South Carolina's lefty, Alex Valentin, is stepping into the spotlight for his first SEC start against a familiar foe: the No. 2 Texas Longhorns.
Valentin's past encounter with Texas was memorable, as he closed out a win for Texas State in Austin last season, escaping a bases-loaded jam to secure the save. Since transferring to South Carolina, he's sharpened his skills, boasting a 3.91 ERA over 12 appearances, a significant improvement from his 6.12 ERA at Texas State.
The Gamecocks are counting on Valentin to shake things up in their weekend rotation as they attempt to turn around a challenging season. He’ll be facing off against Texas ace Ruger Riojas, who’s coming off a stellar seven-inning shutout against Oklahoma. Riojas, with a 1.59 ERA, is one of three Longhorns spotlighted on the Golden Spikes midseason watch list, alongside teammates Dylan Volantis and Aiden Robbins.
South Carolina's season has been rocky, leading to a coaching change. Paul Maineiri and the Gamecocks parted ways on March 21 after a tough 1-8 start in SEC play, capped by a crushing 22-6 loss to Arkansas. Interim coach Monte Lee has since taken the reins, guiding the team to a 2-5 record, including a lone win against Arkansas and a sweep by Georgia.
On the other side, Texas is flying high. The Longhorns, sitting at 24-4 overall and 7-2 in SEC play, are tied for the top spot in the conference.
They recently swept Oklahoma and have claimed series wins over Auburn and Ole Miss. Under Jim Schlossnagle's leadership since 2025, Texas has won 11 of 13 series, showcasing their dominance.
However, the Longhorns are dealing with a setback. Shortstop Adrian Rodriguez is sidelined this weekend after a procedure to remove a staple from his surgically repaired hand, which was causing allergic reactions and additional pain.
As the game unfolds, South Carolina is off to a strong start, leading 6-1. Brody Walls has been solid for the Longhorns, delivering clean innings, while Aiden Robbins provided a spark with a solo home run for Texas. Meanwhile, South Carolina's offense came alive in the second inning, tagging Riojas for five runs with a flurry of extra-base hits.
The action continues at Founders Park, with fans tuning in via SEC Network and 103.1 FM radio. Both teams are eager to make their mark as the season progresses, with South Carolina looking to rally and Texas aiming to maintain their impressive form.