The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Missouri
No. 7 Baseball preview: Missouri
03.27.2025 | Baseball
Longhorns travels to Columbia for first time since 2012
#7 TEXAS vs. MISSOURI
March 28-30, 2025
Where: Taylor Stadium
Time: Friday at 6 p.m.; Saturday at 4 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m.
TV: SEC Network+ (Friday & Saturday) / SEC Network (Sunday)
Radio: The Zone AM-1300/103.1 FM
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – Texas LHP Jared Spencer (2-1, 3.13 ERA) vs. Missouri LHP Ian Lohse (0-3, 6.18 ERA)
SATURDAY – Texas LHP Luke Harrison (2-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. Missouri RHP Kaden Jacobi (2-2, 7.71 ERA)
SUNDAY – TBA vs. TBA
THE MATCHUP — For the first time since 2012, the University of Texas baseball team travels to Columbia, Mo. to take on the Missouri Tigers. The longtime Big 12 foes have met 63 times, with the Longhorns boasting a 34-29 advantage in the all-time series.
SCORCHING START — In its inaugural campaign under head coach Jim Schlossnagle, Texas is off to its best 23-game start in 20 years. After an extra-inning loss on Opening Day, the Longhorns 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, Texas continued to climb the rankings, as the Longhorns moved up in four different polls. Texas checks 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.
IT JUST MEANS MORE — The 2025 campaign is 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.
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 27, the ABCA Hall of Famer ranks 11th among winningest active Division I coaches, amassing a 966-454 (.680) record.
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 23 games in burnt orange, the Bedford, Texas, native has posted a .400/.510/.624 slash line. As of March 27, his .400 average is tied for eighth among SEC players. 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 .363/.468/.626 with five homers and 19 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 7.3 at-bats. The junior also sits fourth in the league in slugging (.803), while checking in seventh in OPS (1.266). Heading into the series, Galvan is riding a 16-game on-base streak, posting hits in eight straight contests. Across that eight-game run, the 6-foot, 215-pound backstop is batting .400 with five blasts and 11 RBI. Overall, Galvan leads the Longhorns in home runs, RBI (25), slugging, OPS, while also tallying a .333 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 (11), trailing only Florida's Colby Shelton (13). Over the last 16 games, he has recorded a .355 average with 15 extra-base hits and a 1.183 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. 20 IP), 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.
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 27, Texas (4.12) paces the nation in that category, checking in ahead of VMI (4.10), Wofford (4.08), Notre Dame (4.06), and USC (4.04).
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 23 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 2.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. As a result, Texas has lowered its ERA by more than 1.5 runs. The Longhorns rank 12th nationally in ERA (3.39).
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.
OWN THE DISCH — Since UFCU Disch-Falk Field opened in 1975, Texas has gone 1,644-422-3 (.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.
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.
