Texas Baseball Opens 2026 with a Statement Win Behind Power Bats and Dominant Pitching
AUSTIN, Texas - If Friday night’s season opener is any indication, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns are ready to make some serious noise in 2026. In front of a charged-up crowd at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, Texas flexed its muscle on both sides of the ball, cruising to a 12-2 run-rule victory over UC Davis.
The Longhorns didn’t just win - they imposed their will. Four different players drove in multiple runs, but it was outfielders Aiden Robbins and Anthony Pack Jr. who stole the show.
Robbins, a junior transfer from Seton Hall, wasted no time announcing his arrival in burnt orange. With Texas trailing 2-1 in the third, Robbins stepped to the plate and launched a towering two-run homer over the YETI Yard in left field.
The 450-foot shot wasn’t just a go-ahead blast - it was a statement. One swing flipped the momentum and set the tone for what became a relentless offensive night.
Two innings later, Robbins was back at it, ripping an RBI double into the right-center gap. That knock ignited a four-run fifth inning, with Texas stringing together quality at-bats to stretch the lead. And right in the middle of it all was freshman Anthony Pack Jr., who put together a debut performance that will be hard to forget.
Pack Jr. went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, including an RBI single in the fifth. His three hits marked the most by a Texas freshman in a season opener since C.J.
Hinojosa matched that total back in 2013. For a player stepping into his first collegiate game, Pack Jr. looked like a seasoned vet - calm, confident, and clutch.
He wasn’t done, either. In the seventh, with Texas closing in on a run-rule finish, Pack Jr. delivered again, notching the fourth consecutive hit of the inning to set the table.
That brought up Ethan Mendoza, who didn’t waste time. After fouling off the first pitch, Mendoza got a breaking ball he liked and crushed it over the left-field wall.
Just like that, the game was over, and the fans were headed home early with plenty to cheer about.
But as explosive as the Longhorns’ offense looked - 12 runs on 11 hits - the pitching was just as impressive, especially from senior right-hander Ruger Riojas.
Riojas looked every bit the veteran presence Texas is counting on this season. After giving up a run early, he locked in and flat-out dominated.
Over his final 15 batters faced, Riojas retired 14, racking up nine strikeouts in that stretch. He went five strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits and throwing 52 of his 78 pitches for strikes.
It was a clinic in efficiency and command.
Max Grubbs followed Riojas and kept the Aggies quiet, allowing just one run in the seventh as Texas closed the door.
UC Davis starter Noel Valdez took the loss, giving up six runs (three earned) over four innings. The Aggies managed just six hits on the night and never found a rhythm against Texas’ pitching.
With the win, Texas extends its streak of home-opening victories to nine straight seasons - a run that dates back to 2018. More importantly, the Longhorns looked every bit like a team with Omaha aspirations.
It’s only one game, but the message was loud and clear: Texas is back, and they’re coming out swinging.