By Jake Mastroianni
The Texas Longhorns (19-3, 5-1) proved a lot in their series win over LSU (22-3, 4-2) this past weekend, including that it’s not a team that will back down to anyone.
Of course, with the resume and resources Texas has, nobody would consider them an underdog. But many questioned whether or not they were ready to stand toe-to-toe with the best in the SEC.
After getting punched in the mouth on Friday night by LSU, they responded in a big way, completely changed the tenor of the series on Saturday, and rode that momentum to a series win on Sunday.
This was a well-played series on both sides, as each team threw the ball well and both offenses were opportunistic.
There were also a lot of freshmen who shined in this series, with LSU’s Derek Curiel going 4-12 in the series with a double and a home run. Texas’ Adrian Rodriguez was 6-12 with two doubles, and lefty reliever Dylan Volantis pitched 4.2 innings across two games without allowing a run or a hit with seven strikeouts.
Game 1: LSU 8, Texas 2
Kade Anderson and Jared Spencer delivered a great pitching matchup on Friday night, the two combining for 15 strikeouts over 11 innings. However, it was a battle for both, as they also gave up a combined 14 hits and 3 walks.
It was the free passes for Spencer that ended his night an inning earlier than Anderson’s. The LSU offense did a great job battling at the plate and pushed his pitch count up.
Luis Hernandez had a pair of big hits for the Tigers, including a two-run homer in the fourth to give LSU the lead, and then an RBI single an inning later to push the lead to 4-1 and run Spencer out of the game.
LSU put the game away with a four-run 7th inning that included a squeeze bunt by Michael Braswell that resulted in a hit. Later in the inning, Texas decided to pitch to Jared Jones with first base open, and Jones drove in two more.
Rylan Galvan began his big weekend with a solo homer to try and get Texas back in the game, but Zac Cowan came on for LSU and shut things down over the final three frames.
Game 2: Texas 11, LSU 7
After getting dealt a convincing loss on Friday night, it would have been easy for this Texas team to cave after falling behind early on Saturday, but this win says a lot about Texas Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle’s group.
After falling behind 2-0 in the 4th, they tied it up in the bottom half. LSU came right back and scored 3 runs in the fifth – Texas answered with four. LSU took the lead back with two runs in the sixth, the Longhorns took it back with two runs in the seventh.
And then, finally, they put LSU away for good with three more runs in the eighth.
It was punch and counter-punch type of night at the ballpark, which led to a very entertaining game.
Galvan hit a huge three-run home run in the fifth that sent the place into a frenzy.
LSU freshman Derek Curiel answered that home run with a two-run shot of his own in the sixth to get the lead back. But, Texas shortstop Jalin Flores responded with a solo shot in the seventh to tie the game, and the Longhorns ran away with it from there.
Game 3: Texas 6, LSU 2
UTSA transfer Ruger Riojas was the story on Sunday as he silenced the LSU bats for five innings, holding them scoreless and allowing the Texas offense to jump out to a 5-0 lead.
He finally ran out of gas in the sixth as the Tigers were able to scratch across a pair of runs. But Riojas final line of 5.2 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, and 6 Ks was more than Schlossnagle could have hoped for.
Chase Shores didn’t throw the ball badly for LSU, but Texas took advantage of every door he left opened.
A prime example was in the first inning when Ethan Mendoza began the inning with a walk. A hit-and-run moved him up to second, which allowed Rylan Galvan to bring him in with a two-out single. A hustle double by Will Gasparino got a two-run second inning started.
And Texas can bring the power as well – displayed by Max Belyeu who blasted a two-run homer that hasn’t landed yet. After LSU managed to get back in the game with a two-run sixth, Belyeu delivered again with an RBI triple.
Other takeaways from the weekend
It really goes without saying, but these two teams being in the same conference is going to make for some really fun matchups in the future.
Texas proved it belongs with the top tier of the SEC – this wasn’t a fluky series win, they took it from LSU.
Volantis is a true stopper and weapon at the end of games. The lefty-lefty match-up is not fair for the hitter.
LSU has some dominant arms, but finding someone on Saturday and Sunday to give them length will be key.
Both teams played some great defense, and all-around, both teams played really clean baseball.
Rylan Galvan had hit a home run in four straight games before going a meager 1-4 with an RBI on Sunday to end that streak.
What’s up next:
Texas will host Sam Houston at home on Tuesday before heading to play Missouri. It will be a test in focus for the Longhorns, making sure they don’t have a letdown series against a team expected to be near the bottom in conference standings.
LSU plays UL-Lafayette at home on Tuesday and then hosts Mississippi State beginning Thursday. The Bulldogs were swept at home by Texas to begin SEC play and then managed a single road win over the other SEC newcomer, Oklahoma, this past weekend.
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