Texas' path to the top of the polls began at the top of the mound

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns' ascent to the top of the national polls has undoubtedly been driven by their huge improvement on the mound from last year. With an ERA of 2.97, No.

2 in Division I, the Longhorns have combined it with steady offense to enter a three-game series with No. 8 Auburn atop the Southeastern Conference at 13-2 and 30-5 overall. Only Western Kentucky has a lower ERA (2.



69) in top-flight college baseball.Texas Longhorns rise to top of D1Baseball.com Top 25AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 06: Texas pitcher Dylan Volantis (99) watches his pitch head to home plate during the SEC college baseball game between the Texas Longhorns and Georgia on April 6, 2025, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Texas.

(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)This year's staff has nearly a two-run advantage over last year's, and while there's half of the SEC schedule left, it's still an improvement worth noting. The Longhorns have proved they can still generate runs without key bats in the lineup, but the pitching piece is what's different. It's the mentality of the staff, right-handed reliever Max Grubbs said.

"It's our ability to recommit and just make every day our opening day," he said. "We don't stack days on top of each other. There's no past bad outing.

There's no looking forward to the future. All you have is today."Grubbs has a 1.

71 ERA in 31.2 innings this season, and as one of the bright spots in a starting role last season, he had a 3.67 ERA in 73.

2 frames. He gives credit to new pitching coach Max Weiner for helping change the team's mindset and simply providing a new voice for them to listen to.Texas House gives first approval to bill that would allow universities to pay student athletes"It's what he brings to life on and off the field, just allowing us to recommit," Grubbs said.

It's always fresh with him. It's always new, and it's always exciting."The pitchers haven't just bought what Weiner has been selling; they're invested in it.

Weiner spent five seasons as the Seattle Mariners' pitching coordinator before moving to Texas A&M with Jim Schlossnagle in 2024, and then he led the Aggies' staff to 12 shutouts and a school-record 715 strikeouts. The proof that he can coach pitchers is there, and the Longhorns are running with it.Freshman left-hander Dylan Volantis is tied for No.

7 in Division I with eight saves, bursting onto the scene as perhaps the best rookie reliever in the country. At 6-foot-6 with a funky release, Volantis' curveball has given hitters fits this season, and Schlossnagle said the game has moved away from the type of breaking ball he throws.Texas Longhorns to host special fan day April 26 replacing spring football game"He's already tall and he throws extremely over the top, so he's unique in terms of those aspects," Schlossnagle said.

"You don't see a true over-the-top curveball as much anymore. It's more sliders and cutters, which he throws, but he has that true curveball that he can throw for strikes, so you have to respect it."Volantis has allowed four earned runs this season for a 1.

15 ERA with 40 strikeouts against five walks. He's helping the Longhorns make another vast improvement in terms of strikeout-to-walk ratio, leading the team to a 2.72 K:BB mark with 326 punchouts to 120 free passes so far.

Last season, the team's ratio was 1.92, 497 Ks against 258 walks.Volantis said the key to his success has been simple — he gets ahead and stays ahead of hitters.

"You can't give anyone free bases. They have to earn them," Volantis said. "Winning the 0-0 and the 1-1 counts to get ahead, it makes it a lot tougher on them and I can throw all my pitches for strikes.

"Top-ranked Texas begins its series with the No. 8 Tigers at 7 p.m.

Thursday. The second game is 6 p.m.

, Friday, with the finale set for noon Saturday..