Texas
Pitching and Pair of Three-Run Innings Push Tennessee Past Texas Tech For Season-Opening Win | Rocky Top Insider
ARLINGTON, TX – AJ Russell galloped off the mound to a large ovation by the sector of Tennessee fans in Globe Life Field before embracing his teammates in the dugout.
Russell’s second career start was a memorable one. His nearly flawless first four innings of work highlighted a big win for Tennessee to get their season started off on the right foot.
Tennessee baseball picked up a 6-2 win over No. 21 Texas Tech in Arlington on Friday night. In their first of three games in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown, the Vols used a three-run fourth and three-run eighth inning to best a ranked Red Raiders team in their home state.
Tennessee struck first in the fourth inning when Clemson transfer third baseman Billy Amick hit the Vols’ first home run of the season with a two-run shot to right field.
Tennessee later took a 3-0 lead in the fourth after Bradke Lohry reached on a throwing error by Texas Tech second baseman Tracer Lopez, allowing Kavares Tears to score from second.
The Vols’ three-run inning felt massive considering AJ Russell’s dominance on the mound.
Russell was nothing short of phenomenal in his first weekend start in a Tennessee uniform. The Franklin, Tennessee native was especially dominant early in the night, retiring 12 of his 13 batters and logging 10 strikeouts through four frames.
He eventually ran into trouble in the fifth, surrendering a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles to give Texas Tech a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. If it weren’t for a base running blunder by the Red Raiders, Russell would’ve given up an RBI double before being pulled for AJ Causey.
Still, Russell’s first outing as the Friday night guy proved he deserves that role. The sophomore finished with 10 strikeouts and allowed three hits and two earned runs in 4.1 innings against 16 batters.
More From RTI: Watch Billy Amick Hit The First Home Run Of Tennessee Baseball’s 2024 Season
In a high leverage moment, Causey logged a strikeout but gave up a two-run triple afterwards. Texas Tech had plated two and cut the lead to one entering the final four innings.
The Vols wasted a big opportunity in the top of the sixth stranding the bases loaded, but Causey cruised the rest of the way on the mound to make what could’ve been a highly significant moment in the game anything but.
Causey retired the heart of Texas Tech’s lineup in order in the sixth before displaying his defensive skills in the seventh. After failing to execute what would’ve been an above average play to record the second out of the inning, Causey redeemed himself by snagging a hard-hit line drive from Red Raiders left-fielder Damian Bravo and tossing it to Burke for the double play.
Causey stared down Burke after the play, who then dapped up his pitcher before the two trotted back to the dugout.
Tennessee opened it up late by doubling their score in the eighth. Amick and Dylan Dreiling each worked a walk to leadoff the inning and Kavares Tears worked a one-out walk to load the bases.
Lohry brought Amick home with a sac fly before a wild pitch scored Dreiling. Hunter Ensley then drove the knife in with an RBI single into left field to score Tears and take a four-run lead.
Causey did not allow a baserunner in eighth or ninth inning, as Tennessee kept their four-run lead in the final stages to close it out.
Causey got his first career win in a Tennessee uniform and allowed just hits , allowing just two hits and striking out seven in 4.2 innings of work.
Russell and Causey proved to be a more than capable Friday night duo, and the offense did enough for the Vols to earn a big victory on opening night.
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Wednesday he has secured a settlement of bankruptcy claims against genetic testing company 23andMe stemming from a 2023 data breach that exposed personal information, including some genetic ancestry data, of 6.9 million customers worldwide.
Paxton’s office said the settlement includes $150 million for a multistate coalition of 42 states. But because of limited funds in 23andMe’s bankruptcy estate and competing claims, the states’ recovery will be $18 million paid immediately, with Texas receiving $1,266,860.
23andMe disclosed in October 2023 that attackers had accessed accounts affecting 6.9 million consumers. Some of the information was later posted for sale on the dark web, according to Paxton’s office, which said the company learned of the breach months after the data became publicly available. The office said 23andMe initially denied a breach and later blamed consumers’ account settings and password practices.
Paxton joined a multistate investigation that concluded 23andMe used unreasonable security practices and failed to implement adequate safeguards against hacking, the office said.
23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2025. Paxton’s office said the settlement incorporates privacy and cybersecurity requirements, including enhanced security standards, comprehensive risk assessments and creation of an independent advisory board, along with enforcement of state privacy laws and continued consumer data deletion rights.
“Companies that collect and profit from Texans’ most personal information have a legal duty to protect it,” Paxton said in a statement.
The company also agreed to a $46.75 million class-action settlement in the bankruptcy case for affected U.S. consumers who submitted claims by Feb. 17, 2026, Paxton’s office said.
Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
The Texas Longhorns entered the 2025 season with more expectations than any team has had to deal with in recent memory.
Many among the media were ready to crown the team and quarterback Arch Manning before they even played one game. Of course, those unrealistic expectations were never met, even though the team finished with a 10-3 record and a Citrus Bowl win over the Michigan Wolverines.
2026 is heading in the same direction for the Longhorns. Many believe head coach Steve Sarkisian has the most talented team in the country. But in order to fix the issues from this past season, the Longhorns needed to fix one issue that has cost them in the past.
Changing The Narrative
One of the biggest issues the Longhorns had last season was the play of the offensive line. It was apparent in the first game of the season against the Ohio State Buckeyes that Manning didn’t have the pocket time needed to make big plays.
This offseason, Coach Sarkisian went out and found two massive transfer portal additions that should completely change the narrative on this offensive line.
It starts with potential starting right tackle Melvin Siani. Siani has spent time with the Temple Owls and last season with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
The Longhorns are set at left tackle with Trevor Goosby, who could play himself into being a top 10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. If the team can get competent play from Siani, the offense will be able to open up the playbook, and the world may finally see Manning at his college peak.
The Longhorns also went out and found a potential fix at left guard for the 2026 season. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers transfer Laurence Seymore could be another strong patch for the holes in the offensive line.
After spending the first two seasons of his college career with the Miami Hurricanes, Seymore made stops with the Akron Zips and the Hilltoppers.
Of course, the one concern with Seymore is wondering if he can compete at the SEC level coming from the C-USA.
This season for the Longhorns starts and stops with the play of Manning. Coach Sarkisian and the rest of this coaching staff understood that protecting their quarterback was the most important goal when building the 2026 roster.
The Longhorns are going to be leaning on veteran talent to protect their quarterback, and it may very well be the best decision they made this offseason.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
-
San Francisco, CA7 minutes agoSan Francisco fishermen recount harrowing rescue after boat capsizes near Alcatraz
-
Dallas, TX13 minutes agoTimothée Chalamet ‘Starstruck’ by Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
-
Miami, FL19 minutes agoWives of detained men allege inhumane conditions at federal detention center in Miami
-
Boston, MA25 minutes agoDriver charged in Norwood pedestrian crash that left man seriously injured
-
Denver, CO31 minutes agoBoys, 12 and 14, arrested in deadly shooting in Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood
-
Seattle, WA37 minutes agoOutreach groups respond to the reported relocation cycle of Ballard’s homeless population
-
San Diego, CA43 minutes agoEons: Life and Death on Pangea – Special Preview Screening
-
Milwaukee, WI49 minutes agoICE in Milwaukee: US DOJ says it will not comply with mask ban ordinance
