Top-ranked Texas claims Lone Star Showdown series opener over Texas A&M 2-1

AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 1 Texas held off Texas A&M to claim the opening game of the first Lone Star Showdown series in the Southeastern Conference 2-1 on Friday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

Dylan Volantis picked up his 10th save, getting five outs, including a strikeout of Aggies slugger Jace LaViolette in the eighth inning with a runner in scoring position. The go-ahead run reached base in the ninth, but Volantis struck out Terrence Kiel II to end the game and seal the victory. All of the outs recorded by Volantis were via strikeout.

Tommy Farmer IV smacked a solo home run in the seventh to give the Longhorns a 2-0 lead, and when things started to go sideways for Texas late, they got back on track quickly. The Aggies’ lone run scored in the eighth on a misplayed pop-up by Kimble Schuessler, and after Caden Sorrell singled to put the tying run on, Volantis struck out Bear Harrison to end the threat.

Jayden Duplantier doubled in the third off of Aggies ace Ryan Prager to score Farmer for Texas’ first run of the game.

With typical Friday night starting pitcher Jared Spencer out for the rest of the season, Ruger Riojas was moved up to take the ball, and he delivered. He pitched 5.2 innings and didn’t allow a run on five hits with three strikeouts to get his eighth win.

Prager had a nice outing for the Aggies, allowing one run on six hits in 5.2 innings.

Farmer was the only Longhorn with multiple hits, going 2-for-3. Ben Royo was terrific out of the No. 9 spot in the batting order for the Aggies, going 4-for-4 with a double. The Aggies out-hit the Longhorns 8-7.

Rain caused the game to start at 8:05 p.m., an hour and five minutes later than originally scheduled.

It’s the seventh consecutive win for Texas (35-5, 17-2 SEC). Texas A&M drops to 24-17 overall and 8-11 in SEC play. The series continues at 3 p.m. Saturday.

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