The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
1-0, 0
UC Davis
0-1, 0
No. 3 Baseball run rules UC Davis in season opener
02.13.2026 | Baseball
Longhorns win their ninth consecutive home opener since 2018.
AUSTIN, Texas — The No. 3 University of Texas baseball team kicked off its 2026 season in grand style, as the Longhorns mounted a 12-2 run-rule win over UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday night.
Four Texas players notched multi-RBI performances, headlined by outfielders Aiden Robbins and Anthony Pack Jr.
Robbins led the charge for the Longhorns (1-0), delivering a go-ahead two-run blast in the third. The junior's 450-foot moonshot over the YETI Yard in left vaulted Texas ahead, 3-2.
Two innings later, Robbins registered an RBI double to right-center field, padding the lead. The Seton Hall transfer's second extra-base hit in as many at-bats sparked a four-run fifth for the Longhorns, which was capped off by Pack Jr.
Pack Jr. produced a run-scoring base knock in the fifth, as part of his 3-for-3 effort. The Lakewood, Calif., native compiled the most hits by a Texas freshman in a season opener in nearly 13 years, matching C.J. Hinojosa's debut against Sacramento State on Feb. 15, 2013
Pack Jr. bookended his memorable night, setting the stage for the Longhorns to finish off the run-rule victory. The right fielder tallied the fourth straight hit to begin the seventh, bringing Ethan Mendoza to the plate representing the game-winning tally.
After fouling off the first pitch, Mendoza deposited a breaking ball over the wall in left to send the near-capacity crowd home early.
While Texas' offense totaled 12 runs on 11 hits, senior Ruger Riojas set the tone on the mound.
Riojas retired 14 of the final 15 batters he faced, recording nine strikeouts during that stretch. The 6-foot, 195-pound right-hander yielded just one run and scattered three hits in five innings. Riojas threw 52 of his 78 pitches for strikes.
UC Davis starter Noel Valdez was charged with the loss, after surrendering six runs — three earned — over four frames.
The Aggies (0-1) pushed across a run in both the first and seventh, but Riojas and fellow veteran Max Grubbs held the visitors to only six hits.
With the victory, the Longhorns have now won nine consecutive home openers, dating back to 2018.
Texas will look to secure its first series win of the year, as the Longhorns and Aggies meet at noon on Saturday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Riojas, Ruger (1-0)
L: Noel Valdez (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Braydon Wooldridge 1
RBI: Braydon Wooldridge 1 ; Joey Wright 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Braydon Wooldridge 1 ; Houston Hirschkorn 1
HBP: Houston Hirschkorn 1
Batting:
2B: Robbins, Aiden 1 ; Borba, Casey 1 ; Pack Jr., Anthony 1
HR: Mendoza, Ethan 1 ; Robbins, Aiden 1
RBI: Mendoza, Ethan 3 ; Rodriguez, Adrian 1 ; Robbins, Aiden 3 ; Becerra, Temo 2 ; Pack Jr., Anthony 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Mendoza, Ethan 1 ; Rodriguez, Adrian 2 ; Robbins, Aiden 2 ; Tinney, Carson 1 ; Livingston, Josh 1 ; Borba, Casey 1 ; Duplantier, Jayden 1 ; Becerra, Temo 1 ; Pack Jr., Anthony 2
SB: Pack Jr., Anthony 1
