Baseball fans, it is finally here! 237 days have elapsed since the LSU Tigers took home their 8th national championship. 257 days have elapsed since the Longhorns were on the diamond last season in the Austin Regional. So lets take a look at the 2026 opening weekend preview as the Horns take on the Aggies of UC Davis.
As the season kicks off, expectations are sky high in year two under coach Jim Schlossnagle. The Longhorns return nearly 400 innings pitched and have added even more depth via the portal and prep ranks. In addition, the Horns landed several difference makers out of the transfer portal, earning them national recognition as the #3 preseason ranked team and picked to finished 2nd in the SEC by the coaches.
Unlike 2025, the Horns kick off the season within the comfortable confines of Disch-Falk Field as UC Davis Aggies come to Austin for a three-game series. This will mark the first time that the Horns and Aggies (UC Davis) have ever met.
For UC Davis, there is one member of the organization that is familiar with Texas. The weekend series represents a homecoming for UC Davis head coach Tommy Nicholson who was a two-time team MVP (1999 & 2000) and began his coaching career at Texas as a volunteer assistant (2009-2010). Nicholson would later take a role as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under Augie Garrido from 2013-2016. During his time as a player at Texas, Nicholson hit .327 avg with 147 runs, 223 hits, 37 doubles, 4 triples, 9 home runs, and 20 stolen bases.
The 2026 season marks Nicholson’s 5th season with the program. After spending time as an assistant coach at Stanford, Nicholson took over UC Davis during a tough period but has turned the Aggies into a competitive team in the Big West. For those unfamiliar with the Big West, it includes the likes of UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, Hawaii, and Long Beach State.
Speaking of the Big West, UC Davis finished 8th out of 11 teams in 2025 and have been picked to finish 7th in 2026, their last before heading to the Mountain West. UC Davis finished with a 27-28 record overall in 2025 and had a 13-17 record in conference play. The strength of the team in 2026 will certainly be on the pitching side as the Aggies return only three full time regulars from last season. One bright spot is that Nicholson was able to land not one but two Area Code participants in freshman SS Elijah McNeal and C/OF Kyle Pettersen. McNeal was an even more impressive land after having been drafted in the 20th Round by the Giants and is a talent that can make an impact on the lineup day one, which the Aggies will need after hitting just .259 as a team last season and only 20 home runs.
If you missed the most recent sit down with Coach Schlossnagle, check it out here. Additionally, here are the notes from Wednesday’s media availability with Coach Schlossnagle and selected players.
#3 TEXAS LONGHORNS v. UC Davis Aggies
Date: Feb 13-15
Where: Disch-Falk Field (Austin, TX)
Time: 6:30pm; 2pm; 12pm
TV: SEC Network+ / ESPN+
Radio: Longhorn Radio Network
SERIES MATCHUP:
All-Time Series Record: This will be the first ever meeting between the two teams
RECORDS:
Texas: 0-0 (0-0 SEC)
UC Davis: 0-0 (0-0 Big West)
PREDICTION
- Horns win the series 3-0
- The Horns pitching depth is too much for UC Davis and Texas earns the opening weekend sweep
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS:
- FRIDAY – Texas Senior RHP Ruger Riojas (0-0) v. Senior RHP Noel Valdez (0-0)
- Ruger 2025 Stats: 9-3, 5.61 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 18 apps, 10 starts, 69 IP
- Valdez 2025 Stats: 7-3, 3.72 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 21 apps, 14 starts, 82.1 IP
- Four pitch mix, known for being a competitor on the mound
- SATURDAY – Texas Senior LHP Luke Harrison (0-0) v. (0-0) UC Davis Freshman LHP Jack Pezzolo
- Harrison 2025 Stats: 5-1, 3.06 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 15 apps, 15 starts, 70.2 IP
- Pezzolo posted a 0.91 ERA his senior season in high school. FB that sits 89-91
- SUNDAY – Texas Soph LHP Dylan Volantis (0-0) v. (0-0) UC Davis Soph RHP Carter Speights
- Volantis 2025 Stats: 4-1, 12 saves, 1.94 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 23 apps, 1 start, 51 IP
- Speights 2025 Stats: 0-1, 1 save, 7.71 ERA, 2.24 WHIP, 16 apps, 21 IP
UC Davis Top Relievers:
- LHP Mason Lerma – 2025 Stats (3-0, 2 saves, 1.01 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 28 apps, 1 start, 35.2 IP)
- RHP Matthew Barnes – 2025 Stats (1-3, 4.62 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 20 apps, 6 starts, 37 IP)
- RHP Tyler Wood
- LHP Brayden Woolridge
- RHP Rowen Barnes
- RHP Carter Speights
UC Davis Offensive Leaders:
- Brayden Woolridge – 2025 Stats (49 starts): .287 avg, .754 OPS, 11 doubles, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 24 BB, 15 K
- Tyler Howard – 2025 Stats (45 starts): .284 avg, .755 OPS, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 8-11 SB
- Ryan Lee – 2025 Stats (40 starts): .277 avg, .728 OPS, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 19 RBI
NCAA Baseball Weekend Pick Em:
Pick Em is back. I will track week over week my predictions so that y’all can have endless fun as I resort to madness or applaud as I reign supreme.
