NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Vanderbilt shut out Texas 6-0 on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium, evening the Southeastern Conference series at one game apiece. The Commodores improved to 26-18 overall while the Longhorns fell to 31-9.

Vanderbilt seized control in the bottom of the first inning against Texas starter Ruger Riojas. Mike Mancini doubled to left field and Brodie Johnston tripled to left center, driving in Mancini. Braden Holcomb then homered to left center, scoring Johnston and giving the Commodores a 3-0 lead before the Longhorns recorded an out.

The Commodores extended their lead in the third inning. Holcomb singled to right field and Jack Barczi doubled, putting runners at second and third. After a strikeout, Tyler Rigdon grounded out to first base, scoring Holcomb. Ryker Waite then tripled to drive in Barczi, making the score 5-0.

Texas managed only five hits and never threatened to score. The Longhorns’ best opportunity came in the top of the first when Adrian Tinney doubled and Will Pack Jr. singled, putting runners at first and third with one out. But Vanderbilt starter Aiden Stillman struck out Jaden Rodriguez and Justin Mendoza to end the inning. Stillman worked three and two-thirds innings, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out six. He was the top star for Vanderbilt.

Relievers Luke Guth and Tyler Baird preserved the shutout. Guth pitched two and one-thirds innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. Baird threw three innings of two-hit ball with four strikeouts.

For Texas, Thomas Burns pitched three and one-thirds innings of no-hit relief but allowed one unearned run. Jason Flores tossed one and two-thirds scoreless innings. Riojas took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in three innings.

Vanderbilt’s offense collected 11 hits. Mancini and Waite each had two hits, with Waite driving in a run. Holcomb finished two for three with a home run, a single and two RBIs. Johnston added an RBI triple and a single.

The most critical sequence of the game occurred in the first inning when Riojas struggled to find the strike zone. After Mancini’s double and Johnston’s triple, Holcomb’s home run provided a quick three-run cushion that allowed Stillman and the bullpen to pitch aggressively. The Longhorns never recovered.

The seventh inning produced Vanderbilt’s final run. With the score 5-0, Mancini singled, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. He scored on a throwing error by Texas shortstop.

Texas struck out 14 times in the game. The Longhorns had runners on base in four innings but could not push a run across. Tinney doubled in the first and singled in the fifth. Pack Jr. singled twice. Justin Mendoza singled in the ninth. But Vanderbilt pitchers stranded all five Texas base runners.

The Longhorns had won the series opener 11-4 on Friday. With the victory, Vanderbilt bounced back after losing the previous day and avoided falling two games behind in the series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Vanderbilt 7, Texas 6. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Texas with a 51.70 percent probability to win.