The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
LSU
No. 8 Baseball preview: No. 2 LSU
03.20.2025 | Baseball
Longhorns host first-ever SEC home series.
THE MATCHUP — Two of the most historic programs in college baseball history go head-to-head, as the Texas Longhorns host their first-ever Southeastern Conference home series against the LSU Tigers. The Longhorns hold a 28-15-1 lead over the Tigers in the all-time series, including a 17-3-1 advantage in Austin.
THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU — For the fifth consecutive week, the Longhorns continued to climb the rankings, as Texas jumped up in four different polls. The Longhorns are a unanimous top-10 team, checking in as high as No. 5, according to Baseball America. Texas was also listed at No. 6 by Perfect Game and No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. D1Baseball slid the Longhorns up to No. 8, while the NCBWA moved Texas up to No. 9.
SCORCHING START — In their inaugural campaign under head coach Jim Schlossnagle, the Longhorns are off to their best 18-game start in 20 years. Texas finished the 2005 season with a 56-16 ledger, capturing its sixth national championship.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWINNING WAYS — Prior to its extra-innings loss to UTSA on Tuesday, Texas had won 17 straight contests, dating back to Feb. 15. The 17-game winning streak is the longest since the program won 21 in a row in 2010. Texas boasts the longest winning streak in Division I college baseball history, as the 1977 Longhorns won 34 straight to open the year.
HAIL HORNS — The Longhorns made a statement in its first weekend of SEC play, sweeping Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field. Texas became the first SEC team to record a sweep in the program's first-ever conference road series since 1992. The Longhorns won the opener Friday, 8-7, before winning both legs of the 14-inning doubleheader Sunday.
IT JUST MEANS MORE — The 2025 campaign marks Texas' first season in the SEC after 28 years in the Big 12. The Longhorns are one of 12 SEC programs to enter week six of the season in the top-25 of the major polls. Last year, a record 11 SEC teams earned NCAA Tournament bids and five clubs advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals. The 2024 College World Series included four SEC schools. The SEC has won each of the last five national championships — all by five different teams.
NEW ERA, SAME STANDARD — A 24-year head coaching veteran who was twice tabbed National Coach of the Year and led his team to the College World Series seven times, Jim Schlossnagle was named only the sixth Longhorns head baseball coach since 1911. Schlossnagle's six CWS appearances in the last 10 seasons are tied for the most of any coach, while his 50 NCAA Tournament wins during that stretch are the best of any skipper. As of March 20, the ABCA Hall of Famer ranks 11th among winningest active Division I coaches, amassing a 963-454 (.680) record.
STAY HOT, DOZA — A lifelong Longhorn fan, second baseman Ethan Mendoza transferred to the Forty Acres after one season at Arizona State. Over his first 19 games in burnt orange, the Bedford, Texas, native has posted a .406/.523/.667 slash line. Mendoza homered four times in his first 34 at-bats, after hammering only three blasts in 203 at-bats a year ago. Mendoza is riding a 14-game hitting streak, mounting nine multi-hit efforts along the way. During that stretch, the sophomore is hitting a team-high .456 with four homers and 15 RBI. Among SEC hitters, Mendoza ranks 13th in both batting average and on-base percentage.
MAX POWER — Junior Max Belyeu entered 2025 as one of the most prolific hitters in the country. Belyeu brings his big bat back to the heart of Texas' lineup after pacing the club in slugging (.667), OPS (1.090) and multi-RBI performances (15), while matching the team lead in home runs (18). The outfielder totaled a .329 average and drove in 53 RBI, earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors last season. This year, Belyeu has reached safely in all but one game, slashing .338/.446/.584 with four homers and 14 RBI.
OOH, BARRACUDA — After splitting time both behind the plate and at designated hitter a year ago, Rylan Galvan has solidified himself as Texas' everyday catcher in 2025. As of March 20, Galvan leads all SEC backstops with seven home runs, averaging a homer once every 7.3 at-bats. The junior is riding a 12-game on-base streak, totaling nine extra-base hits and a co-team-best 14 RBI over that stretch. Overall, Galvan leads the Longhorns in home runs, RBI (19) and OPS (1.246), while also tallying a .314 average.
GOING WITH THE FLO — A consensus All-American a year ago, Jalin Flores cemented himself as one of the best shortstops nationally. Flores paced the Longhorns in doubles (22), RBI (56) and hit by pitches (10), while also tying for the club lead in homers (18), total bases (158), multi-hit games (26). In 2025, Flores is second among SEC players in doubles (10), trailing only Florida's Colby Shelton (13). Over the last 13 games, he is hitting .347 with 13 extra-base hits and a 1.185 OPS.
PAIR OF ACES — Despite combining for only 13 career starts heading in the season, Texas' rotation has emerged as one of the top staffs in the country. As of March 20, the Longhorns are the lone SEC program with at least four pitchers sporting below a 2.50 ERA (min. 15 IP). Veteran left-handers Jared Spencer and Luke Harrison have anchored Texas' rotation. Through five weekends, the fourth-year hurlers have teamed up to yield just nine earned runs across 45 innings.
SUPER MAX — One year after emerging as the Longhorns' ace, right-handed pitcher Max Grubbs has shifted into a key bullpen arm for Texas. In 2024, Grubbs made 18 appearances, earning 12 starts in an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention worthy campaign. Across his first seven outings this season, Grubbs has allowed only two earned runs over 18.1 innings. The junior's 0.98 ERA ranks third in the SEC (min. 1.0 IP/Game), trailing only Tennessee's Liam Doyle (0.72) and Florida's Aidan King (0.81). Grubbs has limited opposing hitters to a .182 average, recording a 1-0 ledger and four saves.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK — Third baseman Adrian Rodriguez has burst onto the college baseball scene. Rodriguez left the yard in two of his first three career games, highlighted by a go-ahead solo shot against Louisville in the 10th inning on Opening Day. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound switch hitter began his freshman campaign with an 11-game on-base streak, posting a .404 average over that stretch. At the Las Vegas Classic, Rodriguez was the lone rookie tabbed to the All-Tournament Team.
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE — Throughout his time as a head coach, Jim Schlossnagle's teams have been touted as some of the best offensive units nationally. At the forefront of their approach, Schlossnagle's clubs have been known for working lengthy at-bats. Over the last four full seasons, Schlossnagle's squad has led the country in pitches per plate appearance. As of March 20, Texas (4.13) paces the nation in that category, checking in ahead of Notre Dame (4.09), VMI (4.08), Wofford (4.07) and Oregon State (4.07).
DOMINATE THE ZONE — Under first-year pitching coach Max Weiner, the Longhorns have adopted the identity of 'Dominate the Zone.' Weiner puts an emphasis on overall strike percentage, winning the 0-0 and 1-1 counts, and maximizing strikeout-to-walk ratio. Across its first 19 games, Texas has thrown 63 percent of its pitches for strikes, while totaling a 61 percent clip in 0-0 counts and a 62 percent mark in 1-1 counts. The Longhorns also boast a 2.2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. As a result, Texas has lowered its ERA by nearly two runs. The Longhorns rank sixth nationally in ERA (3.22).
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS...AGAIN — After winning the Shriners Children's College Showdown opening weekend, Texas doubled down by claiming the Las Vegas College Baseball Classic crown on March 2. The Longhorns swept the field in Sin City, scoring 35 runs across the three-day event. In its first game, Texas used a seven-run sixth to outlast Washington, 10-9. The Longhorns moved to 2-0 on the weekend with a 10-5 victory over longtime rival Texas Tech. Texas earned the championship belt by scoring 14 unanswered runs, including a season-best nine-spot in the sixth to best Illinois, 15-6. OF Max Belyeu, IF Jalin Flores, IF Ethan Mendoza, LHP Jared Spencer, RHP Max Grubbs and IF Adrian Rodriguez all earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, with Flores garnering MVP honors.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT OMAHA — The winningest NCAA Division I college baseball program of all time has become very familiar with the restaurants in Omaha, Neb. Texas holds the record for most appearances in the College World Series (38), most individual CWS games won (88), most overall NCAA Tournament games won (258) and most NCAA Tournament appearances (63). The Longhorns have won six national championships, trailing only USC (12) and LSU (7).
OWN THE DISCH — Since UFCU Disch-Falk Field opened in 1975, Texas has gone 1,641-421-3 (.796) at home thanks in large part to Longhorn Nation. Thus far in 2025, Texas has drawn 62,658 fans at home, including a season-best 7,323 fans against Santa Clara on March 8. With the exception of the 2021 campaign because of limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Longhorns led the Big 12 in attendance for 16 consecutive campaigns. Last year, Texas averaged 7,476 fans per game, the fifth-highest average attendance in the country. In 2024, the Longhorns set five of their six-highest attendance records for a three-game series.
HEAR 'EM — In partnership with Learfield IMG College, Texas games will be broadcast on the Longhorn Radio Network, primarily on AM-1300 The Zone. Craig Way handles primary play-by-play duties alongside Roger Wallace. This season, fans will also hear analysis from Longhorn great Keith Moreland.
