Today traDISCHions continues and the great Roger Clemens is being honored and will throw out the first pitch.
In case you missed last night, here is the instant analysis - Game One Recap
In case you want to read my weekend preview, here is that article as well - WEEKEND PREVIEW
The Horns got punched in the face yesterday. That will happen, it is the SEC. This is big boy ball. What matters is how they respond today and tomorrow. As mentioned before, it is all about not getting swept in a series.
The Horns need the bats to get going, though they face another tough test in Anthony Eyanson who has a plus plus slider. The achilles heel of the Tigers has been walks out of their bullpen guys. The Horns have to be perfect in their approach and get deep into counts to get to that bullpen, especially after their best arm Cowan was used yesterday.
On the mound, Luke Harrison MUST avoid free bases. Texas got a good number of strikeouts yesterday, but the free bases killed them.
The wind is blowing out strongly to LF again today, so that will certainly be something to watch.
#8 TEXAS LONGHORNS v. #2 LSU Tigers
Date: March 22
Where: Disch-Falk Field
Time: 6pm
TV: Streaming on SEC Network+
SERIES MATCHUP:
- First Met: 1899
- Last Meeting: 2024
- Overall Series: 28-15-1
- Home: 17-3-1
- Away: 8-7
- Neutral: 3-5
- Last time Horns and Tigers met in 2024, LSU came away with a 6-3 victory at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
- LSU currently has a two-game win streak over the Horns after having beat them in Austin back in 2023 when they were the #1 team in the nation.
- LSU was picked to finish 2nd in the SEC behind Texas A&M
- LSU enters the game on a 16 game win streak which is the longest in the nation after Tennessee and Texas both lost on Tuesday
RECORDS:
- Texas: 17-3 (3-1 SEC)
- LSU: 22-1 (4-0 SEC)
PREDICTION
- Horns lose the series 1-2
- On the season, I am 16-3 overall on my predictions
PITCHING MATCHUPS:
FRIDAY – Texas LHP Luke Harrison (2-0, 2.08 ERA) v. RHP Anthony Eyanson (3-0, 3.90 ERA)
- Eyanson was one of the biggest pitchers in the portal this past offseason
- Eyanson has a plus plus slider and mixes in a solid 92mph fastball and curveball
LSU Top Relievers:
- Casan Evans (1-0, 4 saves, 7 apps, 0.73 ERA)
- Zac Cowan (2-0, 1 save, 8 apps, 1.47 ERA)
- William Schmidt (3-0, 6 apps, 2.51 ERA)
- Connor Benge (0-0, 7 apps, 5.63 ERA)
- Cooper Ware (3-0, 6 apps, 6.17 ERA)
LSU Offensive Leaders:
- Derek Curiel (.434 BA, 1.210 OPS, 1 HR, 19 RBI, .632 SLG%, 23 BB, 12 K, .578 OB%)
- Jared Jones (.424 BA, 1.311 OPS, 8 HR, 34 RBI, .812 SLG%, .519 OB%)
- Jake Brown (.397 BA, 1.035 OPS, 1 HR, 17 RBI, .586 SLG%, .449 OB%)
- Daniel Dickinson (.368 BA, 1.268 OPS, 6 HR, 28 RBI, .721 SLG%, .547 OB%)
- Steven Milam (.367 BA, 1.100 OPS, 5 HR, 24 RBI, .658 SLG%, .442 Ob%)
Few notes on the offense from LSU this season:
- Jared Jones is #16 in the nation in WAR
- Derek Curriel is #2 in the SEC in BA
- Jared Jones is #5 in SEC in BA
TEAM STATS COMPARISON
Scoring Margin (Run Differential)
#2 LSU +6.8
#35 Texas +3.7
Runs per Game
#3 LSU 10.4
#99 Texas 7.5
Hits per Game
#10 LSU - 11.3
#66 Texas - 10.1
Runs per Game Allowed
#8 LSU - 3.5
#14 Texas - 3.8
Hits per Game Allowed
#5 LSU - 5.9
#13 Texas - 6.5
STARTING LINEUPS:
TEXAS -
2B Ethan Mendoza (.384)
RF Max Belyeu (.358)
SS Jalin Flores (.303)
C Rylan Galvan (.309)
3B Adrian Rodriguez (.284)
1B Kimble Schuessler (.284)
DH Jaquae Stewart (.200)
CF Will Gasparino (.240)
LF Tommy Farmer IV (.262)
LSU -
LF Derek Curriel (.438)
1B Jared Jones (.418)
2B Daniel Dickinson (.366)
DH Ethan Frey (.421)
SS Steven Milam (.366)
RF Josh Pearson (.340)
C Luis Hernandez (.298)
3B Michael Braswell (.213)
CF Chris Stanfield (.319)
