Decision to stick with Luke Harrison backfires for No. 2 Texas in loss to rival Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION — Needing a win to even its SEC series Saturday against Texas A&M, the Texas baseball team quickly fell into an 8-0 hole during the first inning at Blue Bell Park.

Well, maybe "quickly" isn't the right word here. Due to a 98-minute weather delay, the first inning actually took over two hours to complete. Regardless, Texas A&M still led by an 8-0 score at the end of the first inning in what eventually became an 11-4 win for the Aggies.

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With that seven-run loss and Friday's 9-8 setback in College Station, No. 2 Texas (27-7, 9-5) was handed its first series loss of the season. The 18th-ranked Aggies are also now 27-7 with a 9-5 mark in SEC play.

"A&M has outplayed us for two days," Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle surmised in his postgame comments.

Texas Longhorns infielder Ashton Larson (44) catches the ball at first during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

Luke Harrison falters after weather delays Saturday's first inning

Texas actually struck first Saturday as Ethan Mendoza led off the game with a double and later scored. Texas A&M countered with two runs in the top of the first inning, but then the skies over College Station opened. In addition to leading 2-1 when weather forced both teams into their locker rooms, Texas A&M had two runners in scoring position with Terrence Kiel II facing a 1-1 count.

Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) walks off the mound in the rain during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

Following the rainy respite, Texas sent starting pitcher Luke Harrison back to the mound. Three of Harrison's four offerings to Kiel after the delay were taken for balls, and a close call on the full-count offering went the batter's way and sent Kiel to first base. Harrison responded with a strikeout of Jorian Wilson, but the Aggies then pounced on Harrison with three extra-base hits that brought home six runs.

Texas Longhorns pitcher Luke Harrison (53) throws a pitch during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

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Schlossnagle finally pulled Harrison, but the damage was done. Texas A&M had scored eight runs — its biggest offensive outburst in a single inning against Texas since a nine-run showing in the fourth frame of a 25-6 win on April 30, 1995 — and Harrison had given up more than four earned runs for the first time in a college career that now features 26 starts and 69 appearances.

Afterwards, the question was why Harrison even returned to the mound after throwing 25 pitches before the weather delay began. Schlossnagle said he considered going to the bullpen but trusted in Harrison, who wanted to pitch.

"We really trust Luke and felt like he was still in a good spot," Schlossnagle said. "He certainly wasn't cold. He was warm and ready to go."

Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle watches from the dugout during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

Texas A&M succeeds after making a similar pitching decision

Like Texas, A&M also stuck with its starting pitcher through the weather delay. Following a 14-pitch effort in the top of the first inning, Aiden Sims waited out the rain and his team's offense before returning to the mound. Sims hit the first batter he faced in the second inning and later walked another Longhorn, but the sophomore right-hander was able to limit the damage.

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Sims, who committed to Texas A&M in 2022 while Schlossnagle was leading the Aggies' coach, eventually threw 83 pitches over 4 ⅔ innings. He allowed four hits, two of which were Aiden Robbins and Josh Livingston's solo homers.

"Aiden had only thrown 14 pitches at the time (of the delay). If we're deeper in the game, it's a way different decision," Texas A&M coach Michael Earley said. "We were just able to keep him hot, moving around. We though since it was so early, just like them, that we needed him to pitch."