COLLEGE STATION − First it was time for a rematch. Now it's time for a rivalry.

Texas opened its 63rd NCAA tournament with a 12-5 win over Louisiana on Friday at Blue Bell Park. The win came one year after UT beat Louisiana in the opener of a regional hosted by Miami.

This time around, Texas (36-22) and Louisiana (40-19) were competing in Texas A&M's regional. Texas advances to play the host Aggies (45-13) at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Texas A&M, which is the No. 3 national seed in the NCAA tournament, beat up on Grambling on Friday.

More: The ABCs for Texas, Texas A&M, Louisiana, Grambling and the College Station regional

Texas was led offensively by Jalin Flores' grand slam and Dee Kennedy's three-RBI outing. Below is a recap of how Texas won its 13th straight regional game:

End 8: Texas 12, Louisiana 5

After Andre Duplantier II retired the Ragin' Cajuns in order, Texas needs just three more outs to secure a tournament-opening victory. Texas is 28-1 this season when it exits the eighth inning with a lead.

End 7: Texas 12, Louisiana 5

Texas is six outs away from its 13th straight win in an NCAA regional baseball game. A victory would also set up a Saturday showdown between UT and longtime rival Texas A&M.

But while Texas and Texas A&M fans are probably already getting ready to throw their horns and thumbs up on Saturday, Louisiana is still trying to spoil the fun. The Ragin' Cajuns scored once in the seventh inning and forced Texas to make a pitching change.

Andre Duplantier II is now pitching for Texas. In his last outing on May 21, Duplaintier pitched four innings of three-hit relief.

Mid 6: Texas 12, Louisiana 4

Texas got some much-needed insurance in the sixth inning in the form of Will Gasparino's two-run single. These 12 runs scored so far by Texas are tied for the fourth-most that Louisiana has allowed this season. The Ragin' Cajuns entered the NCAA tournament with a 4.32 ERA that ranked 18th nationally.

After starting pitcher Max Grubbs got Texas through the fifth inning, Cade O'Hara will enter this game in relief.

End 5: Texas 10, Louisiana 4

Louisiana isn't planning on going away. After falling behind by eight runs, the Ragin' Cajuns loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning against Max Grubbs and then scored when Conor Higgs was hit by a pitch and Kyle DeBarge contributed a sacrifice flyout. A groundout by cleanup hitter John Taylor stranded two runners.

Mid 5: Texas 10, Louisiana 2

For the second straight year, Texas sophomore Jalin Flores has hit a grand slam in a regional game. Last year, his grand slam led UT to a regional-clinching win at Miami. On Friday, his fifth-inning slam to left field has lifted UT to an eight-run lead.

Even though Flores provided the big swing and Jared Thomas also had an RBI single, Louisiana did itself no favors as its deficit expanded in the fifth frame. As it fell further behind, Louisiana issued a bases-loaded walk and committed a bases-loaded error.

End 4: Texas 3, Louisiana 2

How about some defense? Texas turned a double play to end a Louisiana threat in the fourth inning. Louisiana got its first two runners aboard in the session, and UT pitcher Max Grubbs then fell behind 3-0 in his battle with the inning's third batter. But with Andre Duplantier II warming up in the bullpen, Grubbs got a fielder's choice groundout and the aforementioned double play to escape the jam.

That was the 39th double play of the Longhorns' season.

Mid 4: Texas 3, Louisiana 2

Texas was last shutout in an NCAA tournament game in 2011, and that history won't repeat itself today. After starting this game with three scoreless innings, Texas exploded for five hits and three runs in the fourth frame. The biggest swings during an inning that featured a pitching change were Rylan Galvan's RBI double and Dee Kennedy's two-run single.

Texas had a chance to put more runs on the scoreboard but Peyton Powell, who is batting third in the UT lineup, struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning. The Longhorns have stranded four runners in scoring position today.

End 3: Louisiana 2, Texas 0

For the second inning in a row, Texas stranded a runner in scoring position. Due to a single and a steal, Texas got Jared Thomas to second base with one out in the third inning. Louisiana, however, retired Jalin Flores and Peyton Powell to escape the jam.

And for the second inning in a row, the Ragin' Cajuns hammered a two-out pitch over the fence in right field. This time around, it was Louisiana leadoff hitter Trey LaFleur who took Max Grubbs deep.

End 2: Louisiana 1, Texas 0

A massive swing by Lee Amedee has given Louisiana an early lead in College Station. Amedee crushed a 1-2 offering from Max Grubbs over the fence in right field. The 420-foot, two-out blast was just the fourth home run in 162 at-bats this season for the Louisiana third baseman.

A Kimble Schuessler double and a walk drawn by Rylan Galvan in the top of the second inning gave UT its first two baserunners of the day. But a groundout stranded Schuessler at third base. This is the first time that Schuessler has played at Blue Bell Park since he transferred from Texas A&M after the 2021 season.

End 1: Texas 0, Louisiana 0

While describing Max Grubbs earlier this week, UT coach David Pierce said his starting pitcher was "not a big strikeout guy." That seemed appropriate since Grubbs had struck out 46 batters over 68 ⅔ innings. But in the first inning at Blue Bell Park, Grubbs struck out three Louisiana batters. One of those strikeouts was of Louisiana slugger Kyle DeBarge, who hadn't struck out in his last 13 games.

Facing Louisiana senior Carson Fluno, the Longhorns were retired in order in the top of the first inning. Texas got bats on the ball in the opening frame. That just resulted in two fly balls and a groundout.

Starting pitchers announced for Louisiana-Texas game

Seeded second in the College Station regional, Louisiana will turn to senior right-hander Carson Fluno to start against the Longhorns. This season, Fluno has compiled a 4-0 record and a 2.94 ERA. Only two of Fluno's 13 starts have lasted six innings so Texas should expect to see the Louisiana bullpen on Friday. As a team, Louisiana's 4.32 ERA ranks 18th nationally.

"He's probably our hottest guy coming in. He's a senior, he's got big-game experience," Louisiana coach Matt Deggs said of Fluno on Thursday.

The third-seeded Longhorns will counter with sophomore Max Grubbs, who is also right-handed. Grubbs has been UT's Friday starter since the middle of April, and he is 5-4 with a 3.41 ERA this spring. Since Texas was eliminated early from the Big 12 tournament, Grubbs has not pitched in a game since May 17.

"I have a lot of confidence in his ability to really pound the strike zone and force whoever he's pitching against, and in this scenario, pitching against a really good Lafayette team, but forcing them to earn it," Texas coach David Pierce said. "Not a big strikeout guy, so he's got to kind of stay off the barrel and he's got to rely on his defense."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Live updates: Texas, Louisiana rematch opens NCAA baseball tournament