The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
2-0, 0
UC Davis
0-2, 0
No. 3 Baseball clinches season-opening series over UC Davis
02.14.2026 | Baseball
Longhorns score six unanswered runs to top Aggies, 6-4
AUSTIN, Texas — For the second straight game, junior Ethan Mendoza smacked a home run, propelling No. 3 Texas to a series-securing 6-4 win over UC Davis on Saturday evening at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Sparked by Mendoza's two-run blast, the Longhorns (2-0) mounted six unanswered tallies in the middle innings. The second baseman also added a run-scoring single to cap off the offensive output, as he finished 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI.
With UC Davis clinging to a 2-0 advantage through four frames, Mendoza rocketed a 108-mph laser 417 feet to straightaway center to level the score.
After Mendoza homered for the second time in four at-bats, the Longhorns loaded the bases in short order.
Two pitches later, shortstop Adrian Rodriguez doubled to center before center fielder Aiden Robbins singled through the left side, putting runners on first and third. Designated hitter Carson Tinney worked a walk, setting up a bases-loaded opportunity for first baseman Casey Borba.
Borba drove a deep fly ball to the edge of the warning track in center, bringing home Rodriguez to give Texas a 3-2 lead.
With runners on the corners and two outs, the Longhorns executed a double steal to pad their cushion.
On the first pitch to catcher Andrew Ermis, Tinney darted toward second base, drawing a throw from UC Davis backstop Evan Gentil. As the ball was flying across the infield, Robbins bolted from third. Second baseman Joey Wright fired a strike back to the plate, but Robbins snuck in safely.
Following the four-run fifth, Texas tacked on two more in the sixth.
Left fielder Ashton Larson laced an RBI double to the opposite field, extending the lead to 5-2.
Meanwhile, Mendoza bookended the Longhorns' scoring three pitches later, delivering an RBI single.
Texas' offensive production proved to be more than enough for starting pitcher Luke Harrison.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound left-hander tossed 5 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on five hits. Harrison recorded six strikeouts, punching out the side in the fourth.
Once Harrison departed, the Aggies trimmed their deficit in half, but right-handed Hudson (1) slammed the door in the ninth. Hamilton stranded the tying-run on first base, striking out Wright to end the game.
UC Davis reliever Tyler Wood (0-1) was tagged with the loss in relief. Wood was charged with four runs and only registered one out.
The Longhorns will look to secure the sweep Sunday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. First pitch is slated for noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harrison, Luke (1-0)
L: Tyler Wood (0-1)
S: Hamilton, Hudson (1)
Batting:
2B: Ryan Lee 1 ; Evan Gentil 1
RBI: Ryan Lee 1 ; Keenan Anzai 1 ; Evan Gentil 1
SH: Keenan Anzai 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Braydon Wooldridge 1 ; Tyler Howard 1 ; Ryan Lee 1 ; Joey Wright 1
HBP: Braydon Wooldridge 1
Batting:
2B: Rodriguez, Adrian 1 ; Robbins, Aiden 1 ; Larson, Ashton 1 ; Pack Jr., Anthony 1
HR: Mendoza, Ethan 1
RBI: Mendoza, Ethan 3 ; Borba, Casey 1 ; Larson, Ashton 1
SF: Borba, Casey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mendoza, Ethan 1 ; Rodriguez, Adrian 1 ; Robbins, Aiden 1 ; Becerra, Temo 1 ; Pack Jr., Anthony 2
SB: Robbins, Aiden 1 ; Tinney, Carson 1
CS: Ermis, Andrew 1
