If it has not been apparent enough, there are no easy games in the Southeastern Conference.

Traveling to Lexington, Kentucky for the first time in program history to face off against the Kentucky Wildcats, the No. 2 Texas Longhorns had to scratch and claw their way the entire weekend.

Late game heroics guide Longhorns to 6–3 victory over Wildcats

Shuttering the Wildcats allowing only four hits, Texas senior pitcher Jared Spencer was stellar on the mound striking out seven batters on another high pitch count night in his 4.2 innings. After letting up his fourth, Spencer was pulled from the mound after the Wildcats tied the game up at 1–1.

Garnering some momentum, Kentucky capitalized on their next at-bat, rockering a home run to take the lead in the sixth inning. The Longhorns quickly dissipated any thoughts of holding the lead long, as the Texas bats came to life.

Ringing off five hits in the inning, sophomore infielder Ethan Mendoza came up with a big double towards right field driving in a pair of RBIs. Mendoza came in for his own score as junior catcher Rylan Galvan singled the next at-bat.

Mendoza found himself back in the box in the next inning and faced with loaded bases. Already hot, Mendoza singled this time up the middle, driving in another two RBIs for the Longhorns final runs of the night.

Kentucky splits series as Texas falls 4–5 in longest game since 2015

It was a quick turnaround for both squads with first pitch set at 11 a.m., which did not seem to bother the Wildcats, quickly cutting up Texas redshirt junior pitcher Luke Harrison getting four hits in the bottom of the second inning holding onto a manageable 2–0.

The Longhorns tagged on a pair of home runs in the fourth inning from Galvan and junior infielder Jalin Flores, who brought home freshman infielder Adrian Rodriguez to give Texas the 3–2 lead. Still out on the mound, Harrison was pulled after allowing another pair of hits in the fifth inning as Kentucky added another run on the board.

After doubling to right field, the nimble Mendoza took advantage of two wild pitches in the eighth inning eventually retaking the lead for the Longhorns. It would be Texas’ last score of the game.

Kentucky sent out one of its premier closers to take on freshman pitcher Dylan Volantis, who could not hold off the Wildcats as sophomore infielder Ethan Hindle shot a home run in the bottom of the ninth sealing at least one more inning.

The game drew on, with both teams tied at a deadlock until the 15th inning. Pitching four innings, all in extra innings, sophomore pitcher Thomas Burns allowed a single, on the next at-bat, sophomore outfielder Griffin Cameron bunted allowing redshirt fifth year catcher Devin Burkes to scurry to second but a throwing error by Galvan allowed Burkes to head to third before coming home officially ending the game at 5–4.

Texas starves off Kentucky’s comeback, wins series in 5–4 decision

Flores broke the seal once again, singled out to center field bringing in sophomore infielder Jaquae Stewart for the game’s first run. Having a relatively quiet weekend, sophomore outfielder Will Gasparino broke the scoresheet attacking center field with a double of his own putting two more runs on the board to jump up 3–0 early.

Holding on to a 4–1 lead, the Longhorns started to crumble as the ever resilient Wildcats began to march back. Pitching the most out of any pitcher this weekend with 114 pitches thrown on Sunday, junior pitcher Ruger Riojas was solid but down the stretch began to falter, letting back-to-back singles. Shifting the bases, Burkes was clutch, doubling allowing two runs to come in to edge closer to the Longhorns.

Two doubles gave way for another Texas score for some insurance leading into the final inning. Playing in his season high for the Longhorns, junior pitcher Grayson Saunier closed out the game for Riojas. Despite allowing a run, the Texas fielding unit backed up their pitcher, sealing the game on a double play to take a 5–4 victory over the Wildcats.

Texas returns home to face the UTRGV Vaqueros Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Texas.