Texas baseball sweeps Mississippi State, makes early SEC statement: Recap
David EckertTexas announced its presence in college baseball’s marquee conference with a megaphone and a boombox.
The Longhorns completed their loud entrance into the SEC with a doubleheader sweep of Mississippi State on Sunday at Dudy Noble Field, claiming a 5-3 win in the opener before securing a 4-1 win in the series finale, leaving Starkville with three wins in three days.
Max Belyeu delivered the most impactful hit of the afternoon, launching a two-run homer to right field in the seventh inning to give the Longhorns (17-1, 3-0 SEC) the lead in the first of two seven-inning contests played Sunday.
Easton Winfield and Kimble Schuessler each contributed RBI doubles in support of Luke Harrison, who allowed two runs in four innings of work while striking out five Bulldogs (13-7, 0-3).
Coach Jim Schlossnagle’s club rode outstanding pitching to its 17th win in a row in Game Two. Freshman Jason Flores, starting on the weekend for the first time after impressing in a midweek role, surrendered one run on two hits in 3⅔ innings of work. Max Grubbs followed with 3⅓ frames of scoreless relief to close out the win for Texas.
Rylan Galvan slugged his sixth homer of the season and his second of the series, and Casey Borba drove Galvan in after a double in the fourth to set the Longhorns up with a lead going into the late innings.
Ethan Mendoza’s RBI single and Jalin Flores’ bases-loaded walk provided Grubbs with more than enough insurance to shut the Bulldogs down.
Texas returns home on Tuesday, when it will face UTSA at 6:30 p.m.
Texas baseball live score updates vs Mississippi State
FINAL: Texas 4, Mississippi State 1
Max Grubbs closed out the game for the Longhorns by stranding a pair of Bulldogs on the basepaths.
Mid 7: Texas 4, Mississippi State 1
Ethan Mendoza came through with another late-inning hit, cashing in Will Gasparino's double by grounding an RBI single up the middle that gave the Longhorns an insurance run with three outs left to get. Jalin Flores brought home another with a bases-loaded walk.
End 6: Texas 2, Mississippi State 1
A leadoff walk by Jalin Flores was nullified when Adrian Rodriguez grounded into a double play in a scoreless sixth for the Longhorns. Max Grubbs pitched a clean bottom half to put Texas three outs away from a series sweep.
End 5: Texas 2, Mississippi State 1
After Mikhai Grant struck out the side for Mississippi State in the fifth, the Longhorns made things complicated on defense. Max Grubbs walked a pair of Bulldogs, then made a pickoff attempt to first base with nobody covering. But Max Belyeu threw out Dylan Cupp when he tried to score from second on the error, and Grubbs ended the threat with a strikeout.
End 4: Texas 2, Mississippi State 1
Casey Borba ripped a single through the left side to score Rylan Galvan, who had doubled, and restore the Longhorns' lead. Jim Schlossnagle lifted starter Jason Flores with two outs in the bottom of the fourth in favor of Max Grubbs, who induced a groundout to end the inning.
End 3: Texas 1, Mississippi State 1
After the Longhorns went down in order in the third, Mississippi State manufactured a run in its half of the inning. Jason Flores hit leadoff man Ross Highfill with a pitch, and he came around to score on Reed Stallman's single through the shift.
End 2: Texas 1, Mississippi State 0
Rylan Galvan lifted a fly ball up into the wind and over the right field fence to put the Longhorns on top in the second inning. It marked his second long ball of the series and sixth of the year. Jason Flores pitched a perfect bottom of the second, including his first strikeout.
End 1: Texas 0, Mississippi State 0
MSU starter Karson Ligon sent the Longhorns down 1-2-3 in the first. Jason Flores, a freshman making his first weekend start for Texas, pitched around a walk and a pop-fly single by inducing a double play to end the first.
Game 1 Recap
FINAL: Texas 5, Mississippi State 3
Thanks to a highlight reel catch by Tommy Farmer IV in left field, freshman Dylan Volantis successfully worked around a pair of singles in the seventh to secure his second save in as many games.
Mid 7: Texas 5, Mississippi State 3
Max Belyeu came up huge for the Longhorns, sending an 0-2 breaking ball over the right field wall to give Texas the lead in the seventh and final inning of Game One.
End 6: Texas 3, Mississippi State 3
Mississippi State reliever Nate Williams retired the Longhorns in order in the sixth, the third consecutive hitless frame for Texas. Ruger Riojas bounced back to pitch a perfect inning of his own in the bottom half.
End 5: Texas 3, Mississippi State 3
After the Longhorns went down in order, Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle lifted starter Luke Harrison when he surrendered a leadoff walk. Ruger Riojas then gave up a bunt single and a game-tying, two-run double to Mississippi State's Ace Reese.
End 4: Texas 3, Mississippi State 1
Evan Siary struck out three Longhorns in the fourth, working around a one-out walk by Ethan Mendoza. In the bottom of the inning, Luke Harrison continued his strong outing. After Hunter Hines arrived at third base with one out thanks to a single and an error, Harrison whiffed the next two Bulldogs to keep Mississippi State off the board.
End 3: Texas 3, Mississippi State 1
The Longhorns loaded the bases and chased Mississippi State starter Ben Davis from the game but couldn't cash in after Will Gasparino hit an infield fly and Easton Winfield struck out. Luke Harrison picked up his first clean inning in the bottom half and notched his third strikeout.
End 2: Texas 3, Mississippi State 1
Easton Winfield came through in the clutch with his first hit since March 4, serving a hanging breaking ball into the right field corner to drive in Rylan Galvan and Will Gasparino. Kimble Schuessler followed with his own RBI double to extend the Texas lead to 3-1. Luke Harrison erased a walk with an inning-ending double play to produce a shut-down inning.
End 1: Mississippi State 1, Texas 0
The Longhorns were set down in order in the top of the first by Mississippi State starter Ben Davis. Luke Harrison was betrayed by his control in the bottom of the frame. He walked a pair of Bulldogs and surrendered a bloop base bit before hitting Aaron Downs with a pitch to force in the game's first run.
What time does Texas baseball play Mississippi State today?
- Game 1 Time: 1 p.m. CT
- Game 2 Time: 40 minutes after conclusion of first game
- Date: March 16
- Location: Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi.
How to watch Texas baseball vs Mississippi State today
- TV: SEC Network
- Streaming:SEC Network+
- Radio: The Longhorn Radio Network
Texas lineup for Game 2
- 2B Ethan Mendoza
- RF Max Belyeu
- SS Jalin Flores
- DH Adrian Rodriguez
- C Rylan Galvan
- 3B Casey Borba
- CF Will Gasparino
- 1B Kimble Schuessler
- LF Tommy Farmer IV
Mississippi State lineup for Game 2
- LF Reed Stallman
- CF Bryce Chance
- 3B Ace Reese
- DH Noah Sullivan
- 1B Hunter Hines
- RF Aaron Downs
- 2B Gatlin Sanders
- C Ross Highfill
- SS Dylan Cupp
Texas baseball starting pitcher for Game 2
RHP Jason Flores (1-0, 1.00 ERA)
Mississippi State baseball starting pitcher for Game 2
RHP Karson Ligon (2-1, 3.21 ERA)
