The No. 6 Texas Longhorns closed out the regular season in style, securing a double bye in next week's SEC Tournament with an emphatic 11-6 series-clinching win over Missouri at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday.
Junior catcher Carson Tinney was the star of the show, delivering a performance for the ages. The Notre Dame transfer launched a two-run home run in the third inning, then followed it up with a grand slam in the fourth as Texas stormed to a commanding 10-0 lead. Freshman left fielder Anthony Pack Jr. added to the fireworks with a back-to-back homer of his own, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Tinney's first blast was a testament to his grit at the plate. After fouling off seven pitches, he finally connected on a 3-2 offering, sending it 357 feet into the home bullpen in right field. While it may be one of his shorter homers this season, the ability to work the count and use the whole field was a masterclass in patience.
His second home run, however, was pure power. Tinney crushed a bad 2-1 pitch 456 feet at 111 miles per hour off the barrel—a no-doubter that had the Disch rocking. "Just trying to hit the barrel. See what happens when I hit the barrel," Tinney said with a grin about his approach.
With those two blasts, Tinney joined elite company as just the fifth player in program history to reach 20 home runs in a single season. He also became the first to send four homers over the batter's eye in center field at the Disch. "I'm just super grateful to be here. It's a really, really big blessing in my life to be a part of this university," Tinney added, showing the humility that makes him a fan favorite.
The Longhorns' offense was relentless, racking up 14 hits with six players recording multi-hit performances. Junior third baseman Casey Borba continued his scorching-hot streak, hitting his fifth home run in just eight at-bats. The California product showcased rare opposite-field power, a welcome development for a slugger known for pulling the ball.
Sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez also turned heads, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, providing a steady presence at the top of the lineup. With the SEC Tournament on the horizon, Texas is firing on all cylinders—and Tinney's heroics have them primed for a deep postseason run.