a dramatic 9-8 win Friday night<\/a>.<\/p>\nTwenty runs in two games are hardly a winning recipe, but the Aggies are cooking and have won twice to propel themselves into a second-place tie in the SEC with Texas (and Alabama) with identical 9-5 league records and 27-7 season marks but very dissimilar mindsets.<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
For the Longhorns, this marked the first series they\u2019ve lost in the five they have played so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cA&M has outplayed us for two days,\u201d said Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle, who was returning to College Station, where he was the head coach for three seasons. \u201cA&M\u2019s outpitched us. They\u2019re filling the strike zone up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
Texas, on the other hand, has had an uncharacteristic lack of control and have walked 13 batters and hit two more in the two losses. Ten of those who reached base in that fashion have scored, representing half of A&M\u2019s offensive production. The Aggie pitchers have walked five, only two have crossed the plate.<\/p>\n
Of course, the other half of the production has come from the Aggies\u2019 dynamic tandem of Gavin Grahovac and Caden Sorrell, who have delivered in a big way. The pair had five of A&M\u2019s nine hits Saturday and drove in six of their team\u2019s 11 runs and have 10 RBIs in the series.<\/p>\n
Those are two of four Aggies who are projected to go high in this summer\u2019s MLB draft and are ranked among the top 102 players by Perfect Game.<\/p>\n
Are they the best twosome in college baseball?<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Carson Tinney and Aiden Robbins are pretty good,\u201d Schlossnagle commended his own players, especially Robbins, who hit two home runs for the second consecutive day for Texas. \u201cThose two (Aggies) are a lot to deal with, especially with the bottom of their order getting on base. It\u2019s a powerful offense. If your pitching isn\u2019t on, an offense like that is going to bloody you pretty quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
And make no mistake. Texas\u2019 pitching was not on.<\/p>\n
Ruger Riojas barely lasted five innings as A&M pummeled him for five earned runs Friday.<\/p>\n
Luke Harrison lasted two outs Saturday, and the 7,812 maroon faithful at Blue Bell Park loved it.<\/p>\n
He got one on either side of a 98-minute rain delay that called into question the decision to come back with the graduate left-hander from Friendswood.<\/p>\n
Schlossnagle explained that he \u201cdefinitely considered\u201d not sending Harrison back to the mound following the delay but said his super reliable No. 2 pitcher \u201cwanted the ball\u201d and had the trust of the coaching staff.<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
The move backfired when Bear Harrison lashed a two-run double into left the same as Pearland graduate\u00a0Nico Partida did before the heavy rains came. But Harrison also walked three and exited the game after Grahovac\u2019s bases-loaded triple and Sorrell\u2019s RBI double.<\/p>\n
Between Harrison and Riojas, the two were absolutely lit up for 11 hits and 13 runs, all of them earned for a voluminous 25.24 ERA. Hard to survive that kind of early damage.<\/p>\n
They did themselves in, largely by walking so many.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were really good in hitting balls over the plate, and when they weren\u2019t over the plate, we didn\u2019t swing,\u201d Aggies head coach Michael Earley said. \u201cIt\u2019s as simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell (13) celebrates a home run during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M pitcher Gavin Lyons (27) celebrates a final strikeout to win the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M pitcher Gavin Lyons (27) celebrates a final strikeout to win the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M pitcher Gavin Lyons (27) throws a pitch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M infielder Chris Hacopian (8) throws the ball to first for a double play during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) catches a ball during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell (13) celebrates a home run while running the bases during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Brody Walls (67) throws a pitch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle watches from the dugout during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns infielder Josh Livingston (15) celebrates a home run while running the bases during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ashton Larson (44) catches the ball at first during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) catches a fly ball during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Brody Walls (67) throws a pitch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M infielder Chris Hacopian (8) grabs a ground ball during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns infielder Temo Becerra (1) grabs a ground ball during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M outfielder Jake Duer (3) swings at a pitch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
<\/p>\n
Texas Longhorns pitcher Max Grubbs (38) throws a pitch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
<\/p>\n
Texas A&M infielder Chris Hacopian (8) catches a fly ball during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle walks to the dugout during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M infielder Gavin Grahovac (9) slides to third during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
<\/p>\n
Texas A&M catcher Bear Harrison (16) celebrtes a hit for a double during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M catcher Bear Harrison (16) swings at a pitch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) walks off the mound in the rain during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
<\/p>\n
Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) throws a pitch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
<\/p>\n
Texas Longhorns infielder Casey Borba (31) throws the ball to first during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M infielder Boston Kellner (6) throws the ball to first during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M infielder Boston Kellner (6) reacts to missing a ground ball during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M infielder Boston Kellner (6) misses a ground ball during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M infielder Boston Kellner (6) reaches for a ground ball during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) swings at a pitch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) swings at a pitch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) celebrates a hit for a double during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell (13) misses a catch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
<\/p>\n
Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell (13) misses a catch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
<\/p>\n
Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley greets Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle ahead of game two of the Lone Star Showdown at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
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Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley greets Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle ahead of game two of the Lone Star Showdown at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman![\"Texas]()
<\/p>\n
Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle greets Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley ahead of game two of the Lone Star Showdown at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
It\u2019d be appropriate to call Texas\u2019 pitching in this series an unmitigated disaster, except that would be an insult to disasters everywhere.<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
The Aggies have established themselves as a legitimate contender in this jumbled SEC race, now having won three straight SEC series and 10 of their last 11 games.<\/p>\n
These two teams will play in the finale set for 1 p.m. Sunday, assuming Schlossnagle can talk a Texas pitcher into taking the mound.<\/p>\n
On paper, it would seem the Longhorns are set up for a bounce-back game since former All-American closer Dylan Volantis (4-0, 2.01) gets the start and best relievers Sam Cozart and Thomas Burns have yet to throw here.<\/p>\n
Of course, they\u2019d have to probably hold the Aggies to fewer than 10 runs. They\u2019ve raked a staff ranked second in the nation in ERA with all three starters below 2.75. That was, before this weekend. Harrison\u2019s personal ERA soared from 2.74 to 4.33.<\/p>\n
Harrison melted down from the start.<\/p>\n
He surrendered six huge hits \u2014 five of them for extra bases for good measure \u2014 and eight earned runs in his worst performance as a Longhorn. He\u2019d never before given up more than the four earned runs in a loss to Arkansas last season and has been a remarkable model of consistency in most of his previous 25 starts.<\/p>\n
Texas was a staggering 20-3 in the senior left-hander\u2019s past 23 starts over two years, but this game seemed over in the first.<\/p>\n
Not that this is anything new for the Aggies.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve scored 10 runs or more in 11 of their 14 SEC games and 15 of their 34 games overall. Who needs pitching?<\/p>\n
Maybe not the maroon, but Aiden Sims provided some anyway. The most consistent pitcher on the Aggie staff, who once overcame Tommy John surgery, couldn\u2019t go the full five innings to get credit for the win, but ate up some innings before Gavin Lyons finished off the game in dominant fashion.<\/p>\n
The Horns fell to 5-5 in road games after losing only their third SEC series in two seasons, having dropped series to Arkansas and Florida in 2025. Over that span, they\u2019ve swept five opponents last year and Oklahoma this spring. Only last year\u2019s Razorbacks have swept Texas in Schlossnagle\u2019s two seasons.<\/p>\n
But Texas vows this hasn\u2019t dented its confidence any.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t change it,\u201d said Robbins, who has a career-best 15 home runs this season after no more than six in either of his two years at Seton Hall. \u201cNobody works harder than us on mental toughness. We\u2019ve got a great pitching staff. I\u2019m just as happy with them as everybody else on our team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Texas did get a solid outing out of reliever Brody Walls, who retired eight in a row and allowing just two runs in 3 \u2154 innings. But too much damage had been done.<\/p>\n
Other than a haunting performance by Casey Borba, who has gone hitless in nine at-bats and struck out seven times, Texas has been more than decent at the plate. Besides Robbins, Josh Livingston added a solo shot to up the Longhorns\u2019 total to seven in two games.<\/p>\n
They just haven\u2019t had men on base in front of those home run hitters.<\/p>\n
A&M\u2019s has, in spades. The Aggies have scored in six straight innings Friday and only three Saturday, but then they didn\u2019t need any more after putting up a crooked eight in the first.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very confident that get to run Dylan Volantis out on the mound for the third game of the series,\u201d Schlossnagle said. “We need to get off to a good start tomorrow, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
If not, they\u2019re well-acquainted with bad finishes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It was another long day for Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle in College Station as his pitching staff was…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":246040,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[27,29,28],"class_list":{"0":"post-246039","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-texas","8":"tag-texas","9":"tag-texas-headlines","10":"tag-texas-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=246039"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246039\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/246040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=246039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=246039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=246039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}