No. 2 Texas Suffers Surprising Beatdown by South Carolina

Longhorns ace Ruger Riojas struggles in 9-1 loss to Gamecocks

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:35am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors representing the key moments and players of a college baseball game, with the action deconstructed into sharp, overlapping shapes.A fractured, cubist depiction of the surprising beatdown suffered by the No. 2 Texas Longhorns at the hands of the South Carolina Gamecocks.Columbia Today

The No. 2 ranked Texas Longhorns suffered a surprising 9-1 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Thursday. Texas ace Ruger Riojas was roughed up in the second inning, allowing five runs, and the Longhorns' offense was held in check, managing just six hits and one solo home run by Aiden Robbins. The Gamecocks, the worst-hitting team in the SEC, took advantage of Riojas' struggles and cruised to the conference victory.

Why it matters

This loss is a significant setback for the Longhorns, who entered the game with a strong 29-6 record and ranked No. 2 nationally. The poor outing by Riojas, who had been dominant this season, raises questions about his form and whether he was tipping his pitches. Texas will need to quickly rebound if they want to maintain their high ranking and conference title hopes.

The details

Riojas was efficient in the first inning but struggled in the second, walking the leadoff batter and then giving up a double, RBI single, RBI double, and two-run triple as the Gamecocks jumped all over the Texas ace. Riojas was visibly shaken after the disastrous second inning. Freshman Brody Walls and other relievers were unable to stop the bleeding, as South Carolina added three more runs over the final five innings. Texas' offense, which had been potent this season, was held in check, going just 2-for-14 with runners on base and failing to record a hit in five at-bats with runners in scoring position.

  • The game took place on Thursday, April 3, 2026.
  • Texas tries to bounce back on Friday at 6 p.m. Central on SEC Network+

The players

Ruger Riojas

Texas senior right-handed pitcher who has been dominant this season but struggled mightily in this game, allowing five runs in the second inning.

Jim Schlossnagle

Texas head coach who was unsure if Riojas was tipping his pitches in the mid-game interview.

Aiden Robbins

Texas junior center fielder who hit a solo home run, the only run scored by the Longhorns.

Monte Lee

South Carolina's interim head coach who earned just his second conference win with this victory.

Brody Walls

Texas freshman right-handed pitcher who pitched three innings in relief, striking out four but also giving up a two-run home run.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Texas tries to bounce back on Friday at 6 p.m. Central on SEC Network+ with redshirt left-hander Luke Harrison receiving the start.

The takeaway

This loss is a significant setback for the highly-ranked Longhorns, who will need to quickly regroup if they want to maintain their conference title hopes. The struggles of ace Ruger Riojas raise concerns about his form and whether he was tipping his pitches, while the offense was held in check by the struggling Gamecocks. Texas will look to bounce back in Friday's rematch.