Texas defeated Mississippi State 3-1 Friday night in a top-10 SEC baseball game at Disch-Falk Field in Austin. The Longhorns’ pitching staff limited the Bulldogs to six hits and struck out 19 batters, holding off a late rally.
Texas starter Dylan Volantis earned the win, allowing no runs on three hits over six innings with 12 strikeouts. The Longhorns’ bullpen preserved the victory, with Sam Cozart striking out the side in the ninth for his seventh save, as Texas improved to 34-9 overall and 14-7 in conference play.
Mississippi State (35-11, 13-9 SEC) was held to four hits. Bulldogs’ starter Tomas Valincius pitched five innings, giving up three runs on four hits with five strikeouts. The Bulldogs scored their only run in the eighth inning, when Gehrig Frei homered to left field, trimming Texas’s lead to 3-1.
In the bottom of the eighth, Mississippi State threatened with runners on first and second and one out. Texas reliever Thomas Burns struck out Vytas Valincius and Bryce Chance to strand both runners. The Bulldogs also had chances earlier but couldn’t capitalize on opportunities against Volantis.
The series continues Saturday at 2:30 p.m., with Mississippi State’s Duke Stone facing Texas’s Ruger Riojas. Fans can watch on SEC Network+ and follow live updates online, according to the schools.
