A&M claims Lone Star Showdown in 11-4 storm

Aggies clinch series win over Longhorns with dominant 8-run first inning

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:37am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting the dynamic motion and competition of a college baseball game, with players, bats, and the field deconstructed into sharp, overlapping planes.A cubist interpretation of the intense action and energy of the Lone Star Showdown baseball rivalry between Texas A&M and Texas.Livingston Today

No. 18 Texas A&M baseball claimed the series win over No. 2 Texas in the Lone Star Showdown, defeating the Longhorns 11-4 in Game 2 on Saturday. The Aggies exploded for an 8-run first inning, highlighted by a 3-run triple from junior first baseman Gavin Grahovac, to take an early lead they would not relinquish.

Why it matters

After being swept by Texas in last year's matchup, the Aggies' series win over their in-state rival this season is an important bounce-back performance. The Lone Star Showdown is one of the biggest rivalries in college baseball, and this victory keeps A&M in the hunt for a strong finish to the regular season.

The details

Texas A&M jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first inning, with the big blow coming on Grahovac's 3-run triple. The Aggies' offense continued to roll, eventually building an 11-3 advantage. Texas was able to add a couple solo home runs, but could not mount a serious comeback against the A&M pitching staff.

  • The game started at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • There was a 2-hour weather delay in the first inning.
  • The game was completed later that afternoon.

The players

Michael Earley

Head coach of the Texas A&M baseball team.

Jim Schlossnagle

Head coach of the Texas Longhorns baseball team.

Aiden Sims

Sophomore left-handed pitcher who started the game for Texas A&M.

Gavin Grahovac

Junior first baseman for Texas A&M who hit a 3-run triple in the first inning.

Gavin Lyons

Sophomore right-handed pitcher who relieved Sims and picked up the win for Texas A&M.

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What they’re saying

“I mean winning in this league is so hard. I mean, you look around the scores every weekend, you think one team's gonna beat the next, and it's just a freaking grind, and we're not done yet.”

— Michael Earley, Head coach, Texas A&M

“I would definitely say that was my best one so far. Just a whole lot of strikes, getting ahead in the counts and getting a lot of people out.”

— Gavin Lyons, Sophomore pitcher, Texas A&M

What’s next

The Aggies will look to complete the Lone Star Showdown sweep when they face the Longhorns again on Sunday, April 12 at 1 p.m.

The takeaway

Texas A&M's dominant performance in Game 2, highlighted by an 8-run first inning, shows they are a force to be reckoned with in the highly competitive Big 12 conference. The Aggies' ability to bounce back from last year's sweep against their in-state rival demonstrates their resilience and championship aspirations.