The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Santa Clara
No. 12 Baseball preview: Santa Clara
03.06.2025 | Baseball
Longhorns host the Broncos in final non-conference weekend series.
#12 TEXAS vs. SANTA CLARA
March 7-9, 2025
Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Time: Friday at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m.
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: The Longhorn Radio Network
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – Santa Clara LHP Brandon Gomez (1-1, 6.75 ERA) vs. Texas LHP Jared Spencer (1-0, 1.12 ERA)
SATURDAY – Santa Clara RHP Victor Martinez (1-1, 1.93 ERA) vs. Texas LHP Luke Harrison (2-0, 1.23 ERA)
SUNDAY – Santa Clara LHP Sebastian Schreiber (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Texas LHP Dylan Volantis (1-0, 1.86 ERA)
THE MATCHUP — Texas plays its final non-conference weekend series, as the Longhorns welcome Santa Clara to UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns last met the Broncos in 1962, when the two sides squared off in the College World Series.
THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU — For the third straight week, the Longhorns continued to climb the rankings, as Texas jumped up in two different polls. The Longhorns are listed as high as No. 6 in the Perfect Game top 25, while also vaulting five spots to No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Texas checked in at No. 12, according to both Baseball American and D1Baseball. The NCBWA ranked the Longhorns at No. 15.
WWWWWWWWWWINNING WAYS — The Longhorns have won 10 straight contests, dating back to their 10-0 run-rule victory over fellow SEC foe Ole Miss on Feb. 15. The 10-game winning streak is the longest since the team won 16 in a row from March 7-31, 2023. Texas boasts the longest winning streak in Division I college baseball history, as the 1977 Longhorns won 34 straight affairs to open the season. In 1982, Texas also pieced together a 33-game streak, which is tied for the second-longest in the sport's DI history.
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 Sunday. 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, highlighted by three homers and a seven-run second inning. Texas garnered 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 1,637-420-3 (.795) at home thanks in large part to Longhorn Nation. With the exception of the 2021 season because of limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas led the Big 12 in attendance for 16 consecutive campaigns. Last season, the Longhorns averaged 7,476 fans per game, the fifth-highest average attendance in the country. During the 2024 campaign, Texas set five of its six-highest attendance marks for a three-game series, highlighted by 23,570 fans across a weekend set against Cal Poly (Feb. 23-25).
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. Over his career, Schlossnagle has amassed a 956-453 (.678) record.
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. Through its first 11 games, Texas has thrown 65 percent of its pitches for strikes, while totaling a 64 percent clip in 0-0 counts and a 67 percent mark in 1-1 counts. As a staff, the Longhorns boast a 2.6 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
MAX POWER — Junior Max Belyeu entered the 2025 campaign 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 percentage (.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 en route to earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors. Belyeu has registered a hit in all 11 games, slashing .468/.537/.723 with two homers and 10 RBI. His .468 average ranks sixth among all SEC players. At the Las Vegas College Baseball Classic, Belyeu was tabbed to the All-Tournament Team after notching his fourth career four-hit game– in the finale.
STAY HOT, DOZA — Second baseman Ethan Mendoza transferred to the Forty Acres after one season at Arizona State. A lifelong Longhorn fan, Mendoza hit .315 during his rookie campaign. Over his first 11 games in burnt orange, the Bedford, Texas native has posted a .405/.532/.784 slash line. Mendoza has tallied five multi-hit performances over the last six contests. Following the Las Vegas College Baseball Classic, Mendoza garnered All-Tournament Team accolades.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK — Third baseman Adrian Rodriguez has burst onto the college baseball scene. Rodriguez homered 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 is riding an 11-game on-base streak, posting a .404 average over that stretch. Among freshmen nationally, Rodriguez is ninth in slugging (.702). He was the lone rookie tabbed to the Las Vegas Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team.
GOING WITH THE FLO — A consensus All-American a year ago, Jalin Flores cemented himself as one of the best offensive shortstops nationally. Flores led 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). The San Antonio, Texas native has had a flair for the dramatic throughout his career, tallying four grand slams. Flores has reached safely in all but one game, recording a .350 average. Across the last five contests, he has totaled eight extra-base hits, highlighted by his third career multi-homer effort en route to earning Las Vegas Baseball Classic All-Tournament MVP honors.
POCKET ACES — Despite only combining for 11 career starts heading into the season, left-handers Jared Spencer and Luke Harrison have emerged as pair of stalwarts for the Longhorns in the rotation. Through three weekends, the fourth-year hurlers have teamed up to yield just four earned runs across 30.2 innings. At the Las Vegas Classic, Spencer tossed six innings of one-run baseball, striking out nine against Washington to garner All-Tournament distinction. The next day, Harrison pitched five frames, punching out a career-high seven in a winning effort against Texas Tech.
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. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound hurler notched a 6-4 mark with a 3.67 ERA. Over his first five outings this season, Grubbs has not yieled an earned run across 11 innings, while limiting opposing hitters to a .175 average. The junior has posted a 1-0 ledger and two saves. Grubbs collected All-Tournament Team honors at the Las Vegas Classic.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS — Last season, Texas made its 63rd NCAA Tournament appearance, earning a spot in the College Station Regional. The Longhorns bring back 18 players from the 2024 team and add 23 newcomers. Five of the Horns' every-day starters return, with OF Max Belyeu, INF Jalin Flores C Rylan Galvan, OF Will Gasparino and C/1B Kimble Schuessler headlining the squad.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE — With their highly-anticipated move to the SEC, the Longhorns will play one of the toughest schedule in the country. Texas is slated to face eight teams in D1Baseball's top 25 poll, including five of the top eight programs. The Longhorns will play 31 home games at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, highlighted by marquee series against No. 1 Texas A&M (April 25-27), No. 2 LSU (March 21-23) and No. 4 Arkansas (May 1-3).
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).
IT JUST MEANS MORE — The 2025 campaign marks Texas' first season in the SEC after 28 years in the Big 12. Twelve different SEC programs were ranked in the top-25 of the major polls to begin the season. Last year, a record 11 SEC teams earned NCAA Tournament bids and five clubs advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals. The College World Series included four SEC schools. The SEC has won each of the last five national championships — all by five different teams.
traDISCHion UNLIKE ANY OTHER — The Longhorns will honor their history throughout the 2025 season, as part of the Saturday traDISCHion series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. For the fourth consecutive campaign, Texas is celebrating past greats on select Saturdays. The Longhorns will salute Calvin Schiraldi on March 8, before recognizing Roger Clemens on March 22. Two weeks later, Texas will commemorate the 1975 national championship team on April 5. Corey Knebel is set to be honored on April 19 and Brooks Kieschnick is slated to be celebrated on April 26. The final traDISCHion Saturday of 2025 will feature the 2005 national championship team on May 10.
NOT AN OLD MAN'S GAME — Texas baseball welcomed back more than 150 alumni for its annual Alumni Game on Sat. Feb. 1. The Alumni Team featured MLB standouts Tres Barrera, Kody Clemens, John Curtiss, Bryce Elder, Duke Ellis, David Hamilton, Corey Knebel, Ty Madden and fan favorites like Cincinnati Reds farmhand Trey Faltine and New York Mets prospect Tanner Witt. Even with all the experience in the ballpark, it was a pair of freshmen who stood out the most. Rookies Cole Chamberlain and Adrian Rodriguez both launched two-run homers in the victory. Left-hander Dylan Volantis tossed three innings without allowing an earned run before righties Ruger Riojas, Aiden Moffett, Jason Flores and Drew Rerick held the alumni in check the rest of the way.
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.
