Game One - FINAL:
Texas - 5
Mississippi State - 3
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Ruger Riojas (4-0)
Losing Pitcher: Nate Williams (0-1)
Save: Dylan Volantis (3)
Game Two FINAL:
Texas - 4
Mississippi State - 1
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Jason Flores (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Karson Ligon (2-2)
Save: Max Grubbs (4)
RECAP - Game One
In Game One, Mississippi State got on the board in the first inning as LHP Luke Harrison had trouble commanding the strike zone. Specifically, Luke had issues landing his slider and changeup today, resulting in a bases loaded hit by pitch to plate the first run. Fortunately for Texas, Harrison was able to get out of the bind without any further damage.
In the Top 2nd, the Horns got their offense going as they got some two out production from LF Easton Winfield, who hit a double to right CF, scoring CF Will Gasparino and C Rylan Galvan to make it 2-1 Horns. The very next batter was 1B Kimble Schuessler and he followed up with an RBI double himself to make it 3-1 Horns.
In the Bottom 2nd, Harrison got a strikeout to start things off, but then issued a walk. He was bailed out though when Miss State hit a liner to 2B Ethan Mendoza who made the catch and then threw to Kimble at 1B from one knee to complete the double play.
In the Top 3rd, the Horns had a huge opportunity as they loaded up the bases with just one out, but CF Will Gasparino and LF Easton Winfield failed to plate any additional runs, letting Miss State off the hook and keeping it a 3-1 Horns lead.
In the Bottom 3rd, Harrison was back out and retired the side in order.
In the Bottom 4th, after the Horns had failed to produce anything offensively, Mississippi State threatened again. LHP Luke Harrison gave up a lead off single to RF, which saw the ball lined over the outstretched glove of Ethan Mendoza and then shockingly under the glove of Max Belyeu, putting a runner on 2B. Luke Harrison was able to get a fly out from the next batter, but the runner on 2B was able to advance to 3B with just 1 out. Luke Harrison dug deep and went into attack mode, striking out the next two batters to end the scoring threat and keep it at a 3-1 lead for the Horns.
In the Top 5th, the Horns again went quietly in order.
In the Bottom 5th, Luke Harrison gave up a lead off walk, prompting Schlossnagle to make a move to the bullpen and bring in RHP Ruger Riojas. The first batter Ruger faced hit a line drive to LF, which Tommy Farmer was able to track down for the first out. Mississippi State then laid down a picture perfect bunt down the 3B side for an infield single, putting two runners on. 3B and Texas native Ace Reese then hit a double to RF into the corner for a 2 run RBI double, tying the game up at 3-3. After a mound visit from Max Weiner, Ruger Riojas battled back to get a strike out and a fly out to end the threat.
After both teams traded unproductive frames in the 6th inning, the Horns came to bat in the Top 7th.
2B Ethan Mendoza led things off with a single to left center, bringing the struggling Max Belyeu to the plate. Coming into the at-bat, Max was 0-7 at the plate in the series. Belyeu ignored that and with an 0-2 count, took it to the max by hitting a no doubter to RF for a 2 run HR, giving Texas a 5-3 lead.
In the Bottom 7th, Texas turned to freshman LHP Dylan Volantis on the mound to close out the game.
The first batter he faced, he ended up giving up a single down the RF line on an 0-2 count. Volantis got saved in the next at-bat as he gave up a sinking liner down the LF line, but superman LF Tommy Farmer IV make an outstanding diving catch to rob Mississippi State of an RBI and extra base hit. Ace Reese then hit a ball to Ethan Mendoza at 2B, but due to it being a slow roller, the Horns could not turn two. Mississippi State put further pressure on the freshman Volantis when they got a single from Noah Sullivan, but after a quick mound visit from Max Weiner, Dylan Volantis got the next batter to hit a pop up to Ethan Mendoza at 2B to slam the door. Game over, Horns win 5-3 and series secured!
RECAP - Game Two
After a 40 minute interlude, the Horns were right back at it, this time looking for a series sweep, their first SEC series and on the road nonetheless.
After the Horns went in order 1-2-3 in the Top 1st, RHP Jason Flores took to the mound for the Horns. The inning did not start as Flores would have liked though as he issued a lead off walk. Using a mix of sinker, slider, and cutter, Flores got the next batter to ground out to 3B Casey Borba. Flores would then give up a single to Ace Reese, putting runners on 1B and 2B with just one out. On a 1-0 count, Jason Flores threw a 93mph sinker that was hit right back to him on the mount. He gloved it, spun and fired a bullet to 2B which was then relayed to 1B to complete the double play and erase the threat.
In the Top 2nd, Rylan Galvan came to the plate and got a breaking ball that caught too much of the plate and did the smart thing, hit it oppo into the gusting wind for a solo HR to give the Horns a 1-0 lead. And yes....that ball had a 38 degree launch angle. Galvan has always been known for his strength to opposite field, but that is an absurd launch angle.
In the Bottom 2nd, freshman RHP Jason Flores needed just 5 pitches to retire the side in order. Unfortunately, the Horns offense also went in order in the Top 3rd.
In the Bottom 3rd, Mississippi State finally scratched one across to tie the game up at 1-1. It of course all started with a lead off hit by pitch. The runner then stole second to move into scoring position and then moved to 3B on a the sac bunt. The runner would then come home to score on a single hit back up the middle. After a quick mound visit, RHP Jason Flores was able to battle back to get a strikeout and a fly out to prevent any further damage.
In the Top 4th, with 1 out, it was that Sinton dude again, Rylan Galvan, as he hit a double down the LF line for a 1 out double. Galvan would come in to score as 3B Casey Borba hit a laser through the left side for an RBI single to make it 2-1 Texas.
In the Bottom 4th, Flores led the inning off with another hit by pitch. Mississippi State was unable to capitalize though as they hit into the shift on the right side for a double play. After another walk by Flores, Schlossnagle went to the pen and brought in RHP Max Grubbs to put out the fire before it started. Grubbs did exactly that, getting the pinch hitter to ground out to Mendoza at 2B preserving the 2-1 lead for the Horns.
In the Bottom 5th, Max Grubbs was on the mound for the Horns, holding a narrow 2-1 lead. He got the first batter out via the strikeout, but then walked the next two batters.
On an errant pick off move to 1B, where Kimble was not at the base, the ball went into shallow RF. The 3B coach for Mississippi State sent the runner home. Unfortunately for Miss St, Max Belyeu hurried to the ball, picked it up and fired a bullet to Rylan Galvan at home plate who placed the tag on the runner just before he slid in for the second out.
Max Grubbs then struck out the next batter to end the scoring threat, keeping the Horns ahead 2-1.
The teams traded a scoreless 6th inning, which saw the Horns head to the Top 7th with a narrow 2-1 lead over the home team.
In the Top 7th, Casey Borba led off the inning by hitting a deep fly ball to CF which didn't go over the wall only due to a sensational leaping catch by the defender to prevent the solo shot. CF Will Gasparino followed that disappointing play up with double down the LF line to put a runner in scoring position, prompting a call to the bullpen for the Bulldogs.
Kimble Schuessler then hit a hard ground to the left side for an infield single. After Tommy Farmer struck out, the insurance man, Ethan Mendoza came to the plate and promptly hit a bounced up the middle for an RBI single, putting the Horns ahead 3-1 and prompting yet another call to the bullpen for Mississippi State.
After Max Belyeu drew a walk, SS Jalin Flores, who had a very quiet weekend was able to draw a bases loaded walk to make it 4-1 Horns.
In the Bottom 7th, RHP Max Grubbs was back out to the mound to close things out. The first batter he faced hit a ground out to Casey Borba for the first out. The next batter hit a hard grounder that came off Borba's glove for an infield single. The next batter then reached on a fielder's choice, following by a single through the left side to put two runners on with 2 outs. The final out came when the lead off man hit a grounder to 3B. Casey Borba made a strong throw that JUST beat out the runner and then confirmed by video replay to end the game. Game WON. Series SWEPT!
BIG MOMENT - GAME ONE
The Top 7th inning, with the game tied 3-3, Ethan Mendoza led the inning off with a single to left center field. That brought Max Belyeu to the plate. Coming into this at-bat, Max had struggled on the weekend to the tune of 0-7 at the plate. After getting down in the count 0-2, Max got a pitch he could handle and boy did he handle it, hitting a piss missile to RF into the lemonade stand by the big inflatable to the shock of the lady standing there. That two run HR gave the Horns a 5-3 lead, once which they would not surrender and powered them to a victory in the first game of the DH, which also sealed a series win.
BIG MOMENT - GAME TWO
In the Bottom 5th, Max Grubbs was on the mound for the Horns, holding a narrow 2-1 lead. He got the first batter out via the strikeout, but then walked the next two batters.
On an errant pick off move to 1B, where Kimble was not at the base, the ball went into shallow RF. The 3B coach for Mississippi State sent the runner home. Unfortunately for Miss St, Max Belyeu hurried to the ball, picked it up and fired a bullet to Rylan Galvan at home plate who placed the tag on the runner just before he slid in for the second out.
Max Grubbs then struck out the next batter to end the scoring threat, keeping the Horns ahead 2-1.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE - GAME ONE
Man of the match goes to Max Belyeu. While he did not have the best day at the plate, his 2 run HR in the Top 7th instantly puts him in contention.
Honorable Mention - Tommy Farmer IV
Tommy came in a a defensive replacement, so he only got one at-bat, but his defensive catch in the Bottom 7th with no outs and a runner on 1B was HUGE!
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE - GAME TWO
Rylan Galvan - The dude from Sinton went 2-3 on the day and got things started for the Horns early with his wind aided HR to RF.
TAKEAWAYS
Any time that you can go on the road in the SEC and win a series, it is big. Anytime that you can go on the road and sweep a series, that is outstanding. When you earn a road series sweep to open up conference play at a place like Dudy-Noble, it is something special.
While the Bulldogs are not the most exciting team, nor even close to the best team that the Horns will face this season, the fact remains that the Horns did everything it needed to in order to earn a sweep. They got timely hitting. They got outstanding pitching. They responded every time they needed to and they came up with some huge plays.
There are still plenty of areas to cleanup and improve upon, but make no doubt about it, this was the perfect way to start SEC play. In a conference where 12 of the 16 teams are ranked in the Top 25 and filled with big time talent across the board, the margins are often razor thin. Winning that crucial third game may mean nothing, or it may mean everything at the end of the season.
Tip of the cap to the Horns and the coaching staff for pushing all the right buttons this weekend.
Lastly, with the sweep this weekend, the Horns have now won 17 games in a row. Impressive stuff right there!
POST GAME QUOTES FROM JIM SCHLOSSNAGLE:
On overall thoughts of the doubleheader and first weekend series in SEC…
“For our team and our program to go on the road for the first time ever, come to the ‘Cathedral of College Baseball’ — Dudy Noble Field — great fans, playing a great team, really good pitchers we faced all weekend, and then get down in the first game, come back to win and hold on, and [Dylan] Volantis get us through that one. Today was just a total grind of pitching, defense and timely hits. I thought [Rylan] Galvan to catch 14 innings just did an amazing job and obviously hit a big home run. I’m just really proud of all of our guys — Volantis closing two games, Jason Flores getting a start in the SEC and keeping us in the game and then Max Grubbs and Ruger Riojas did what they needed to do. I think the 14 innings favored us a little bit because we were able to use all of our guys in a short amount of time.”
On what he thought team learned after playing in their first SEC series…
“They learned that baseball is still baseball, and you should enjoy and appreciate the venues that you get to play in and the crowds you get to play against. It’s kinda an ‘us against the word mentality’ when you’re on the road. I was really, really proud of our dugout energy. The guys who didn’t get to play, they were super supportive and what we call ‘spotting,’ they’re spotting their teammates. I thought it was consistent throughout the whole weekend and just a total team effort, which it has to be to pull off something like this. It’s very unusual on the road in the SEC.”
On Max Belyeu’s go-ahead home run…
“It was a huge moment because that pitcher is really good. He’s had like 17 punchouts and one walk. It was a pitch you don’t see much anymore, a true overhand breaking ball and he made one bad pitch on the day. That’s Max Belyeu. He’s an All-American for a reason. The guy left the pitch up and he got all of it.”
On Tommy Farmer IV’s diving catch and the defense as a whole…
“That saved the day. That changed the whole inning. [Ethan] Mendoza had a tough play in there too. The runner was going in front of him, and it was a weird backhand on a dirt field. The defense we’ve been playing is a better brand of defense than we have in the last couple of weeks.”
On message to Longhorns fans…
“It’s time to experience an SEC weekend at home. We got that next weekend, but first we’re going to play an awesome UTSA team, one of the best hitting and offensive teams in the country Tuesday night, so we’re going to have our hands full. We’re gonna have to throw some guys that didn’t pitch this weekend. They’re gonna have to help us out in that game. It looks like the weather is gonna be good, so we really need the Longhorn faithful to show up, make a lot of noise and fill every seat. Don’t give away your tickets unless you’re giving them to Longhorns or send them to me.”
NEXT UP
Horns (17-1) will host UTSA Roadrunners (16-6) on Tuesday at 630pm
