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Jalin Flores' ninth inning grand slam powers Texas past Texas State

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•04/22/25•

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Jalin Flores
Jalin Flores (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

The Texas State Bobcats were looking for a season sweep of Texas. In a game that through 8.5 innings featured 21 runs, 20 hits, and three Bobcat errors, it was one swing of the bat from Longhorn shortstop Jalin Flores that made the difference.

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With the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the ninth at Bobcat Ballpark, and with Texas State weekend starter Jesus Tovar on the mound to attempt to close out the game, Flores smoked a 1-2 pitch to deep center for the Longhorns’ first grand slam of the season. Not only did the blast put the Horns up 14-11, it was the third Longhorn home run and the seventh total homer of the contest. The blast was part of an effort by the Horns to overcome deficits of five runs, three runs, and one run all after the sixth inning. Thomas Burns pitched a 123 ninth to seal the comeback win and keep hopes of a 4-0 week alive with Texas A&M heading to town on Friday.

Flores entered his pivotal at bat 2-4 with a RBI double, a walk, and a strikeout. He watched two pitches in his ninth inning at bat versus Tovar before getting a piece of the third pitch for strike two. A hanging breaking pitch stayed elevated after Flores made contact, traveling 424 feet according to the Texas baseball X account.

The Longhorns pounded out 12 hits and reached base three other times via TXST errors. However, the Longhorns left the bases loaded twice and had two runners on when the third out was recorded on two other occasions.

Four Bobcat homers, including a grand slam of their own in the bottom of the sixth, paced a TXST offense that reached 11 runs on only nine hits.

Grayson Saunier received the start for the Longhorns, pitching 3.0 innings and allowing two earned runs. Bryce Navarre, Hudson Hamilton, Connor McCreery, Andre Duplantier, Drew Rerick, Cody Howard, all pitchers save for Duplantier with single digit appearances on the season, had outings of varying lengths. Flores’ slam made Howard the pitcher of record, helping him earn his first win of the 2025 season. Burns earned the save with a quick ninth inning.

Joining Flores in the five RBI club was Casey Borba, who was 2-for-4 with a homer and a walk. Rylan Galvan notched two RBI, while Will Gasparino and Kimble Schuessler each drove in one run.

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The Longhorns did not commit an error in the process of improving to 34-5.

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