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AUSTIN – Nobody wants to disassemble the Texas baseball program, but let's just say this hasn't been a year to remember. Way too many errors, inconsistent pitching, a 31-12 loss at Missouri. Yikes.

Hey, at least all the renovations at Disch-Falk Field are impressive.

UT could have rolled over Friday in what might have been the Longhorns' last home game of the year. Instead, Texas looked like Texas in a 5-2 victory that kept rival Texas A&M from clinching the Big 12 title.

"That's the best game we've played right there," UT coach Augie Garrido said. "It's because we finally got the defense straightened out."

Don't look now, but the Longhorns (32-19, 13-12 Big 12) have won nine of their last 12 games. If they continue their winning ways, UT should improve its NCAA Tournament standing. But hosting a regional seems unlikely at this juncture.

How about these positives? Second baseman Travis Tucker made two excellent defensive stops in an error-free game. Freshman Chance Ruffin (7-3) limited A&M to only one run on six hits in seven innings. Jordan Danks drove in three runs with two stand-up triples.

Despite the loss, the first-place Aggies (42-12, 19-6 Big 12) still moved one step closer to the championship. Missouri knocked off second-place Nebraska, 8-1, in Columbia, Mo.

All A&M has to do is win one of the final two games against UT or hope Nebraska loses one of its last two.

Here's something A&M fans can feel good about, despite the fact it was the team's fourth straight loss. A&M took Texas' best punch and simply shook it off. The Aggies even got the tying run to the plate in the ninth. But Brandon Belt struck out Blake Stouffer for the game's final out.

A&M's Brooks Raley fell to 6-1 this season despite pitching eight strong innings. The Aggies' stellar relievers, Kyle Thebeau and Travis Starling, are still primed and ready.

Now, the Aggies head back to Olsen Field for the final two games in College Station, Texas. They should hoist a trophy after one of them.

"I am very proud of the way we played tonight," A&M coach Rob Childress said. "We're back. I can tell you that."