The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Air Force
No. 4 Baseball preview: Air Force
04.20.2026 | Baseball
Longhorns close five-game homestand against Falcons on Tuesday
AIR FORCE vs. #4 TEXAS
Date: April 21, 2026
Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Stream/TV: SEC Network+
Radio: 103.1 FM
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
Air Force RHP Bowen Brantingham (0-2, 9.31 ERA) vs. Texas RHP Michael Winter (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
THE MATCHUP — For the fourth time in the last five years, No. 4 Texas and Air Force meet at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns boast a 6-1 advantage over the Falcons in the series, winning six straight contests. All seven meetings between the two sides have come since 2022.
ROLL HORNS — No. 4 Texas won its fifth SEC series in six weeks, taking two of three against No. 11 Alabama. Across the series, the Longhorns totaled 49 strikeouts, the most in a three-game set in program history. All three Texas starters compiled double-digit punchouts, with Dylan Volantis (12) and Luke Harrison (10) setting new career bests. In a 10-2 victory in the series opener, Volantis and Sam Cozart combined for a then-season-high 17 strikeouts. On Saturday, Longhorns delivered a 19-punchout effort, matching the most in a nine-inning game in program history. Texas used six different hurlers to lock down the series-securing 3-1 win. The Longhorns capped of the historic weekend by logging 13 strikeouts in a narrow 2-1 defeat.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS — As of April 20, Texas sports the No. 2 RPI and No. 6 SOS nationally. The Longhorns have registered 11 Quad 1 wins, which is only one victory shy of Alabama and Florida for the top spot in the country. Texas has notched the sixth-best scoring margin in all of Division I Baseball, averaging a +4.4 run differential. On the mound, the Longhorns rank third in WHIP (1.16) and sixth in ERA (3.41). At the plate, Texas' .937 OPS sits 18th in the country. Meanwhile, the Longhorns' .980 fielding percentage checks in 22nd nationally.
THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU — Two months into the 2026 campaign, Texas is a consensus top-4 team. The Longhorns check in as high as No. 3, according to Baseball America. Meanwhile, Texas is slotted at No. 4 by D1Baseball, Perfect Game, the NCBWA and USA Today. With four weeks remaining in conference play, Texas sits in third, trailing SEC-leader Georgia by 1 1/2 games.
MASTERING MIDWEEKS — The Longhorns are 7-2 in midweek games, registering three run-rule wins in those contests. Last season, Texas went 9-2 in midweeks. Since 2020, Jim Schlossnagle's clubs have notched a 59-12 (.831) ledger in midweek games, winning 31 of the last 36 contests.
OWN THE DISCH — Since UFCU Disch-Falk Field opened in 1975, Texas has gone 1,683-430-3 (.796) at home thanks in large part to Longhorn Nation. Texas has averaged 7,237 fans per game at home, the fifth-highest mark in the country, highlighted by the second-largest regular season crowd with 0f 8,059 against No. 8 Oklahoma on March 28. Across the three-game series vs. the Sooners, the Longhorns welcomed 23,407 fans to UFCU Disch-Falk Field, the third-highest recorded attendance for a three-game set in the ballpark's history.
