The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Georgia
No. 5 Baseball preview: No. 3 Georgia
04.03.2025 | Baseball
Weekend series marks first-ever meeting between Longhorns and Bulldogs in Austin
#3 GEORGIA vs. #5 TEXAS
April 4-6, 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 Zone AM-103.1 FM
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – Georgia LHP Charlie Goldstein (0-0, 6.92 ERA) vs. Texas LHP Jared Spencer (3-1, 3.62 ERA)
SATURDAY – Georgia RHP Brian Curley (2-0, 3.42 ERA) vs. Texas LHP Luke Harrison (2-0, 2.12 ERA)
SUNDAY – Georgia RHP Leighton Finley (2-0, 6.66 ERA) vs. TBA
THE MATCHUP — For the second time this season, Texas hosts a top-3 opponent, as the Longhorns welcome No. 3 Georgia to UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns boast a 3-1 record in the all-time series, but this weekend marks the first meeting in Austin. The two sides last played in the 2004 College World Series. Texas won both contests en route to a runner-up finish in Omaha.
SCORCHING START — In its inaugural campaign under head coach Jim Schlossnagle, Texas is off to its best 27-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 seventh consecutive week, Texas continued to climb the rankings, as the Longhorns moved up in three different polls. Texas checks in as high as No. 3 in Baseball America's top 25. D1Baseball, Perfect Game and the USA Today Coaches Poll all slotted the Longhorns at No. 5. Texas was also listed at No. 6, according to the NCBWA.
IT JUST MEANS MORE — Texas made a statement in its first three SEC series, sweeping Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field, upending then-No. 2 LSU and taking all three games at Missouri. The Longhorns became the first SEC team to notch a sweep in the program's first-ever conference road series since 1992. Meanwhile, Texas' victory over LSU was its first series win over a top-2 team since March 1-3, 2019. With their sweep at Missouri, the Longhorns' 8-1 record in SEC action marks their best start to conference play in 15 years.
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 April 3, the ABCA Hall of Famer ranks 11th among winningest active Division I coaches, amassing a 969-456 (.680) record.
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 11th in home runs (9), averaging a homer once every 7.9 at-bats. The junior also sits fourth in the league in slugging (.803) and OPS (1.298). Galvan is riding an 19-game on-base streak. Across that run, the 6-foot, 215-pound backstop is batting .389 with nine blasts and 22 RBI.
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 tallied a 1.17 ERA, yielding only three earned runs in 23 innings. Volantis has notched a 2-0 ledger with a team-leading six saves. Over his last eight outings, the Thousands Oaks, Calif., native has allowed just one earned run across 21 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.
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 27 games in burnt orange, the Bedford, Texas, native has posted a .373/.488/.559 slash line. As of April 3, his .373 average is 11th 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.
ALL GAS, NO BRAKES — Sophomore Will Gasparino has emerged as a forced to be reckoned with for the Longhorns. After tallying a .252 average with 12 home runs and 47 RBI over 59 games as a freshman, Gasparino has nearly eclipsed those marks in half a season in 2025. Through 27 contests, the 6-foot-6, 225-pound slugger is batting .284 with 10 homers and 32 RBI. During Texas' 4-0 week against Sam Houston and Missouri, the center fielder registered a .533/.588/1.600 slash line, leaving the yard in three of the four wins. In the series opener at Missouri, Gasparino socked a pair of three-run blasts and drove in eight runs, becoming just the third Longhorn with eight RBI in a game since 2008, matching Brandon Belt (2008) and Porter Brown (2023). Following his historic week, Gasparino was named SEC Player of the Week on March 31 and the Dick Howser Trophy National Co-Hitter of the Week on April 1.
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 23 of his 24 games played, slashing .358 with six homers and 22 RBI.
MUSTACHE YOU A QUESTION — After only making two starts across his first three years at Texas, redshirt junior Luke Harrison has become a stalwart for the Longhorns in the rotation. As a freshman in 2022, Harrison made a team-high 32 appearances, registering a 3.06 ERA and two saves. Over the next two seasons, the left-hander would pitch in only 13 games, after missing the 2023 campaign due to injury. This year, Harrison has posted a 2-0 ledger and a 2.12 ERA. As of April 3, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound hurler sits second in the SEC in ERA, trailing only Tennessee's Marcus Phillips (2.02). Harrison has limited opposing hitters to a .225 average. In 2025, Texas is 7-0 when Harrison draws the start.
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 nine outings this season, Grubbs has allowed only four earned runs over 25.0 innings. The junior's 1.44 ERA paces all SEC hurlers (min. 25). Grubbs has limited opposing hitters to a .222 average, recording a 3-0 ledger and four saves.
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 (12), trailing only Florida's Colby Shelton (14). Over the last 20 games, he has registered a .325 average with 18 extra-base hits and a 1.123 OPS. Heading into the weekend, Flores has homered in three of the last five contests.
SWISS ARMY KNIFE — Right-hander Ruger Riojas' glove says it perfectly: 'SAY WHEN.' Riojas — who joined the progarm after two years at UTSA — has done a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on the mound. Overall, the 6-foot, 192-pound hurler is 6-1 with a 3.00 ERA over a co-team-best 10 appearances, including two starts. As of April 3, Riojas is tied for fourth nationally in wins. In his last two outings, the Wimberly, Texas, native has yielded only two earned runs across 12.2 innings. At Missouri, Riojas pitched a career-long seven shutout frames. He faced one batter over the minimum, retiring 16 of the first 17 Tigers. Riojas became the first Longhorn to toss seven innings or record double-digit punchouts this season. On March 31, he was tabbed SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week.
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 April 3, Texas (4.09) sits second nationally in that category, trailing only Notre Dame (4.10).
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 27 games, Texas has thrown 64 percent of its pitches for strikes, while totaling a 60 percent clip in 0-0 counts and a 66 percent mark in 1-1 counts. The Longhorns also boast a 2.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. As a result, Texas has lowered its ERA by more than 1.5 runs. The Longhorns rank third nationally in ERA (3.13).
OWN THE DISCH — Since UFCU Disch-Falk Field opened in 1975, Texas has gone 1,645-423-3 (.796) at home thanks in large part to Longhorn Nation. Thus far in 2025, Texas has drawn 104,903 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.
MASTERING MIDWEEKS — Texas is 4-2 in midweek games. 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 47-10 (.825) ledger in midweeks, posting wins in 19 of the last 21 games.
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.
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.
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.
