Holding on to a two-game lead in the SEC standings, the Longhorns cross the Red River for a showdown with the Sooners.
As the regular season concludes, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns (40-10, 20-7) are heading to Norman to face the Oklahoma Sooners (32-17, 13-14) where the storied Red River Rivalry will take center stage once again in this pivotal weekend series.
The 230th game between the longtime rivals in a series that dates back to 1910 has added stakes this year as the Horns cling to a two-game lead in the SEC standings with a magic number of one to clinch at least a share of the regular-season title.
But if recent series are any indication, that one game won’t be easy to secure — after a 19-2 start to conference play, Texas is 1-5 in its last two SEC series, hitting the type of stretch that head coach Jim Schlossnagle long forecast even amidst the historic surge in the program’s inaugural season in the nation’s best baseball conference.
“I think we still have half the conference season left. I’d love to think that it’s going to continue like the first half, but, more than likely, we’re going to have our ugly stretch or ugly weekend. That’s when we’ll truly be tested,” Schlossnagle said.
Suffice it to say, the Longhorns are truly being tested.
Texas
After the weekend series loss against Florida, Texas enters the series with a potent combination of offensive firepower and pitching depth. The Longhorn offense is highlighted by sophomore second baseman Ethan Mendoza, who leads the team with a .332 batting average, complemented by junior catcher Rylan Galvan’s 14 home runs and 42 RBIs, while junior shortstop Jalin Flores adds power with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs.
The offense could receive a boost from the return of junior left fielder Max Belyeu, last year’s Big 12 Player of the Year who hasn’t played since fracturing his thumb against Missouri on March 28, missing 26 games. Belyeu is officially listed as probable on the SEC availability report released Wednesday evening.
“He had a really good day yesterday. He’s still working through some things, but he’s super close,” Schlossnagle said on Wednesday. “The rate of progression he’s had this week has been faster than previous weeks. I’d like to get him in there. We need him to get at bats. I don’t want his first at bats to be in the regional, or even the SEC tournament.”
Whether Belyeu plays on Thursday will be determined by how he does in batting practice.
On the mound, freshman left-hander Dylan Volantis boasts a remarkable 1.52 ERA over 41.1 innings with 61 strikeouts, while junior-righty Max Grubbs has secured 5 saves with a 2.05 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 48.1 innings. The Longhorns’ pitching staff collectively holds a 3.53 ERA, limiting opponents to a .217 batting average underscoring their balanced prowess on both offense and defense, but will still be missing senior-lefty Jared Spencer on the mound with his 3.27 ERA and 66 strikeouts.
With Texas starting a weekend series on Thursday for the third time in the last month, Schlossnagle has shifted his rotation to afford junior right-hander Ruger Riojas and redshirt junior left-hander Luke Harrison their typical rest, declaring sophomore left-hander Kade Bing (3-0, 2.89 ERA) the starter for the opening game, his first weekend nod since the third week of the season.
Oklahoma
The Sooners aim to capitalize on their offensive strengths to challenge the Longhorns to turn around a four-game losing streak.
Oklahoma’s offense is spearheaded by junior catcher Easton Carmichael, who stands out with a .318 batting average, 13 home runs, and 52 RBIs. Sophomore-infielder Jaxon Willits contributes with a .301 average and nine home runs. The Sooners will be missing junior- infielder Dayton Tockey (.239 BA and .511 SLG%) this series due to his hairline fracture in his ankle that happened against Georgia.
On the mound, junior right-hander Kyson Witherspoon leads the staff, slinging a 2.45 ERA with 104 strikeouts over 77 innings, while senior right-hander Dylan Crooks has been reliable in closing situations with 12 saves and a remarkable 1.40 ERA. Oklahoma’s team ERA stands at 4.47, with opponents hitting .283 against them, indicating a strong offensive lineup complemented by effective pitching.
Series outlook
This series promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the regular season as Texas aims to stabilize its season while Oklahoma seeks to improve their postseason prospects with their explosive offense. The Longhorns’ pitching depth and strong bats may give them an edge, but the front end of the Sooners’ pitching staff and their offensive capabilities ensure that each game will be fiercely contested.
Fans can expect that no love will be lost in this Red River Showdown, just a competitive series where intensity and discipline are key as Texas tries to lock up a regular-season title and the No. 1 seed for the SEC Tournament.
First pitch at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman is at 6:30 p.m. Central on Thursday and Friday, followed by a 2:30 p.m. Central start on Saturday. All three games air on SEC Network+.
