No. 4 Texas Crushes No. 11 Alabama, 10-2

Volantis strikes out career-high 12 in dominant outing for Longhorns

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:51am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of green, blue, and orange, capturing the dynamic action and energy of a college baseball game.Texas' decisive victory over Alabama showcases the Longhorns' depth and versatility as they continue their push towards the postseason.College Station Today

The No. 4 Texas Longhorns cruised to a decisive 10-2 victory over the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Sophomore left-hander Dylan Volantis turned in the best outing of his career, striking out a career-high 12 batters over six innings of two-run ball. Texas jumped out to an early lead and broke the game open with a three-run sixth inning, led by strong performances from the top of the lineup.

Why it matters

This win over a highly ranked SEC opponent continues Texas' strong start to the season and solidifies their position as one of the top teams in the country. The Longhorns' dominant pitching and balanced offensive attack will make them a force to be reckoned with as conference play heats up.

The details

Volantis was in complete control on the mound, mixing his fastball, curveball, cutter, and changeup to keep Alabama's hitters off balance all night. Freshman right-hander Sam Cozart closed out the game with three scoreless, hitless innings to earn his fifth save. Texas jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back, adding runs in the third, fifth, sixth, and eighth innings to pull away.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 18, 2026.
  • First pitch was moved up from 2 p.m. Central to noon Central due to the possibility of thunderstorms later in the afternoon.

The players

Dylan Volantis

Texas sophomore left-hander who struck out a career-high 12 batters in six innings of work.

Sam Cozart

Texas freshman right-hander who earned his fifth save of the season with three scoreless, hitless innings.

Dylan Robbins

Texas junior center fielder who went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Carson Tinney

Texas junior catcher who hit his seventh home run in the last seven games and had three hits, four runs scored, and three RBIs.

Adrian Rodriguez

Texas sophomore shortstop who returned to the lineup and went 2-for-5.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Moving Dylan Volantis into the Friday start was only about his missed start last Sunday, but after that outing, he's going to remain in that role.”

— Jim Schlossnagle, Texas Head Coach

What’s next

With the possibility of thunderstorms late Saturday afternoon, first pitch for the second game of the series between Texas and Alabama has been moved up from 2 p.m. Central to noon Central.

The takeaway

Texas' dominant performance over a highly ranked SEC opponent demonstrates the Longhorns' status as one of the top teams in the country. Their balanced offensive attack and stellar pitching will make them a formidable opponent as conference play continues.