M first basemen Gravin Grahovac grounded out to send the third and final run of the inning, giving Texas A&M the lead, 7-6, without even getting a swing off for a base hit.\u00a0<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t get any easier for Crossland, with the Aggies, spurred by Section 203 once again, rhythmically chanting \u201cBrett is nervous,\u201d over and over and over again in the seventh inning. Giving up a walk and a base hit earlier in the inning, Crossland was yanked from the game after he nailed Aggies’ left fielder Terrence Kiel II in the head.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNo hits and three runs, you\u2019re not going to win games that way,\u201d Schlossnagle said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Four of the nine runs scored by the Aggies tonight came from walks by the Longhorns in an all too familiar bullpen collapse that has defined these series openers so far this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite being down two runs heading into the final inning, the Longhorns were able to rally with back-to-back home runs by Aiden Robbins and Anthony Pack Jr. to make it a one-run game. The Longhorns middle of the order of Temo Beccera and Casey Borba couldn\u2019t complete the rally, with both grounding out to close out the night.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite a decent hitting performance from the Longhorns, launching four home runs in total, including a pair of 2-run blasts from Tinney and Robbins earlier in the game, the sixth inning bullpen collapse was too much to overcome.\u00a0<\/p>\n They\u2019re great competitors,\u201d Tinney said.\u00a0 \u201cSometimes the game doesn\u2019t always go your way, and I think that\u2019s what happened today.\u201d<\/p>\n Texas will look to split the series against Texas A&M tomorrow<\/a> at 2 p.m. CT at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park in College Station. <\/p>\n Sign up to our free newsletter<\/a> and follow us on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for the latest news.<\/p>\n