Texas vs – Texas and UC Santa Barbara meet again in the Austin Regional final on Sunday with a clear fork in the road: a Texas win sends the Longhorns to their first NCAA super regional since 2023, while a UCSB victory forces a winner-takes-all game Monday. Follow live s
Sunday at the Austin Regional already feels like a test of nerve.
Texas is one win away from moving on—and one loss away from dragging everything back to Austin for a winner-takes-all game Monday.
The stakes are simple for the sixth-seeded Longhorns (42-13), who are 2-0 in this regional. With a win Sunday, Texas advances in the NCAA Tournament. If UC Santa Barbara (40-19) wins instead, both teams will return to UFCU Disch-Falk Field for a deciding game on Monday.
UC Santa Barbara didn’t just survive the weekend—it did it with a deadline in its throat. The Gauchos stayed alive at the Austin Regional with Sunday afternoon’s 9-5 win over Tarleton State. The last pitch of that game was thrown at 3:34 p.m.
Now the momentum has shifted to a single question: can UCSB turn survival into a championship moment.
Through the early part of the matchup, Texas and UCSB have both made it clear they’re not wasting chances. Through two innings, Texas and UCSB each have two hits, and both teams wasted a base runner in the second inning.
The first inning told a different story—because it began with a punch.
UC Santa Barbara got on the scoreboard by homering off the scoreboard in right field in the first inning. Rowan Kelly, who went deep against Tarleton State earlier this afternoon, delivered that solo shot.
Texas fell behind for the first time this week, and the Longhorns have been trying to answer without giving UCSB more room. In the first inning, Texas pitcher Ruger Riojas threw 15 pitches and topped out at 97 miles-per-hour.
Riojas hasn’t exactly been on full volume either. He had thrown just five pitches since May 10 while dealing with shoulder tendonitis.
Through three innings, Texas pitcher Ruger Riohas—working under the same name as listed for the game’s early stint—has allowed three hits while issuing one walk. He also has three strikeouts.
Texas is trying to regain traction after early sparks. The Longhorns got a two-out single from Anthony Pack Jr. in the top of the first inning, but that was Texas’ lone highlight.
UC Santa Barbara’s third inning had the look of a threat, too. The Gauchos got two runners aboard in the third inning, but a flyout to center field ended it.
Both teams have also already started treating the moment like a long one. In this game, like it was on Friday, Texas is the designated visitor.
The pitching matchup is set. RHP Ruger Riojas (5-2, 4.02 ERA) takes the mound for Texas, with RHP Kellan Montgomery (8-4, 4.06 ERA) starting for UC Santa Barbara.
There’s even a soundtrack to the tension. Fans at the ballpark will get to hear “Poker Face” played twice this afternoon. Both Riojas and Montgomery use Lady Gaga’s hit song as their warm-up music.
If this game ends in Texas’ favor, the Longhorns get to chase a first NCAA super regional since 2023. If it doesn’t, the decision won’t be settled until Monday.
Stay tuned for live updates as Sunday’s regional final plays out pitch by pitch.
Texas baseball UC Santa Barbara baseball Austin Regional NCAA tournament live scoring Ruger Riojas Kellan Montgomery Anthony Pack Jr. Rowan Kelly UFCU Disch-Falk Field