AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — Adrian Rodriguez drove in three runs and Ethan Mendoza homered as Texas defeated Oregon 11-3 on Saturday at UFCU Disch–Falk Field, taking the opener of a nonconference series.

The Longhorns (44-13) used a balanced offensive attack and a parade of pitchers to overwhelm the Ducks (43-17). Texas touched Oregon for 11 runs on eight hits, taking advantage of eight walks, three hit batters and several wild pitches. Oregon managed nine hits but left 11 runners on base.

Texas took control early. After Oregon pushed three runs across in the top of the first inning on a single by J. Gimenez and aggressive baserunning, the Longhorns answered immediately. In the bottom of the first, Rodriguez doubled to left-center with two outs, scoring two runs to trim the deficit to 3-2.

The game turned decisively in the bottom of the second. Casey Borba led off with a solo home run to right-center to tie the score 3-3. Texas then loaded the bases with a walk, a stolen base and a sacrifice fly by K. Robbins to take a 4-3 lead.

Oregon had opportunities to reclaim the lead but could not cash in. In the top of the third, the Ducks put two runners on with a single and a walk, but two strikeouts and a groundout ended the threat. In the top of the fourth, Oregon had runners at second and third with one out, but a strikeout and a groundout kept Texas ahead 4-3.

The pivotal moment came in the bottom of the fifth. With the score still 4-3, Texas shortstop Rodriguez delivered again, singling to left-center to score a runner and extend the lead to 6-3. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases, and another hit batter forced in a run to make it 7-3. Oregon changed pitchers twice, but the Longhorns continued to pressure the Ducks.

Oregon mounted a brief rally in the top of the sixth. After a double by M. Molony and a walk, Gimenez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Two strikeouts followed, but then Drew Smith walked with the bases loaded to force in a run and B. Jaksa walked to force in another, cutting the deficit to 7-5. Texas then brought in Luke Harrison, who struck out B. Mabeus to end the inning.

Texas answered emphatically in the bottom of the sixth. After a single and a walk, Rodriguez delivered a sacrifice fly to center to make it 8-5. Mendoza then crushed a two-run homer to left-center, stretching the lead to 10-5. The Longhorns added another run in the eighth on a second sacrifice fly by Rodriguez, scoring a runner from third to make it 11-5.

Oregon got a solo home run from Smith in the top of the eighth, but Texas closer Brody Walls retired the side in order in the ninth to seal the victory.

Texas starter Dylan Volantis worked four innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Harrison earned the win in relief, throwing two innings of one-hit ball. Oregon starter Leo Uelmen took the loss after allowing four runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Texas 7, Oregon 6. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Texas with a 62.40 percent probability to win. Texas had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -2.5.