FINAL
Texas Longhorns - 8
Mississippi State Bulldogs - 7
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Andre Duplantier (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Chase Hungate (1-1)
Save: Dylan Volantis (2)
RECAP
In the 1st inning, LHP Jared Spencer of Texas and LHP Pico Kohn of Mississippi State both retired the side in order with ease.
In the Top 2nd, freshman DH Adrian Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk to get the lead on man on base. After 1B Kimble Schuessler and CF Will Gasparino both struck out, C Rylan Galvan came to the plate and got a pitch over the plate that he was able to extend on and hit to the left field lounge, giving the Horns an early 2-0 lead.
In the Bottom 2nd, Mississippi State came right back as USC Upstate transfer Noah Sullivan took LHP Jared Spencer deep on a 1-0 pitch to LF to cut the lead in half at 2-1 Horns. The next batter hit a single to CF and then after getting a strikeout, Jared Spencer gave up another single, putting two men on with just 1 out in the inning. The next batter then put the Dogs ahead as he hit a 3 run bomb over the RF wall to make it 4-2 Dogs.
The Horns were retired in order in the Top 3rd, bringing the Miss State offense back to the plate looking to add to their lead. State got a 2 out double from Noah Sullivan, but LHP Jared Spencer was able to get a pop out to keep the Dogs in check.
In the Top 4th, the Horns again were retired in order with a pair of strikeouts.
In the Bottom 4th, Jared Spencer walked the first batter he faced, prompting a visit from Galvan. Spencer was able to battle back though with back to back strikeouts and then a ground out to keep the Horns in striking distance at 4-2 Dogs.
Unfortunately, the Horns again were retired in order in the Top 5th. Thankfully, Jared Spencer retired the side in order in the Bottom 5th to keep the score at 4-2 Mississippi State.
In the Top 6th, the Horns got a run back to pull within one run as 2B Ethan Mendoza hit a 1 out liner to RF that went under the glove of the diving defender for a triple. Ethan would trot in to score when the catcher made an errant pick off play to 3B to make it a 4-3 Dogs lead.
In the Bottom 6th, Mississippi State was able to get to Spencer and eventually knock him out of the game. Jared Spencer gave up a lead off single to start, but was able to get back to back pop ups for outs. Unfortunately, Spencer then gave up a single up the middle, resulting in another mound visit. Jared Spencer stayed in the game and on the next pitch he threw, he gave up a single to RF plating a runner as he was able to slide in just before a tag by Galvan, as Max Belyeu fired a laser home. That made it 5-3 Dogs and prompted Jim Schlossnagle to turn to the bullpen and bring in RHP Andre Duplantier
Duplantier inherited 2 outs and runner on 1B and 2B. He put more pressure on himself as he walked the next batter to load them up, but battled back to get a big strikeout swinging to end the threat and bring the Horns offense back to the plate.
In the Top 7th, freshman DH Adrian Rodriguez led off the inning by being hit bit a 90mph fastball inside. 1B Kimble Schuessler then hit a soft liner into CF to put two men on with no outs, and prompting Mississippi State to go to the bullpen.
State brought in their closer Chase Hungate into the game. He faced Will Gasparino first and immediately gave up an RBI single through the right side to make it 5-4 Horns. C Rylan Galvan then came to the plate and hit an RBI single up the middle to tie the game up at 5-5. That brought Casey Borba to the plate, still with no outs and runners on 1B and 2B and he got a thigh high fastball over the middle of the plate and crushed it to LF (414 feet) for a 3 run home run to make it 8-5 Horns.
In the Bottom 7th, Andre Duplantier was back on the mound and retired the side in order to preserve the Texas leads.
In the Top 8th, Texas got a 2 out single from Kimble Schuessler, but that was it, bringing State back to plate.
In the Bottom 8th, Andre Duplantier was back on the mound and again retired the side in order, getting his 3rd K of the evening.
In the Top 9th, the Horns got a 1 out single from Casey Borba, but that was it, sending the game into the Bottom 9th with the Horns leading 8-5.
In the Bottom 9th, Duplantier was again on the mound and got the first batter to line out. Unfortunately, he issued a walk to the next batter to put a runner on. Texas used a mound visit to help calm things down and Duplantier got a strike out on the next batter for the 2nd out. After a wild pitch moved the runner over to 2B, Duplantier issue another walk, putting two men on base with two outs, prompting Texas to make a call to the bullpen and turn the ball over to freshman LHP Dylan Volantis.
LHP Dylan Volantis had Houston transfer Ace Reese down 0-2 in the count, but left a breaking ball over the plate and it was struck well and hit off the left CF wall for a 2 run RBI double, cutting the Texas lead to 8-7.
Unphased, Volantis went back to work and facing the best batter in the Mississippi State lineup, threw a breaking ball to get Noah Sullivan, who was just a triple short of the cycle, to hit a chopper to Flores. Ball game, Horns win 8-7!
BIG MOMENT
This is an easy one. In the Top 7th, the Horns had put on a hit parade to tie up the game at 5-5. With two runners on base, Casey Borba came to the plate and hit a fastball that was right over the heart of the plate to the left field lounge (414 feet) for a 3 run bomb, giving the Horns an 8-5 lead. Ka-Boom!
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Casey Bor-Bombs Borba. 2-4 on the day, but his first hit of the day was massive, a 3 run HR to give the Horns an 8-5 lead.
TAKEAWAYS
If I told you that Max Belyeu, Jalin Flores, and Adrian Rodriguez went a combined 0-10, you would probably think that the Horns lost and potentially got their butts handed to them. As Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend. The Horns got their characteristic big inning and then held on late to win the opening game of SEC conference play.
In a conference where every game is going to be a 9 inning battle to the death, the Horns came away with all that matters, a win. One win down and 12 more to go to be in contention for the NCAA tourney. More importantly, the Horns now are in the position to take the series, whether they play tomorrow or two 7 inning games on Sunday morning.
Yes, the offense was quiet through parts of the game, but fans need to understand, this is the SEC. The started Kohn from Mississippi State was very good and the Horns will still face better, so buckle in, enjoy the win, and raise a cold one.
Oh and ho hum, just a 15 game win streak now.
NEXT UP
Texas Longhorns - 8
Mississippi State Bulldogs - 7
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Andre Duplantier (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Chase Hungate (1-1)
Save: Dylan Volantis (2)
RECAP
In the 1st inning, LHP Jared Spencer of Texas and LHP Pico Kohn of Mississippi State both retired the side in order with ease.
In the Top 2nd, freshman DH Adrian Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk to get the lead on man on base. After 1B Kimble Schuessler and CF Will Gasparino both struck out, C Rylan Galvan came to the plate and got a pitch over the plate that he was able to extend on and hit to the left field lounge, giving the Horns an early 2-0 lead.
In the Bottom 2nd, Mississippi State came right back as USC Upstate transfer Noah Sullivan took LHP Jared Spencer deep on a 1-0 pitch to LF to cut the lead in half at 2-1 Horns. The next batter hit a single to CF and then after getting a strikeout, Jared Spencer gave up another single, putting two men on with just 1 out in the inning. The next batter then put the Dogs ahead as he hit a 3 run bomb over the RF wall to make it 4-2 Dogs.
The Horns were retired in order in the Top 3rd, bringing the Miss State offense back to the plate looking to add to their lead. State got a 2 out double from Noah Sullivan, but LHP Jared Spencer was able to get a pop out to keep the Dogs in check.
In the Top 4th, the Horns again were retired in order with a pair of strikeouts.
In the Bottom 4th, Jared Spencer walked the first batter he faced, prompting a visit from Galvan. Spencer was able to battle back though with back to back strikeouts and then a ground out to keep the Horns in striking distance at 4-2 Dogs.
Unfortunately, the Horns again were retired in order in the Top 5th. Thankfully, Jared Spencer retired the side in order in the Bottom 5th to keep the score at 4-2 Mississippi State.
In the Top 6th, the Horns got a run back to pull within one run as 2B Ethan Mendoza hit a 1 out liner to RF that went under the glove of the diving defender for a triple. Ethan would trot in to score when the catcher made an errant pick off play to 3B to make it a 4-3 Dogs lead.
In the Bottom 6th, Mississippi State was able to get to Spencer and eventually knock him out of the game. Jared Spencer gave up a lead off single to start, but was able to get back to back pop ups for outs. Unfortunately, Spencer then gave up a single up the middle, resulting in another mound visit. Jared Spencer stayed in the game and on the next pitch he threw, he gave up a single to RF plating a runner as he was able to slide in just before a tag by Galvan, as Max Belyeu fired a laser home. That made it 5-3 Dogs and prompted Jim Schlossnagle to turn to the bullpen and bring in RHP Andre Duplantier
Duplantier inherited 2 outs and runner on 1B and 2B. He put more pressure on himself as he walked the next batter to load them up, but battled back to get a big strikeout swinging to end the threat and bring the Horns offense back to the plate.
In the Top 7th, freshman DH Adrian Rodriguez led off the inning by being hit bit a 90mph fastball inside. 1B Kimble Schuessler then hit a soft liner into CF to put two men on with no outs, and prompting Mississippi State to go to the bullpen.
State brought in their closer Chase Hungate into the game. He faced Will Gasparino first and immediately gave up an RBI single through the right side to make it 5-4 Horns. C Rylan Galvan then came to the plate and hit an RBI single up the middle to tie the game up at 5-5. That brought Casey Borba to the plate, still with no outs and runners on 1B and 2B and he got a thigh high fastball over the middle of the plate and crushed it to LF (414 feet) for a 3 run home run to make it 8-5 Horns.
In the Bottom 7th, Andre Duplantier was back on the mound and retired the side in order to preserve the Texas leads.
In the Top 8th, Texas got a 2 out single from Kimble Schuessler, but that was it, bringing State back to plate.
In the Bottom 8th, Andre Duplantier was back on the mound and again retired the side in order, getting his 3rd K of the evening.
In the Top 9th, the Horns got a 1 out single from Casey Borba, but that was it, sending the game into the Bottom 9th with the Horns leading 8-5.
In the Bottom 9th, Duplantier was again on the mound and got the first batter to line out. Unfortunately, he issued a walk to the next batter to put a runner on. Texas used a mound visit to help calm things down and Duplantier got a strike out on the next batter for the 2nd out. After a wild pitch moved the runner over to 2B, Duplantier issue another walk, putting two men on base with two outs, prompting Texas to make a call to the bullpen and turn the ball over to freshman LHP Dylan Volantis.
LHP Dylan Volantis had Houston transfer Ace Reese down 0-2 in the count, but left a breaking ball over the plate and it was struck well and hit off the left CF wall for a 2 run RBI double, cutting the Texas lead to 8-7.
Unphased, Volantis went back to work and facing the best batter in the Mississippi State lineup, threw a breaking ball to get Noah Sullivan, who was just a triple short of the cycle, to hit a chopper to Flores. Ball game, Horns win 8-7!
BIG MOMENT
This is an easy one. In the Top 7th, the Horns had put on a hit parade to tie up the game at 5-5. With two runners on base, Casey Borba came to the plate and hit a fastball that was right over the heart of the plate to the left field lounge (414 feet) for a 3 run bomb, giving the Horns an 8-5 lead. Ka-Boom!
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Casey Bor-Bombs Borba. 2-4 on the day, but his first hit of the day was massive, a 3 run HR to give the Horns an 8-5 lead.
TAKEAWAYS
If I told you that Max Belyeu, Jalin Flores, and Adrian Rodriguez went a combined 0-10, you would probably think that the Horns lost and potentially got their butts handed to them. As Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend. The Horns got their characteristic big inning and then held on late to win the opening game of SEC conference play.
In a conference where every game is going to be a 9 inning battle to the death, the Horns came away with all that matters, a win. One win down and 12 more to go to be in contention for the NCAA tourney. More importantly, the Horns now are in the position to take the series, whether they play tomorrow or two 7 inning games on Sunday morning.
Yes, the offense was quiet through parts of the game, but fans need to understand, this is the SEC. The started Kohn from Mississippi State was very good and the Horns will still face better, so buckle in, enjoy the win, and raise a cold one.
Oh and ho hum, just a 15 game win streak now.
NEXT UP
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