Entering the second week of the 2026 season, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns remain at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, hosting the Michigan State Spartans for a non-conference weekend series after Jake Boss’ team upset the then-No. 8 Louisville Cardinals on the road to open their head coach’s 18th season in East Lansing with his highest-ranked series win.
In the 20 years that Dan McDonnell has coached Louisville, it was only the third time his Cardinals have opened the season with consecutive losses.
In the opening
game, successfully sophomore right-hander Aiden Donovan stepped into the role previously occupied by 2025 second-round MLB Draft pick Joseph Dzierwa, allowing one run over 5.0 innings, scattering three hits and striking out three while inducing nine groundouts in Friday’s 4-3 victory.
Senior right-hander Nolan Higgins wasn’t as sharp in giving up two runs in two innings, but two more experienced pitchers were able to work the final two innings to close the game out.
Solo home runs by redshirt sophomore catcher Adam Broski in the seventh inning and senior first baseman Randy Seymour in the eighth inning pushed the Spartans past the Cardinals. Seymour drove in the opening runs for Michigan State with a two-run single in the fifth inning.
Keyed by six runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the sixth inning, the 13-4 win on Saturday was more impressive as Michigan State came up with clutch hits and Louisville did not — the Spartans went 8-for-18 (.444) with runners on and 6-for-11 (.545) with runners in scoring position compared to 4-for-20 (.200) with runners on and 2-for-10 (.200) with runners in scoring comparison for the Cardinals.
The big swings for MSU were truly big swings by junior right fielder Parker Picot, an Alabama transfer who hit nine home runs while struggling with strikeouts last season. In the fourth inning, Picot broke the game open with a grand slam, adding a three-run home run in the sixth to finish with eight RBI in becoming the first Spartan to reach that threshold since 2000.
In allowing 13 hits and issuing five walks, the four Michigan State pitchers consistently faced high-pressure situations and were able to out-compete the Louisville hitters, but a similar situation likely won’t be sustainable against Texas in Austin.
The series swung in the other direction on Sunday in a 9-1 victory for the Cardinals when the Spartans only managed four hits, committed to errors, and got a poor start from junior right-hander Logan Pikur.
After the series, Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle caught up with McDonnell to get his thoughts on Michigan State.
“He was super impressed by not just how they swung the bat, but how they played defense, all the things that are tough to do when you’re in a gym or in a field house trying to practice,” Schlossnagle said on Thursday.
“When I was at TCU, we played Michigan State a couple times. Kirk Gibson’s son was on the team, and I just remember it being a total nightmare when you’re playing those Big Ten schools. Minnesota was the same way where you’re playing big, strong guys that all they do is they’re in a batting cage a lot facing and so when you’re in a batting cage a lot and you don’t ever get to see ball flight, you actually can develop really, really good habits and stay away from really, really bad — they’re kind of on the ball all the time. So that’s what I think of when I think of those big, physical Midwestern teams, and that’s what we’re playing.”
Schlossnagle also confirmed that the starting rotation will remain the same, but getting innings for junior left-hander Haiden Leffew, freshman right-hander Brett Crossland, and freshman right-hander Brody Walls remains a priority for pitching coach Max Weiner.
“They hear from Max how important they are to this team and this program moving forward, but playing time, opportunity to pitch is what they want the most, is what I want to see them do the most, so we’ll get them out there. There’ll be plenty of opportunity,” Schlossnagle said.
Junior left-hander Kade Bing and redshirt senior right-hander Cody Howard also pitched well in Wednesday’s simulated game, according to Schlossnagle, and could see innings against the Spartans or in the midweek game next week.
Texas also expects to see freshman right fielder Anthony Pack Jr. return to the lineup after he left Tuesday’s run-rule victory over Lamar with cramping issues.
“He was a little sore yesterday, but he took batting practice and and practiced with the team, and he should go full scale today, so I think he’ll be fine,” Schlossnagle said.
The California product is leading the Horns with a .538 batting average and has notched five runs scored, two doubles, two RBI, and two stolen bases.
The Longhorns could also see the season debut of sophomore outfielder Jonah Williams, who is considered day-to-day, with his first appearance likely to come at designated hitter.
The start times at 6:30 p.m. Central on Friday, 2 p.m. Central on Saturday, and noon Central on Sunday with all three games airing on SEC Network+.
