Texas baseball vs Texas A&M game score: Replay, highlights as Longhorns win series opener

As it looks to add to its lead in the race for the Southeastern Conference championship, the Texas baseball team opened a three-game series against Texas A&M with a win on Friday night.

Led by a strong start from pitcher Ruger Riojas and key hits from Tommy Farmer IV and Jayden Duplantier, Texas recorded a 2-1 victory over Texas A&M in front of an announced crowd of 7,942 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. This was the first conference battle between the in-state rivals since 2012.

Texas (35-5, 17-2) entered this weekend with a three-game lead over Arkansas in the SEC standings. Texas A&M, which has won its last three series with two of those takedowns coming against the fourth-ranked Razorbacks and No. 6 Tennessee, is now 24-17 this season with a 8-11 mark in SEC play.

More: Jim Schlossnagle says he's at peace as Texas A&M reunion approaches

Friday's game had the added element of Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle coaching against his former team for the first time. Schlossnagle coached at Texas A&M from 2022-24 before taking the Texas job this past summer.

Texas and Texas A&M will return to UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday afternoon for the second game of this series. The first pitch for Saturday’s ESPN2-televised game is set for 3 p.m.

Texas vs Texas A&M baseball: Live updates

Final: Texas 2, Texas A&M 1

Texas reliever Dylan Volantis worked around a leadoff walk and Ben Royo's fourth hit of the afternoon to secure his 10th save of the season. Volantis struck out three batters in the final frame, and Texas A&M leadoff hitter Terrence Kiel II was caught looking at the game-ending strike.

End 8: Texas 2, Texas A&M 1

After the Longhorns were retired in order in the eighth inning, Dylan Volantis will return to the mound and try to close out this game. Austin product Kaeden Kent will lead off the ninth inning for Texas A&M and designated hitter Blake Binderup and ex-Texas first baseman Gavin Kash are due up after that.

Mid 8: Texas 2, Texas A&M 1

With one out and a runner on second base in the eighth inning, Max Grubbs was relieved by freshman Dylan Volantis with Jace LaViolette due at the plate. In a matchup between one of the nation's top relievers and Texas A&M's all-time leader in homers, Volantis struck out LaViolette on four pitches.

Texas, though, could not get out of the inning unscathed. With two outs, Wyatt Henseler skied a 2-2 pitch from Volantis for what looked like the inning-ending out. But Texas first baseman Kimble Schuessler could not get under the baseball, and Ben Royo scored from second base when the baseball hit the infield's turf.

Volantis later struck out Texas A&M catcher Bear Harrison with two Aggies aboard to end the inning.

End 7: Texas 2, Texas A&M 0

The first home run of Tommy Farmer IV's college career came at a convenient time. With one out in the seventh inning, Farmer doubled the Texas lead by homering into the Texas A&M bullpen in left field.

A sophomore, Farmer entered this game with 142 career at-bats.

End 6: Texas 1, Texas A&M 0

Texas chased Texas A&M starting pitcher Ryan Prager from the game with two outs in the sixth inning, but a flyout from Kimble Schuessler left two Longhorns on base. Prager allowed six hits and one run over 5 ⅔ innings.

During the sixth inning, Will Gasparino and Rylan Galvan both extended their on-base streaks. Gasparino is now at 33 games after his third bunt single of the season. Galvan singled to extend his streak to 32 games.

Mid 6: Texas 1, Texas A&M 0

With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Texas starting pitcher Ruger Riojas called it a night. After allowing five hits and no runs, Riojas left to a nice ovation from the crowd at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Riojas struck out three batters, hit two batters and did not allow a walk. He threw 89 pitches in his first Friday start.

Riojas was replaced by junior Max Grubbs.

Mid 5: Texas 1, Texas A&M 0

A loud swing from Jace LaViolette ended the top of the fifth inning. With two out and two on, LaViolette crushed a Ruger Riojas offering to the warning track and centerfield where it was caught by Will Gasparino.

Texas just announced a crowd of 7,942 for tonight's game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

End 4: Texas 1, Texas A&M 0

Texas led off its half of the fourth inning with a Jalin Flores double. Ryan Prager, however, spoiled that scoring opportunity for Texas when he retired the next three UT batters.

Mid 4: Texas 1, Texas A&M 0

Texas starting pitcher Ruger Riojas has struck Texas A&M slugger Jace LaViolette out twice today, but his biggest highlight just ended the top of the fourth inning. With a runner on first base, Riojas jumped off the mound to snag a slow grounder off the bat of Austin product Kaeden Kent. Instead of just taking the easy out at first, Ruger fired the baseball to second base and shortstop Jalin Flores was able to turn the double play.

End 3: Texas 1, Texas A&M 0

An unlikely source has driven in the first run of the game for Texas. Texas infielder Jayden Duplantier doubled to the Yeti Yard wall to drive in Tommy Farmer IV, who had reached base on a bunt single and advanced to third base on an Adrian Rodriguez single.

Duplantier entered the game with a .129 batting average and three RBIs over his first 20 games of the season. He had recorded one hit over 21 at-bats in SEC play.

Mid 3: Texas A&M 0, Texas 0

For the first time tonight, a runner got into scoring position. But Wyatt Henseler's groundout to UT shortstop Jalin Flores stranded Ben Royo at second base in the top of the third inning.

Through three innings, Texas starter Ruger Riojas has allowed two hits. Two of his three strikeouts have retired Texas A&M slugger Jace LaViolette.

End 2: Texas A&M, Texas 0

Through two innings at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, Texas is looking for its first hit against Texas A&M starter Ryan Prager. When UT last saw Prager, the left-hander allowed four hits and two runs while striking out seven in a 2024 regional game. Texas A&M eventually beat Texas in 11 innings in that game.

End 1: Texas A&M, Texas 0

The Longhorns were retired in order by Texas A&M starter Ryan Prager in the first inning.

Mid 1: Texas A&M 0, Texas 0

A Friday starter for the first time this season in the wake of Jared Spencer's season-ending shoulder injury, Ruger Riojas is off to a good start for Texas. Riojas struck out two batters in the first inning as Texas A&M was limited to Wyatt Henseler's single against a shifted Texas infield.

Steve Sarkisian delivers ceremonial first pitch before Texas-Texas A&M game

Technically, Texas junior Ruger Riojas delivered the first pitch of the evening on Friday. That was a strike taken by Texas A&M's Terrence Kiel II.

But ahead of that Riojas offering, Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian delivered the ceremonial first pitch. Catching the pitch from Sarkisian was Jonah Williams, the freshman outfielder who is also a member of the Texas football team. Sarkisian, who once played shortstop at USC and El Camino College, was clocked at 58 miles-per-hour by the TrackMan system at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

Start of Texas-Texas A&M game delayed by weather

Due to inclement weather, the Texas-Texas A&M baseball game won't start on time this evening. It has been announced that the first pitch will now be at 8:05 p.m.

Unlike other programs, Texas and Texas A&M's baseball teams have regularly played in recent years

Throughout this school year, the revival of the Texas and Texas A&M rivalry has been a storyline for many sports. For example, the Texas and Texas A&M football, soccer and softball teams did not play one regular-season game between the time the Aggies left the Big 12 and the Longhorns joined the SEC.

That won't be the case with baseball.

Between 2016 and 2024, Texas and Texas A&M's baseball teams met in the regular season in every year except for one. That outlier was the 2020 season, and the Longhorns and Aggies would have played that March had the coronavirus pandemic not nixed the NCAA's spring sports.

After Texas A&M left for the SEC following the 2012 season, the Longhorns and Aggies also played six times in the NCAA Tournament. Three years ago, Texas A&M ended UT's 2022 season with a 10-2 win at the College World Series.

Texas owns a 245-132-5 lead in the all-time series.

Texas vs Texas A&M starting lineups

Texas batting order

1. DH Ethan Mendoza
2. C Rylan Galvan
3. SS Jalin Flores
4. CF Will Gasparino
5. 1B Kimble Schuessler
6. 3B Casey Borba
7. RF Tommy Farmer IV
8. LF Adrian Rodriguez
9. 2B Jayden Duplantier

Texas A&M batting order

1. LF Terrence Kiel II
2. CF Jace LaViolette
3. 3B Wyatt Henseler
4. RF Caden Sorrell
5. C Bear Harrison
6. SS Kaeden Kent
7. DH Blake Binderup
8. 1B Gavin Kash
9. 2B Ben Royo

Texas starting pitcher

RHP Ruger Riojas (7-1, 3.33 ERA)

Texas A&M starting pitcher

LHP Ryan Prager (2-2, 4.29)

What time does Texas baseball play Texas A&M today?

• Time: 7 p.m. CT
• Date: April 25
• Location: UFCU Disch-Falk Field

How to watch Texas baseball vs Texas A&M today

• TV: SEC Network
• Radio: The Longhorn Radio Network

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This story was updated to add a gallery.