In the season opener at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns recovered from a shaky start to score three runs in the third inning, four runs in the fifth inning, and five runs in the decisive seventh inning to beat the UC-Davis Aggies 12-2 in a run-rule win.
The Longhorns had some jitters in the first inning — senior right-hander Ruger Riojas, making his first Friday start, issued a four-pitch walk, gave up a single to the opposite field, and faced a bases-loaded situation with no outs after a successful bunt. UC-Davis took the lead with a fielder’s choice and knocked another single before Riojas struck out the final two batters to leave the bases loaded.
“One of the reasons why we wanted to pitch him in this particular game was his ability to handle his emotions and I think that got away from him in the first inning,” Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle said.
After the first inning, Riojas was locked in, attacking the overmatched Aggies with a fastball that consistently sat at 96 miles per hour, a notable increase in his velocity from last season after adding muscle. The UTSA transfer retired 14 of the final 15 batters he faced, striking out nine UC-Davis batters in throwing 52 of his 78 pitches for strikes in his five innings of work.
“He just kept on throwing strikes, limited damage right there, and then kept us right where we need to be,” Schlossnagle said.
Senior right-hander Max Grubbs finished the game for the Longhorns, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts in his two innings of work.
Junior center fielder Aiden Robbins and freshman right fielder Anthony Pack Jr. were among the four Texas players to drive in multiple runs.
Robbins pushed the Horns into the lead with a mammoth two-run home run in the third inning after an RBI single by sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez.
“He’s a ball player. Some people play baseball, and then there’s a ballplayer, and he plays with a lot of freedom,” Schlossnagle said. “He’s not the biggest fan of practice, but when the lights come on, he loves it. No disrespect to his other experiences, but hitting a home run at Disch-Falk on opening night in front of a sellout crowd, that’s going to get you going, and he got it pretty good right out of the gate, especially with the wind blowing that direction.”
At 107 miles per hour off the bat, the blast by Robbins traveled 428 feet into the Austin evening.
And the emotions from the fiery Seton Hall transfer were certainly apparent playing in front of his parents, who flew in from Pennsylvania, and in front of the largest crowd of his baseball career.
Robbins finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, adding a double in the fifth inning that drove in Rodriguez.
Pack was another standout in his Texas debut, sparking the Longhorns from the bottom of the order by reaching base in all four of his plate appearances by going 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, two RBI, and two runs scored. The two runs batted in came in the fifth inning with two outs, two strikes, and the bases loaded as Pack hooked a single into right field.
Schlossnagle noted Pack’s burgeoning ability to hit balls to the opposite field, as he did in his first at bat, and the importance of the freshman’s development because the Longhorns still don’t have ideal depth in the outfield, especially with sophomore Jonah Williams not expected to be available to play in the field until next weekend.
“He’s fearless. He doesn’t play scared. Some guys, even transfers, get in their first game in this environment, and then play a little spooked — it’s a different player. He looked like a better player tonight. He was playing with a lot of freedom and not afraid to make a mistake,” Schlossnagle said.
Able to switch hit again, Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
“I think my most exciting thing for him is swinging right handed tonight. He hammered that ball in the middle of the field and that wasn’t his best side of the plate last year,” Schlossnagle said. “Up until about 10 days ago, he wasn’t even hitting in live games and now, once we were able to get him in there, just a heck of a player.”
Rodriguez also made his debut at shortstop, making a good play on the run and a difficult throw with a baserunner in front of him.
To end the game, junior second baseman Ethan Mendoza bounced back from a slow start with a three-run home run that showcased his improved strength on a ball that kept on carrying over the left-field fence.
Rain has impacted Saturday’s game, which senior left-hander Luke Harrison is scheduled to start — after the start time was initially moved up, in the morning it was moved back to 6:30 p.m. Central on SEC Network+.