The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 7 Baseball preview: Sam Houston
03.24.2025 | Baseball
Longhorns hold 84-9 lead over Bearkats in all-time series
#7 TEXAS vs. SAM HOUSTON
March 25, 2025
Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Time: 6:30 p.m.
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: The Longhorn Radio Network
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
TUESDAY – Sam Houston RHP Danny Valadez (2-1, 5.16 ERA) vs. Texas LHP Kade Bing (0-0, 3.77 ERA)
THE MATCHUP — Texas wraps up its five-game homestand, as the Longhorns host Sam Houston at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday. The Longhorns hold a 84-19 lead over the Bearkats in the all-time series. Texas has won the last 11 meetings against Sam Houston.
SCORCHING START — In their inaugural campaign under head coach Jim Schlossnagle, the Longhorns are off to their best 22-game start in 20 years. After an extra-inning loss on Opening Day, Texas rattled off 17 straight victories from Feb. 15 - March 16. The 17-game winning streak marked the longest since the program won 21 in a row in 2010.
THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU — For the sixth consecutive week, the Longhorns continued to climb the rankings, as Texas moved up in four different polls. The Longhorns check in as high as No. 3, according to Baseball America. Texas also slid up to No. 5 in Perfect Game's top 25. D1Baseball, the USA Today Coaches Poll and the NCBWA all slotted the Longhorns at No. 7.
GEAUX & HAIL HORNS — Texas made a statement in its first two SEC series, sweeping Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field and upending then-No. 2 LSU. Texas became the first SEC team to record a sweep in the program's first-ever conference road series since 1992. Meanwhile, the Longhorns' victory over the Tigers marked their first series win over a top-2 team since March 1-3, 2019.
MASTERING MIDWEEKS — Texas is 3-1 in midweek games, with its lone loss coming in a 12-inning affair vs. UTSA. Ten of the Longhorns' 11 midweek contests will be at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Texas heads on the road to take on Texas State on April 22. Since 2020, Jim Schlossnagle's clubs have posted a 46-9 (.836) mark in midweeks, posting wins in 18 of the last 19 games.
OWN THE DISCH — Since UFCU Disch-Falk Field opened in 1975, Texas has gone 1,643-422-3 (.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 7,378 fans against UTSA on March 18. 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.
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 11 SEC programs to enter week seven 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.
WELCOME HOME, DOZA — A lifelong Longhorn fan, second baseman Ethan Mendoza transferred to the Forty Acres after one season at Arizona State. Over his first 22 games in burnt orange, the Bedford, Texas, native has posted a .383/.500/.605 slash line. Mendoza homered four times in his first 34 at-bats, after hammering only three blasts in 203 at-bats a year ago. Prior to the Longhorns' series against then-No. 2 LSU, Mendoza strung together a 14-game hitting streak, mounting nine multi-hit efforts along the way. During that stretch, the sophomore hit a team-high .456 with four homers and 15 RBI.
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 .348/.448/.618 with five homers and 18 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. Among SEC hitters, Galvan is tied for sixth in home runs (9), averaging a homer once every 6.9 at-bats. The junior also sits sixth in the league in slugging (.806), while checking in eighth in OPS (1.268). Galvan is riding a 15-game on-base streak, totaling 12 extra-base hits and a team-best 21 RBI over that stretch. Overall, the 6-foot, 215-pound backstop leads the Longhorns in home runs, RBI (24), slugging, OPS, while also tallying a .323 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 tied for second among SEC players in doubles (10), trailing only Florida's Colby Shelton (13). Over the last 16 games, he is hitting .339 with 14 extra-base hits and a 1.553 OPS.
HUM YOU, DV — Left-hander Dylan Volantis has made a name for himself in his freshman campaign. The 6-foot-6, 212-pound hurler has registered a team-best 1.29 ERA (min. 20 IP), yielding only three earned runs in 21 innings. Volantis has notched a 2-0 ledger with a team-leading five saves. Over his last seven outings, the Thousands Oaks, Calif., native has allowed just one earned run across 19 innings. In two appearances against then-No. 2 LSU, Volantis retired 14 of the 15 batters he faced. The rookie totaled 4 2/3 shutout innings without allowing a hit in a pair of saves. On March 24, Volantis was tabbed the SEC Freshman of the Week after helping the Longhorns secure their first series win over a top-2 team in five years.
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 eight outings this season, Grubbs has allowed only four earned runs over 22.0 innings. The junior's 1.64 ERA ranks second in the SEC (min. 1.0 IP/Game), trailing only Tennessee's Marcus Phillips (1.47). Grubbs has limited opposing hitters to a .213 average, recording a 2-0 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.
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. The ABCA Hall of Famer ranks 11th among winningest active Division I coaches, amassing a 965-455 (.680) record.
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 24, Texas (4.14) paces the nation in that category, checking in ahead of VMI (4.08), Notre Dame (4.07), Wofford (4.07) and USC (4.03).
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 22 games, Texas has thrown 64 percent of its pitches for strikes, while totaling a 61 percent clip in 0-0 counts and a 64 percent mark in 1-1 counts. The Longhorns also boast a 2.3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. As a result, Texas has lowered its ERA by more than a run. The Longhorns rank 11th nationally in ERA (3.42).
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).
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.
