HOUSTON – The University of Texas Longhorns secured a dominant 10-3 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday at Daikin Park, claiming the championship title of the BRUCE BOLT College Classic. The win extended Texas’s undefeated streak to 11 games, marking their best start to a season in four years.
The Longhorns exploded in the third inning, scoring seven runs and effectively controlling the remainder of the contest. A key contributor to the offensive surge was redshirt senior Temo Becerra, who launched a two-run home run, his third of the tournament. Becerra finished the weekend batting 6-for-12 with six RBIs, significantly boosting his career home run total.
Texas sent 12 batters to the plate during the decisive third inning, with Ethan Mendoza and Aiden Robbins adding run-scoring singles, and Adrian Rodriguez contributing an RBI double. Becerra’s home run landed in the Crawford Boxes in left field, further solidifying the Longhorns’ lead.
Dylan Volantis started on the mound for Texas, delivering a strong performance with eight strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings, allowing only one run. The Longhorns’ bullpen continued to stifle the Buckeyes’ offense, with Brett Crossland earning his first collegiate win in relief. Crossland, along with Brody Walls and Cal Higgins, combined to pitch the final 4 1/3 innings, each recording two strikeouts.
Ohio State managed three runs on six hits, but struggled to contain the Longhorns’ potent offense. Grant Mangrum and Miles Vandenheuvel were both hit by pitches, while CJ Reid added a double and Noah Furcht hit a solo home run in the sixth inning for the Buckeyes. Pierce Herrenbruck took the loss for Ohio State.
Texas and UTSA were the only two teams in the six-team BRUCE BOLT College Classic to win all of their games. However, the Longhorns’ plus-17 run differential secured them the tournament crown.
The Longhorns will next face Houston Christian at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
